Temple Wildcats
Head Coach: Chad President (2nd season; 7-4 record)
Last Season: 7-4; 3-3 in district (Lost to Duncanville in bi-district round)
Returning Lettermen: 28 (5 returning starters on offense; 5 on defense)
Temple Key Players and Storylines
As a senior in 2014, Chad President led Temple to a runner-up finish as the Wildcats’ starting quarterback. Last year, he proved he’s a winner as a coach too as the Wildcats won seven games for the second straight season.
President said this year’s group “needs guys to mature and step up” after losing several key players to graduation. Chief among the players ready to emerge is starting quarterback Kylan Basinger (1,090 passing yards and 13 touchdowns). He impressed in his four starts as a sophomore last year, earning the district’s Newcomer of the Year award.
Expectations are also high for junior running back Eric Shelly (195 rushing yards and three touchdowns) after a “great offseason.” He’ll need to fill the shoes of a 1,500-yard rusher. There is some more experience on the offensive line including 5’10”, 285-pound guard Bradley Fillmore, who is heading into his third year as the starter.
Sophomore highlights
Offensive Newcomer of the Year
60/101 • 1,086 yards • 13 TDs.#DBB @CoachPresident @cole_martin_7 pic.twitter.com/547Zkkpl27— Kylan basinger (@KylanBasinger) December 10, 2025
Defensively, the Wildcats have no shortage of playmakers in the secondary with turnover-forcing machine Braylin Carr (three INTs and six fumble recoveries) and do-it-all defensive back/linebacker Isaiah Ellis (94 tackles, 13 TFLs). Linebacker Kyler Skrabanek is another junior the Wildcats have high hopes for after he started the last four games of last season.
After back-to-back third place district finishes, President said the next step for the program is finding ways to win big games. If they can do that, they’ll have a shot at their first district title since 2021.
2026 Temple Wildcats Football Schedule
*Denotes District 12-6A Contest
8/28/2026 @ Georgetown 7:00 P.M. at Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex
9/4/2026 vs. Round Rock 7:30 P.M. at Wildcat Stadium
9/11/2026 vs. San Antonio Pieper 7:00 P.M. at Wildcat Stadium
9/18/2026 @ Hutto 7:30 P.M. at Hutto Memorial Stadium
*9/25/2026 vs. Copperas Cove 7:00 P.M. at Wildcat Stadium
*10/2/2026 @ Midway 7:00 P.M. at Panther Stadium
*10/9/2026 vs. Harker Heights 7:00 P.M. at Wildcat Stadium
*10/16/2026 @ Lake Belton 7:00 P.M. at Tiger Field
*10/30/2026 Bryan Home 7:00 P.M. at Wildcat Stadium
*11/5/2026 @ Killeen Chaparral 7:00 P.M. at Joseph L. Searles Stadium
