Owls' Nkwenti to play in Kelly Tires Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic ::

PHILADELPHIA - Temple University's Mathias Nkwenti has been selected to play in the annual Kelly Tires Blue-Gray All-Star

Football Classic. The game will be televised nationally by ABC on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25 at 11:00 a.m. As a senior

member of the Owls' offensive line, Nkwenti completed his final year of eligibility this fall and is on pace to graduate later this year.

Nkwenti exhibited his athleticism this year when head coach Bobby Wallace switched him to offensive tackle from defensive tackle, a

position he had played past three seasons. In six of 11 games this season Nkwenti graded out a winner by being victorious on 79%

or more of his matchups. He has twice been selected offensive player of the game by the Temple coaching staff, versus Navy when

he graded 81% with seven knock-downs and versus Boston College when he graded 80% with three knock-downs. He had 49

knock-down blocks this season. Against Rutgers, he had seven knock-down blocks for a career-high.

The 22-year old Cameroon, Africa native is a sports and recreation major. Nkwenti is a relative newcomer to the sport as well as his

position. He first played the sport in his junior year of high school in 1994. His father is a diplomatic representative of Cameroon

assigned to the United States.

In its 63rd year, the Blue-Gray game selects college seniors from those teams not participating in bowl games, who have excelled on

the football field throughout their careers. Nkwenti will be a member of the Blue squad, which is composed of college seniors from

northern colleges and universities. He will wear number 76 and be coached by Ron Turner, the head coach of the University of

Illinois. Last year the game was attended by over 300 professional representatives and is the first college all-star game of the post

season.

Nkwenti becomes the 20th Owl since 1940 to participate in the Classic. Since joining the BIG EAST Conference in 1990 the Owls

have sent five players to the Blue-Gray game. Nkwenti is one of four BIG EAST players on the team this year. Most recently the

Owls sent running back Stacey Mack, now a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who earned the game's MVP honors in 1998.

Some of the most notable Owls to participate include John Rienstra (Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns), Steve Joachim

(Temple's only Maxwell Club Award winner, 1974), and Mike Jarmoluk (former Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowler).