Will Kwenkeu back to finish what he started at Temple
Will Kwenkeu has some unfinished business on and off the field.
That’s why the 6-foot-1, 235-pound linebacker returned for his sixth season of eligibility, one which was granted to all players by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kwenkeu’s primary reason for returning was his academics, as he’s finishing up his master’s degree. At the same time, he didn’t feel like he completely played to his capabilities in 2020 and didn’t want to go out on a sour note.
“To be honest, last season wasn’t the season that I wanted,” Kwenkeu told reporters during Temple’s media availability Tuesday. “Also using that opportunity that I have to maximize finishing up my masters. So, it’s like killing two birds with one stone, and might as well take advantage of it.”
Kwenkeu is receiving his master’s degree in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship. Kwenkeu, who was born and raised in Cameroon, is a native French speaker, with English being his second language. He’s also working on becoming trilingual, taking up Spanish.
As for his growth on the football field, last season was Kwenkeu’s first opportunity to take command of a starting role. He had previously redshirted in 2019, as he was buried on the depth chart behind NFL linebackers in Shaun Bradley, Chapelle Russell and Sam Franklin.
Prior to that, Kwenkeu had made his living on special teams while also making his first career start during Temple’s 28-3 win over FIU at the 2017 Gasparilla Bowl and leading the team with two sacks.
Kwenkeu managed to start all seven games at linebacker for the Owls last season, leading the team with 49 total tackles. He also added four tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
While it was a long time coming for the Waldorf, Maryland native, there’s a sense that he left a lot out on the field during a COVID-ridden 2020 season. There was also some mounting pressure, as he became the most experienced linebacker on the field after former Owl Isaiah Graham-Mobley re-injured his surgically repaired ankle.
“I think the biggest thing is trusting the playbook, the calls that the coaches make, and also trusting the guys to the right and left of me,” Kweneku said. “I feel like at times last year, it was a little bit of trying to do everything at the same time, while it would end up [in] miscommunication. I think this year, we’re working on better communication, as well as finishing the plays.”
When Temple head coach Rod Carey was asked on Monday regarding position group he was impressed with, he mentioned the safeties, but quickly transitioned to the linebackers.
The linebacker room offers a mix of old and new and is arguably Temple’s deepest position on the depth chart. As a sixth-year guy, Kwenkeu is the head honcho of the room. He’ll also likely have a guy like George Reid lining up next to him and Audley Isaacs in the mix when he returns from his season-ending injury.
That said, the potential in the room is promising between what each of Kobe Wilson, Jordan Magee and Yvandy Rigby are able to offer.
Kwenkeu’s role as a leader goes beyond the field and extends outside of Temple’s Edberg-Olson Hall.
“Being an older guy and being around the block for a while, just taking it day by day and making sure that I’m nurturing those guys by being a positive influence," Kwenkeu said, "and I will try on and off the field and just being a good influence while we’re moving around.
“Just a simple conversation, whether it’s football-related or just life-related. We’re not just athletes, we’re also human beings. So when you leave the building, you deal with family, you deal with schoolwork. So just having a simple conversation goes a long way. It’s not really looking at myself as a leader. I could be the big brother looking out for the little brother. ... Along those lines, in a way, they also got to push me to continue raising the standard with my energy, my movement, everything around. I think everything just falls into place together well.`
As a single-digit and one of the senior-most players on the team, the responsibility falls upon Kwenkeu, who has certainly taken his leadership role by the horns.
Front page photo by Don Otto