Cooper, Kamara to represent Owls in Monday's Big 33 Game - 247Sports

Pennsylvania players take a knee at their first Big 33 practice on April 18. (Photo: Photo Courtesy PSFCA Big 33)

Temple signees Malik Cooper and Balansama Kamara will play their last high school game for Team Pennsylvania in the PSFCA Big 33 Football Classic against Team Maryland on Monday afternoon in Harrisburg, Pa. The Big 33 game is back this year after being canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus.

Cooper will play wide receiver and Kamara will play linebacker for the Pennsylvania squad, which features no less than 22 players headed to FBS schools this fall. The PA roster includes players ticketed for Penn State, Pitt, Wisconsin, Florida, Mississippi, Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers, Indiana, Navy, and five different MAC schools. Notably, Temple, Penn State, and Pitt are the only schools with multiple team members.

The Maryland roster includes at least 20 players headed to FBS schools, including Oklahoma, Georgia, Maryland, Penn State, Pitt, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Wake Forest, Rutgers, and Michigan State.

Team Pennsylvania has won four of the last five matchups against Team Maryland, most recently posting a 21-0 victory in 2019. Maryland scored a 9-6 victory in 2018. Until last summer, the game was played (with various opponents for Team PA) every year since 1958.

Cooper will join the Owls later this summer following a terrific career at Philadelphia's St. Joseph's Prep, where he was originally coached by Temple running backs coach Gabe Infante. Cooper helped The Prep capture three straight state championships and saved his best for last – catching a 79-yard touchdown pass, throwing a 55-yard touchdown pass, and returning a punt 47 yards for a touchdown in a 62-13 victory over Central York High School in this year's championship game. As a junior, Cooper played quarterback in the state title game.

Kamara is projected to play defensive end for the Owls following a super-productive career playing for Temple football alum Rich Drayton at Philadelphia's Central High School. He totaled 60 tackles, nine sacks, and three forced fumbles in his junior year. Central played three games this spring.

Kamara will wear No. 6 and Cooper will wear No. 16 in Monday's game.

The Big 33 game is being held at Landis Field in Harrisburg, Pa., with kickoff set for 1 p.m. The game will be livestreamed on YouTube. Information about the livestream is available on the Big 33 website, big33.org.