Cruz Temple

Bio

2025: Temple was a first-team All-SAC pick at linebacker.  Temple led Carson-Newman in tackles in 2025 with 66 stops, 31 of which were solo.  He made 3.5 tackles for loss and had a sack.  He hurried the QB seven times. He forced a fumble against Catawba while recovering one in the finale against Tusculum. Temple earned SAC and TSWA Player of the Week honors following C-N's 28-6 win at Anderson.  He had nine tackles, a tackle for loss and three quarterback hurries. 

HONORS

• D2CCA All-Region Second Team 
• All-SAC First Team 

2024: Temple finished third on the team in tackles at his linebacker spot.  He tallied 61 stops on the year with 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He also recovered a fumble. Temple tallied a career-best 10 tackles in the SAC title game against Wingate (Sept. 21). He also had 1.5 sacks against the Bulldogs. Temple started in six of the 12 games that he played.  

PRIOR TO CARSON-NEWMAN: 

2023 (A-State): Did not see game action

2022 (A-State): Arkansas State Athletics Director’s Honor Roll member … Appeared in three games, at Ohio State, at Old Dominion, and against ULM on special teams.

2021 (East Carolina): Did not see game action during the 2021 season.

HIGH SCHOOL:  A key defender for a powerful prep program that amassed a 52-2 combined record, advanced to four state championship game appearances and captured three titles since 2017 under legendary coach Jamie Nickles ... Helped lead the Panthers to a perfect 11-0 mark in 2020 which was capped with a 37-6 victory over Marion in the South Carolina Class AA Championship tilt on Dec. 18 ... Anchored a unit that posted seven shutouts, allowed just 44 total points (4.0 ppg) and owned a 468-point scoring margin (512-44) ... AHS opened 2020 playoff action with wins over Batesburg-Leesville (56-0), Chesnee (32-7) and Gray Collegiate Academy (28-10) before downing Marion in the title matchup ... As the Panthers’ starting safety in 2019, spearheaded a defense that surrendered only 11.9 points per game on the way to a 13-1 record and a state finals showing ... After downing Lewisville (85-22), Andrew Jackson (37-0) and Gray Collegiate Academy (38-35), Abbeville was upset by Saluda (32-28) in the championship tilt ... ... Logged 35 tackles, 2.0 TFL, two pass breakups and forced a fumble ... Earned All-Lakelands Region honors and was a South Carolina High School Coaches Association First-Team All-State selection ... Also used as a short-yardage back offensively during junior campaign ... Part of AHS’s 14-0 season in 2018 that culminated with a state championship- clinching 48-14 triumph over Barnwell ... Netted five interceptions, three of those coming during postseason run ... Defensively, Abbeville limited its opponents to just 9.6 points per game in 2018 ... Began prep career on the junior varsity as a freshman in 2017, but was promoted to varsity unit after his first four contests and helped AHS compile a 14-1 record and claim another state championship trophy following a 14-7 decision over Bamberg-Ehrhardt ... Rated as a three-star prospect according to 247Sports.com and ESPN.com ... Rated a two-star recruit per Rivals.com ... Ranked among the Top 35 prospects in the state of South Carolina by 247Sports.com ... Also received offers from Air Force, Army, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Navy.

PERSONAL: The son of Tony and Shannon Temple, he plans to study physical education at Carson-Newman.  Father, Tony, was a walk-on at South Carolina, and older brother, Nate, was a Shrine Bowl All-Star Game participant and is now a redshirt junior defensive lineman at Pittsburgh.