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So, instead, Temple had three weeks of training camp to decide between three candidates to take the first snaps against Notre Dame. Junior Connor Reilly started August as the No. 1 option, but senior Clinton "Juice" Granger and freshman P.J. Walker forced Rhule to make a tough decision. Ultimately, Reilly won the job. The junior threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns during Temple's spring scrimmage, which quickly vaulted him to the top of the quarterback options. Pompey said the prolific debut of Rhule's new offense may have been as much of a reflection on a secondary still finding its footing as it was a major step forward made on the offensive side. "It's a continuation of the problem from last year," he said. "If you can throw the ball against them, you'll beat them." Temple's opponents completed 59.9 percent of their attempted passes last season and threw for 21 touchdowns. The Owls' secondary finished 115th nationally in pass efficiency defense. Cornerbacks Anthony Robey and Zamel Johnson are both back this season after starting last year, but both safety spots were vacated. Redshirt freshman Nate L. Smith, a Philadelphia native and the top recruit of the 2012 class, is the frontrunner to take over in the middle of the defensive backfield. Smith originally committed to West Virginia before deciding to stick around in his hometown. He's not to be confused with Nate D. Smith, a sophomore linebacker who made 75 tackles last season as part of a talented rookie duo. He paired with fellow freshman Tyler Matakevich as the team's top two tacklers last year. Matakevich made 101 stops and won the Big East Freshman of the Year award. "Both of these guys don't pass the eye test, so they didn't receive a lot of recruiting offers, but Tyler is all over the field. I don't understand what people didn't see Rhule was an assistant at Temple from 2006‑11, helping build up a program that was nearly abandoned in 2004 into one that notched a 27‑12 record with two bowl appearances and one bowl win from 2009‑11. Be a part of Notre Dame's climb back to the top of college football! Access to the Ultimate Irish Tailgater at Notre Dame's Official Hospitality Village allows you to experience the fanfare and tradition of Notre Dame Football, with all of the amenities of first class hospitality. Passes for the 2013 football season are now available and include a full buffet and open bar, keepsakes, entertainment and more in a 3-hour all inclusive pre-game event. photo courtesy temple in him," Pompey said. "He should have another big [year]. He's the best player on the defense." Despite their efforts, the Owls gave up an average of 199.8 yards per game on the ground. They could be fighting another uphill battle this year, and especially at Notre Dame, if Temple doesn't find a little more strength on the defensive line in its fall camp. Rhule's job gets a little bit more manageable after facing the national runnerup Irish to start the season, with games against Houston, Fordham and Idaho coming in September. Managing expectations, though, is a top priority for the energetic new head coach as he begins the tedious process of reconstructing the program he helped return from rubble once before. ✦ www.und.com/store/hospitality Questions: hospitality@ndsportsproperties.com ✦ Page 3