Drake Temple didn't start from the bottom, but now he's got a G-MAC award and his team is in first place.
Temple, a junior defensive back for the Hillsdale College football team, was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Week. The award was announced and chosen by the conference office.
All season, the Hillsdale defense has found ways to make big plays when they were needed most, and Temple was right in the middle of that during Saturday's 20-17 win at Findlay. He made an acrobatic interception on the Findlay 4-yard line to stop one of the Oilers' biggest scoring threats. On the Oilers' last offensive play from scrimmage, Temple forced a fumble that was recovered by Wyatt Batdorff int he end zone for a touchback, effectively ending the game in Hillsdale's favor.
Temple made a team-high eight solo tackles in the win, and he's been a key player on a Hillsdale defense that leads the conference allowing 19.5 points per game. Temple ranks third on the team with 41 total tackles, and he has two interceptions, four pass break-ups, one forced fumble and a blocked kick this season.
He is a native of Wixom, Michigan.