Sep 9, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Temple Owls quarterback E.J. Warner (3) throws the ball during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Temple QB E.J. Warner to test transfer portal

Temple quarterback E.J. Warner is entering the transfer portal.

The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner set single-season records in passing touchdowns (23) and 300-yard games (four) in 2023. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

“I am forever grateful to Temple University, Coach (Stan) Drayton, and Coach (Danny) Langsdorf for the opportunity they gave me to pursue my dream of playing college football,” Warner wrote Tuesday on Twitter. “Knowing the belief they had in me and wanting to help them bring back the winning ways of Temple football is what makes this so tough.”

Warner completed 57.5 percent of his passes for 3,076 yards with 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season. He has thrown for 6,104 yards with 41 TDs and 24 picks over the last two years.

–Field Level Media

Aug 6, 2022; Canton, OH, USA; Kurt Warner arrives on the red carpet during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Report: QB E.J. Warner, Kurt’s son, to start for Temple

Temple freshman quarterback E.J. Warner, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame member Kurt Warner, will make his first collegiate start on Saturday against Rutgers in Philadelphia, ESPN reported.

Warner replaced ineffective starter D’Wan Mathis in the second quarter last week and led the Owls to a 30-14 win over Lafayette. He was 14-of-19 passing for 173 years and two touchdowns.

Warner, who was lightly recruited out of Brophy Prep in Phoenix, entered the season behind Mathis and Quincy Patterson, who played at Virginia Tech and North Dakota State, on the depth chart.

Mathis is 14-of-29 passing for 125 yards in the first two games for Temple (1-1). Patterson has thrown for 31 yards on 3-of-8 passing.

Rutgers is 2-0 on the season.

–Field Level Media

Brophy Prep quarterbacks coach Kurt Warner practices with players at the Brophy Sports Complex in Phoenix, Ariz. on April 26, 2021.

Brophy Football Practice April 26 2021

QB Elijah Warner, Kurt’s son, commits to Temple

Quarterback Elijah “EJ” Warner, son of Pro Football Hall of Fame member Kurt Warner, committed to play at Temple.

The younger Warner played at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix. He intends to make his commitment to Temple official next Wednesday on National Signing Day.

“EJ is one of the sharpest and smartest football players I have ever been around,” Brophy head coach Jason Jewell told USA Today. “He absolutely loves football and is a student of the game.”

In the 2021 season, he passed for 2,742 yards with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions, per USA Today. Brophy was 7-5 on the season, and Kurt Warner was the quarterbacks coach.

“He was our point guard,” Jewell said of EJ Warner. “Got us in the right plays and protections. So happy that he landed at Temple.”

The 6-foot, 200-pound Warner is ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 123 quarterback by the 247Sports composite. His dad, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, was undrafted out of Northern Iowa and cut by the Green Bay Packers in training camp in 1994.

Kurt Warner went to work stocking shelves in a grocery store and played in the Arena Football League before getting his chance as a backup in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams in 1998. A year later, he was league MVP, a first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl champion.

–Field Level Media