As a player of the Temple University football team, one of the highest honors you can obtain is by earning a single digit jersey. Some of Temple football legends have worn single digits during their tenure at the school. Names such as Tyler Matakevich, Tavon Young and Haason Reddick. To wear a single digit at Temple means you represent what it means to be “Temple Tuff.” This year, Sharif Finch represented that at camp and earned himself a membership to the single digit club.
Finch is a 5th year senior, looking to make a huge impact during his last ride as an Owl. Started his collegiate career as a linebacker but converted into a defensive end his sophomore year as he showed blatant ability to get to the quarterback. In 2016, Finch battled chronic knee injuries that only allowed him to play in just four games. Due to the injures, he was granted a medical redshirt, giving him another year of eligibility of college football.
Finch spent his high school football days playing linebacker at Henrico High School located in Virginia. He led the team in every defensive category his junior and senior year. His junior year he racked up 161 tackles to go along with 10.5 sacks. As a senior, he got a total of 123 tackles and 7 sacks. Finch was a two-star inside linebacker in the 2013 recruiting class. He go to receive offers from several schools including Richmond, Old Dominion, Hampton, East Carolina, and Temple. Per Rivals.com, he committed to Temple on February 5, 2013.
Finch is a special play waiting to happen as he enters to the 2017 season as the NCAA active leader in blocked punts with five of them. In the opening game against Norte Dame, Finch was quiet with just 3 tackles but quickly made up for it the next week in the Owls home opener against Villanova. Finch recorded 6 tackles, and 2 tackles for loss of 8 yards’ total. He also recovered a late fumble that sealed the deal for Temple’s first victory in the Geoff Collins era. As the season goes on, when the Temple Owls go on defense, it’s a guarantee you’ll see number 6 flying around and wherever the ball is at, that’s where he’s usually at.
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