Recruiting Spotlight: Adrienne Talan

It was something Flanagan High School linebacker/safety Adrienne Talan had heard too often - a program that once had interest in the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder, after leading him on that they might submit an offer, was no longer interested.

When Talan received a call from Temple graduate assistant Evan Cooper, he awaited yet another disappointment.

"In my mind, I thought, 'No you're not,'" Talan told Owlscoop.com, referring to his thoughts when Cooper hinted at an offer. "He'd always tell me, but I didn't believe him. When he called, I thought he'd say that they were no longer interested."

But when Cooper called Flanagan head coach and former NFL safety Devin Bush requesting to speak to Talan, the conversation ended very differently.

"He said, 'We're your first,'" Talan said. "I asked, 'I'm your first? What?' Then, Cooper said that Temple is my first offer."

"I was shocked," Talan added. "After he offered, I was good to go."

With his pledge, Talan became Temple's second verbal commitment of the 2015 recruiting class. The commitment came after a month of discussions with Cooper - a coach with good ties to the Florida territory, having spent two seasons as the defensive backs coach at Westminster Academy in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

After a number of broken promises from recruiters, Cooper shined through as a voice Talan could trust, Talan said.

"He's why I joined Temple," Talan said. "He said that I'm the kind of player Temple needs - fast, physical and knows the game - but he couldn't promise me a starting spot. What he could promise is that I'd play for a good team, would get a good education and that I'll have fun while I do it."

While Talan possesses all the skills that could warrant success as a collegiate linebacker or safety - speed, power and agility - the game is still very young to him.

Talan focused most of his early energy on track and field and only started playing football in eighth grade. The success came immediately, however, as Talan received Defensive Player of the Year for his eight-grade league.

"I was always active in sports and wanted to play football, so my mom let me play when I was in eighth grade," Talan said. "Ever since then, I just took off."

Talan started his sophomore year at Western High School in Davie, Fla., with a bang. Talan led the league through four games with eight sacks. What looked to be a promising first season on varsity, however, ended shortly thereafter. During his fifth game, Talan suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.

His junior year wasn't much easier.

Changes in the coaching staff weighed heavily on Talan, as the Wildcats went winless last season and finished 0-10.

"I did a lot on my own last season," Talan said. "No matter what changes there were, though, there was not going to be a change in me. I played the same way. People were saying I was the real deal."

Following the season, Talan and his mother moved to an area close to Flanagan High School, where he has since transferred.

As a member of the Falcons, Talan has an opportunity to be mentored by a former NFL first-round pick and Super Bowl champion in Bush, as well as former Florida State University cornerback Stanford Samuels.

"Their football knowledge is amazing," Talan said. "Learning from those guys means I'll learn something new everyday."

As uncertain as his future was - the letdowns from recruiters, the injury during a promising season and the unfamiliarity of a new coaching staff - Talan has found a light at the end of the tunnel.

"I'm going to fight for the Cherry and White," Talan said.

OwlScoop.com staff writer Mark Whited can be reached at mark.whited@temple.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @MarkWhited215.