Nicknamed "The Chosen One" during his stellar high school days, the Kansas City area product was regarded as one of the premier prep runners and a prized recruit when he arrived on Missouri's Columbia campus in 2004. He was expected to red-shirt that year, but was pressed into action after injuries depleted the running unit, only to injure an ankle himself vs. Nebraska and missing the rest of his freshman season.

Throughout 2007, he petitioned the NCAA to restore his eligibility for that season so he could return to college in 2008. After the death of his grandmother before the Texas A&M contest, Temple decided to give up his quest for that additional year on the college gridiron, forgoing his last-chance appeal with the NCAA.

Temple then turned his attention to getting ready for the 2008 NFL Draft. "It's time to move on and focus on doing what I need to do to make a positive impression for the next level," said Temple. "I feel good about looking into the extra year. It was worth a shot, but I don't want anyone spending any more time on it, and I feel I'm ready to take the next step. Coach (Gary) Pinkel and I decided before last season that we should approach the 2007 season like it was going to be my last, and I'm glad we did it that way," he said.

Temple ended his career with a record-setting 281-yard, four-touchdown performance in leading Mizzou to a 38-7 dismantling of 25th-ranked Arkansas in the 2008 Cotton Bowl, rushed for 1,039 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games in 2007. After a 1,063-yard campaign in 2006, Temple became the first Tiger running back to ever post multiple 1,000-yard seasons (former quarterback Brad Smith had three 1,000-yard rushing seasons from 2002-05). He ends his career with 2,552 rushing yards, which ranks him sixth on the school's all-time record list.

At Rockhurst High School, Temple was regarded as one of the nation's top tailback prospects, ranking eighth in the nation at that position, as well as the 79th overall talent at any position in the country, according to Rivals.com. ESPN ranked him as the nation's second-best tailback and 18th overall prospect at any position.

He was a three-time All-State choice named an All-American by Student Sports Magazine and Sports Illustrated, among other publications, despite playing in just three full games as a senior due to nagging shoulder and hamstring injuries. He was still was named to the U.S. Army All-American team after rushing for 950 yards and nine touchdowns.

Temple added to his legend with a junior season that saw him rush for 2,035 yards and 35 touchdowns, as Rockhurst won its second state championship in three years. He earned USA Today top Missouri player honors for his exploits as a junior. He rushed for 1,205 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore, and tallied 1,105 yards and 22 scores as a freshman as Rockhurst won the state title. He finished his career with 5,295 rushing yards and 85 total touchdowns. He was also an All-State performer in track, running a 10.4 100-meter dash.

After having his red-shirt year pulled when the coaches activated him for the 2004 Nebraska contest, Temple gained 13 yards on six rushes before getting hurt. He might have been able to return later in his freshman year, but a left shoulder sprain suffered in practice forced the coaches to shut him down for the year.

Temple started two of 10 games in 2005, finishing second on the team with 437 yards and three touchdowns on 81 attempts (5.4 avg). He added 70 yards on 16 receptions (4.4 avg) and 376 yards on 16 kickoff returns (23.5 avg), but sat out the Texas and Oklahoma State games with a right shoulder sprain and a left high ankle sprain.

Before the 2006 season, Temple and two others were arrested and charged with third degree assault and disturbance of the peace in June. His girlfriend at the time called Temple after she got into a dispute with one of the cooks at a restaurant she worked as a waitress. Temple arrived at the establishment and stood up for the woman. After the cook pushed Temple, he punched the man and the fight carried outside.

The woman jumped into the fight and police arrested all three. Temple did not serve jail time, but was sentenced to 20 hours of community service. Pinkel suspended Temple for the summer, re-instating him to the team before August camp.

He made amends with Pinkel and the Missouri squad. "I told everybody, 'It's not worth it, no matter what. Walk away from anything like that. Use me as an example,''' Temple said. "I'm glad I made the mistake, because I feel like I'm a strong enough person to get through it and learn from it. I just hope people will use me as an example.''

Temple would go on to earn All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention as a junior. He started 12 games, leading the Tigers and ranking second in the league with 1,063 yards and seven touchdowns on 193 carries (5.5 avg).

In 2007 August camp, Temple gave the staff a scare during an early scrimmage, as he had to be carted off the field by what they first thought was a serious right knee injury. MRI results proved negative and he was ready to go three weeks later in the season opener. He suffered an early October ankle sprain vs. Nebraska that sidelined him for the Oklahoma and Texas Tech games. He later played with a heavy heart after his grandmother passed away before the start of the Texas A&M clash, as he rushed for 141 yards in that game before heading home right after to attend to funeral arrangements.

Temple again earned All-Big 12 honorable mention in his final season. He rushed for 1,039 yards on 186 tries (5.6 avg) with 12 touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 68 yards (9.7 avg) and a touchdown. He ranked fifth in the league with his average of 86.58 yards per game on the ground.

In 36 games at Missouri, Temple started 25 times. He collected 2,552 yards on 466 carries (5.5 avg) with 22 touchdowns. He caught 29 passes for 172 yards (5.9 avg) and a score, adding 414 yards on 18 kickoff returns (23.0 avg). He scored 138 points, made one solo tackle and turned the ball over seven times on nine fumbles. He finished ranked seventh in school history with 3,138 all-purpose yards.

Positives: Has a short, compact build, but displays good upper body muscle thickness and thick thighs and calves … Has enough speed to get into the second level, but won't win lots of open-field foot races to the house … Tough inside runner who lacks power to move the pile, but has that cut agility to get vertical through the rush lane … Has stiff hips, but displays the feet and balance to attack the holes suddenly … Hard to judge his explosion, as he takes most of his snaps deep in the backfield (off shotgun formation), but he runs with very good vision, patience and instincts … Quick out of his stance and has the functional body control to slide in the short area … Has the balance (lacks power) to run through trash and the functional burst to bounce outside when the inside lanes are clogged … Tries to run over defenders rather than around them, but will give good effort and keep his feet moving, hoping to break free … When he stays low in his pads, with his size it makes it hard for defenders to locate him in a crowd … Has good feel for the blocking schemes and works well following his guards on pulls … Has the cut back agility to sidestep low tackles and does a nice job of picking up his feet and bouncing wide (just does not have the second gear to pull away) … Best when he is able to use his balance to slide off or spin away from defenders and bounce off arm tackles … Shows good body lean falling forward for extra yardage and it is rare to see him miss reads on the inside run … Lacks the ability to throw a move on a defender in the open and run away from the crowd, but can be slippery at times making his initial cut.

Negatives: Has short, stubby legs, but shows proportionate thighs and calves … Plays sometimes like a power back, thinking that he is bigger than his 5-8 frame, but does not have the leg drive or power to push the pile … Has good timed speed, but not the type who can easily separate from defenders in the open … Must run lower in his pads, as that and his desire to pound the ball through a crowd has led to durability concerns (seems to always have a minor injury that he is dealing with) … Needs to show better vision picking his holes, as he often runs right at the defense rather than trying to elude (some scouts feel his body will not hold up in the NFL unless he shows that he can keep his pads down and stop running so upright) … Poor route runner who struggles looking the ball in over his shoulder and will more often trap the ball than extend for it (usually removed in passing situations) … Lacks the upper body fluid motion, head fakes and loose hips to surprise and set up the defender … Struggles with hard coaching and is the type who needs to be coddled in order to perform … Has one off-field issue that needs further clarification … Lacks the sudden burst through the holes and needs to gather on his cuts, but has enough speed and balance to turn the corner.

Compares To: DOMINIC RHODES-Oakland … Like Rhodes, Temple is a compactly built runner with good balance and quickness, but while he has the timed speed he lacks the second gear to escape once in the open. He is a liability as a receiver coming out of the backfield and has durability issues, as he always seems to be nursing one injury or another. He is just a one-cut runner who gets banged up so much because he fails to run at a low pad level. He flashes some stretch cut ability to get vertical through the hole, but would be better served as a change-of-pace back than one who gets the brunt of the load. His recent workouts could see him get selected later in the draft, but in four years at Missouri he failed to live up to his high school moniker - The Chosen One.

2003: Only played in three full games as a high school senior due to a right shoulder sprain and nagging hamstring pulls.

2004: Suffered a right high ankle sprain vs. Nebraska (10/30), missing the rest of the season … Was trying to return to the field, but sprained his left shoulder in an early November practice and the coaches decided to shut him down for the year.

2005: Did not play vs. Texas (10/01) and Oklahoma State (10/08) due to a left high ankle sprain and a right shoulder strain.

2006: Sat out spring drills after undergoing surgery in February to clean out debris from his right shoulder … Left the Oklahoma game (10/28) after three carries when he re-injured his right shoulder.

2007: Was carted off the field during the first week of August camp with a right knee sprain, missing over two weeks of practice … Suffered a left high ankle sprain making a catch vs. Nebraska (10/06), sitting out the next two games vs. Oklahoma (10/13) and then re-aggravated it in practice, missing the Texas Tech (10/20) clash.

Campus: 4.51 in the 40-yard dash (on field turf … 310-pound bench press … Bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times … 606-pound squat … 305-pound hang clean … 36-inch vertical jump … 9'1" broad jump … 11 pull-ups … 29 5/8-inch arm length … 9-inch hands … 14/32 Wonderlic score.

Combine: Did not receive an invitation.

Attended Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.) High School, playing football for head coach Tony Severino … Regarded as one of the nation's top tailback prospects, ranking eighth in the nation at that position, as well as the 79th overall talent at any position in the country, according to Rivals.com … ESPN ranked him as the nation's second-best tailback and 18th overall prospect at any position … Three-time All-State choice … Named an All-American by Student Sports Magazine and Sports Illustrated, among other publications … Despite playing in just three full games as a senior due to nagging shoulder and hamstring injuries, still was named to the U.S. Army All-American team after rushing for 950 yards and nine touchdowns … Added to his legend with a junior season that saw him rush for 2,035 yards and 35 touchdowns, as Rockhurst won its second state championship in three years … Earned USA Today top Missouri player honors for his exploits as a junior … Rushed for 1,205 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore, and tallied 1,105 yards and 22 scores as a freshman as Rockhurst won the state title … Finished his career with 5,295 rushing yards and 85 total touchdowns … Also an All-State performer in track, running a 10.4-second 100-meter dash.

Hotel and Restaurant Management major … Cousin, Steve Redmond, was a teammate (2004-present) and linebacker at Missouri. The two were also teammates at Rockhurst High School … Son of Diana and Tony Temple … Born 9/13/85 … Resides in Kansas City, Missouri.