Memphis Tigers College Football Preview 2021: Offense
– The offense wasn’t all that bad. It was hardly the home-run hitting show the previous versions were, but it was still fun. It averaged 453 yards and 31 points per game under the new coaching staff, the passing game was consistent, and the ground game had its moments. There’s just enough of an overhaul this year to need some work, but it’ll be dangerous.
– QB Brady White threw for close to 11,000 yards and 90 touchdowns as the longtime Tiger starter, but there are plenty of nice options to work with, Arizona transfer Grant Gunnell is a very big, very mobile option, former LSU star recruit Peter Parrish has a world of upside, and Keilon Brown has been around a bit and will get his shots.
Leading receiver Calvin Austin is coming off an all-star 63-catch, 11-touchdown season, but No. 2 yardage guy Tahj Washington is off to USC.
Sean Dykes is a terrific pass catching tight end after making 47 grabs for 581 yards and seven scores, and there’s enough receiving talent – helped by getting former Austin Peay QB Jeremiah Oatsvall as a jack-of-all-trades receiver – to make the passing game go.
– Nah, the running game wasn’t close to being at the 2018 level, and again, it wasn’t consistent. The offensive line was decent in pass protection but wasn’t great at allowing tackles for loss, and the ground attack averaged 145 yards per game.
Losing left tackle Obinna Eze to TCU doesn’t help, but three starters are back up front around 320-pound Matt Dale inside and the versatile Dylan Parham who’ll be moved around where needed.
The running backs are interesting. Asa Martin is a former big recruit for Auburn who ran for 233 yards last year, Kylan Watkins averaged over five yards per carry, and Rodrigues Clark led the way with 561 yards. But the Tigers ran for just nine scores – more on that in a moment.
Memphis 26, Florida Atlantic 10. The 10 ten things you need to know about the Memphis win over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl
Memphis 26, Florida Atlantic 10. The 10 ten things you need to know about the Memphis win over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl.
[jwplayer Hn8O2tae]
Memphis 26, Florida Atlantic 10: Montgomery Bowl
10. Florida Atlantic got really, really close to making this interesting. It had plenty of chances to come up with late scores, but the Memphis defense held on a goal line stand, came up with a pick in the final minutes, and the 25-10 score looked a wee bit worse than it actually was. Emphasis on the word wee, because …
9. Okay, Memphis should’ve made this a blowout. The Tigers outgained the Owls 469 yards to 290 and had several opportunities to pull away further, but three turnovers – the conditions weren’t perfect, to be fair – made this a wee bit dramatic, at least for those who sat through the entire game.
8. The American Athletic Conference DESPERATELY needed this. Memphis was around a double-digit favorite depending on where you choose to invest, but after Tulane and UCF lost their respective bowls in ugly fashion the day before, and with Houston expected to miss around 20 players for its date with Hawaii the day after the Montgomery Bowl, the league couldn’t afford another clunker.
7. Memphis wasn’t great, but it got the job done. It was a business-like effort, it got up early, and there wasn’t any real drama. However, give the Tigers credit for making the key plays to prevent FAU from getting into a position for there to be any real drama. It also helped that …
6. The Tiger offense and got out of a few jams. It managed to go on a few long drives when needed to keep the momentum on its side – Memphis had an 18-0 lead at halftime – and rumbled late with a few good runs to close it out. The ground game averaged over five yards per carry and finished with 185 yards against the solid Owl D.
5. That’s the Florida Atlantic offense. It it struggled all year, only scoring against the truly awful defenses. The running game wasn’t awful – James Charles ran for 82 yards – but Nick Tronti isn’t the type of quarterback who’ll bomb away for 300 yards. He completed 16-of-32 passes for 146 yards with a touchdown and a pick, and he ran for 33 yards, but there were a few plays that didn’t click that could’ve been gamechangers.
4. Willie Taggart still hasn’t won a bowl game. It’s one of the stranger trivia tidbits considering all of his success, but he left WKU for USF just before a bowl, lost his one bowl appearance at USF and left before the second, and he left Oregon for Florida State before the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl. Those wins will come – he’s a master of rebuilding programs – and this year’s team had to undergo an overhaul.
3. It might not have been an American Athletic Conference championship season under Ryan Silverfield, and Memphis might not have played in a New Year’s Six game, but it’s a bowl win for the program for the first time since taking out BYU in the 2014 Miami Beach, and it’s the second win in the last nine tries going back to 2005. The Tigers ended this year winning five games in the last six in an interesting run.
2. Defense hasn’t really been a thing around Memphis football over the years, but up 25-10, it had to hold on after a fumble that led to FAU getting down to the Tiger 3. It did, coming up with a 4th-and-1 stop. With just over four minutes to play, Memphis got an interception by Thomas Pickens at the goal line to finish allowing just 290 yards of total FAU offense and ten points.
1. Brady White was a strong recruit for Arizona State, threw 49 passes, and left for Memphis. All he did in his Tiger career was throw for 10,690 yards and 90 touchdowns, and for his entire college experience, he threw for 10,949 yards to close out as the 73rd all-time yardage leader in passing. After this game, he passed up Marcus Mariota, Matt Leinart, Danny Wuerffel and Ben Roethlisberger on the all-time NCAA yardage list.
He led the way to an American Athletic Conference championship, a Cotton Bowl appearance, and another trip to the AAC title game. He was fine, throwing for 284 yards and three touchdowns with a pick in his final game, leading the Tigers to an eight-win season and a bowl victory.
The University of Memphis football program has paused all football activities after several people tested positive for COVID-19
The University of Memphis football program has paused all football activities after several people tested positive for COVID-19
The University of Memphis announced on Friday that it will pause all of its football activities after several people within the program tested positive for COVID-19.
According to an article from the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the outbreak might have come from players allegedly being on a party bus after last week’s 37-24 win over Arkansas State. From the report, players were tested three times before the game and then right after, but now upwards of 20 players have reportedly tested positive.
Reporting with @mgiannotto and @munzly: Memphis has at least 20 people within the football program who have tested positive for COVID-19 and "at least 20" more who are in quarantine due to contact tracing according to multiple sources.https://t.co/kqxBlgJrls
However, Memphis defensive tackle O’Bryan Goodson disputes the report.
Lies Dog! Nobody Had A Party Nor Was On A Party Bus!! Arkansas St needs to be the ones Tested We’ve been doing what we’re supposed to do , all this came after we played them! https://t.co/5YPJBw2Dx4
Now the American Athletic Conference opener against Houston for Friday night the 18th is in question, as is the following Friday game against UTSA on the road.
Arkansas State is expected to play at Kansas State this weekend.
If the Memphis date with Houston can’t go as scheduled, there would have to be some reworking to do to get it in. Houston doesn’t have any open dates the rest of the way outside of October 3rd.
If Memphis and SMU move their game – scheduled for October 3rd – to October 10th when both the Cougars and Tigers could move their game to the third.
The AP announced their preseason All-American teams on Tuesday. See who made the first and second teams since no Notre Dame players did.
In a busy week for the Associated Press before college football kicks off in a few short weeks, the Preseason All-American Team was announced on Tuesday with no Notre Dame players being named to the squad.
The team is composed of players from teams who will both be playing and not being playing this fall.
11 players on the AP’s first-team and an additional 12 on the second team won’t see action this season which speaks to the volume of talent that won’t be viewed on college football fields this fall.
No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.
5. College Football News Preview 2020: Memphis Offense 3 Things To Know
– It’s asking for a whole lot to expect yet another year of unstoppable offensive explosion. The Tigers were tenth in the nation in total offense and eighth in scoring, but UCF and SMU came up with bigger stats.
Everything clicked. Memphis was great at keeping the chains moving, the averaged close to 15 yards per completion, and they were adaptable enough to hit defenses with a variety of superstar playmakers and styles.
New head coach Ryan Silverfield is an offensive line coach kicked up to the top job, but Kevin Johns is back as the offensive coordinator.
Nah … nothing is going to change. Keeping Johns around should ensure that.
CFN in 60 Video: Purdue Preview
Memphis at Purdue, Sept. 12
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– The quarterback situation is settled with Brady White back after throwing for over 4,000 yards with 33 touchdowns and 11 picks, and with junior Connor Adair still the main backup waiting for his turn.
The receiving corps loses home run hitter Antonio Gibson, but Damonte Coxie is back after leading the team with 76 catches for 1,276 yards and nine scores. It’s going to take some work to restock the shelves – Kedarian Jones is done after finishing third on the team with 39 grabs, and TE Joey Magnifico is finished.
On the way is Kundarrius Taylor, Khi Mathieu and Marcayll Jones in the recruiting class to add some instant pop.
– The running back corps is interesting. Kenneth Gainwell is one of the nation’s best do-it-all backs, Kylan Watkins is a nice runner who needs the ball more, and ready to roll should be Asa Martin, the former Auburn super-recruit who finally has his landing spot. Gainwell can handle most of the work, but there should be a better rotation.
The line struggled in pass protection and was 111th in the nation in tackles for loss allowed. Three starters are back around top guard Dylan Parham – who could work at center – and needing some new parts to produce right away.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Memphis Defense 3 Things To Know
“Huge production as a junior. Closes fast in pursuit and with a purpose. Shows impressive close-quarters explosiveness. Can uncoil without gathering. Pad-popper. Pursues well to perimeter and redirects well in run game.”
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Memphis offensive weapon Antonio Gibson
Today’s NFL puts a premium on versatile playmakers who can line up all over the field and score every time they touch the ball.
If your favorite team is looking for that kind of weapon in the 2020 NFL Draft class, their search should begin and end with Memphis’ Antonio Gibson.
A big-play, touchdown machine, Gibson recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about making the transition from the JUCO level, his experience at the NFL Scouting Combine, and what kind of impact he’ll make at the next level.
JM: Before you were scoring touchdowns at Memphis, you were playing football at East Central Community College. Was the transition to Memphis a difficult one for you?
AG: Honestly, the most difficult part of the transition was learning Coach [Mike] Norvell’s playbook. It was way more complicated than anything I had ever seen before. It was certainly very different than what I was used to at East Central or even high school for that matter. Coach Norvell’s offense definitely took some getting used to. I had to do a lot of reading and studying to get it down pact. That was definitely the toughest part of the transition for me.
Getting used to the pace of the game at the Division I level was a bit of a challenge in the beginning. Of course, the athletes are a lot of faster and stronger in Division I.
JM: Things went pretty well for you once you became acclimated to your new surroundings. You scored 14 touchdowns on 77 touches. How is that even possible?
AG: I feel like I was always capable of that. I feel like if I would have gotten more touches, that statistic would look even more ridiculous (laughs). I made the best of my opportunities. I was trying to do something special every time I touched the ball. That’s where my mind was. I didn’t really get any touches in 2018. Going into this past season, I told myself that I would make the most of every and any opportunity I got in 2019. That’s exactly why I did.
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
JM: You made 38 catches this past season, and you had 33 carries, as well. I’m curious to hear more on what feedback you’re getting from NFL teams. What position do they see you playing at the next level?
AG: Most teams see me playing running back at the next level. Some teams see me playing both positions. Running back has been the general consensus, though. I’ll probably start off in a running back role. That would be something a little new for me. I’m ready for the challenge, though. I’m excited about making that adjustment. I’m used to having to adapt to new situations. That’s what I’ve been hearing from the teams that I’ve spoken with.
JM: You returned some kicks at Memphis, as well. Is that something that you’d like to continue doing at the next level?
AG: For sure, I would love to. I feel like a lot of NFL teams are pretty secure at the kick returner position but I would love to return kicks. If they want me to start off as a gunner on special teams, I’m cool with that, as well. I’ll do whatever it takes to get on the field. I’m ready for the challenge.
JM: You’re such a unique playmaker. I’m curious, which NFL players you admired growing up?
AG: I admired guys like Reggie Bush, Julio Jones and Michael Vick growing up. Reggie Bush was one of my favorite players. As I started to get a little older, that’s when I started to watch some Julio Jones. Everybody wanted to be the prime-time player that Michael Vick was, especially here in Georgia. I don’t know any kids in Georgia that didn’t wanna grow up to be Michael Vick.
As I got older and started to become more comfortable with my play style, I started to watch guys like Cordarrelle Patterson, Ty Montgomery and David Johnson. Those guys can do it all. They weren’t pigeonholed into one position. They made an impact across several positions and so will I.
JM: I know that you mentioned a few current players there, but if you had to narrow it down, is there one current NFL player that you’d compare yourself to?
AG: I know that he was a rookie last season, but I would probably say Deebo Samuel. When you look at all the jet sweeps they ran for him, he lined up at receiver and I’m pretty sure he could play some running back if they wanted to line him up in the backfield (laughs). I see a lot of similarities in our games.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
AG: It was a great experience. I’m very thankful for the opportunity. The route I took to get here, a combine invite was never a guarantee for me. You’re certainly not gonna hear any complaints from me. It was early mornings and late nights, but I was so thrilled just to be there. I took every moment in. I enjoyed the process. It was awesome.
JM: You had a fantastic combine performance, including a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash. What do you think is the impression that you left out there?
AG: I definitely showcased my speed. A lot of teams put a 4.65 on me. I heard that prediction for my 40-yard dash time. That was kind of shocking to me. I didn’t think that I looked like a 4.65 player on film. I ran away from defenders in the open field. I didn’t get caught from behind on tape. That 4.65, that was stuck in my head the entire time I was there. I had to show them otherwise. I feel like I made a great impression.
JM: Hold on, a team actually said that you look like a 4.65 player to them?
AG: I had heard that feedback from certain circles. Some teams asked me what I was gonna run in the 40. I told them, in my mind, I’m a low 4.4 player. I was thinking that I was gonna run around a 4.42. Worst case scenario, I knew I was gonna get in the low 4.4’s at least. Even when I told some scouts or coaches that I was gonna run in the low 4.4’s, they were like “Oh, really?” This was at the combine. They were shocked that I predicted something in the low 4.4’s. I don’t know why that is.
JM: What’s your favorite part about playing the running back or wide receiver position?
AG: I just love being able to impact the game from anywhere on the field. For me, having the ball in my hands is a lot of fun. I’m so elusive with the ball in my hands. I love making plays. Once I get going, the amount of adrenaline running through my body is crazy. I can’t stop myself.
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
JM: Were you able to get any private visits or workouts in before COVID-19 shut everything down?
AG: Nope, I didn’t get that chance. Everything I had scheduled was supposed to go down after my pro day. My pro day ended up getting cancelled along with every visit.
JM: Have you met with many teams via FaceTime and Zoom?
AG: A lot of teams have asked me to keep that private at this time. I have to respect their wishes, of course. I will say this, I’ve spoken to a lot of teams. I’ve done something with nearly every team in the NFL.
JM: What was the strangest question you were asked at the combine?
AG: I didn’t really get anything overly strange. This one team asked me what’s the worst thing my mother would say about me (laughs). That was pretty funny. I didn’t even know how to answer at first. My mother would never say a bad word about me (laughs). I was like, my mother wouldn’t say anything bad about me, so I don’t really know how to answer this question. It took me a few seconds to even respond. I just sat there and eventually I was like, “Nothing.” That was pretty funny.
JM: We’ve touched on your time spent in the slot. When you were lined up at receiver, did you approach a smaller cornerback any differently than you did one that could match your size?
AG: I definitely did. If I’m matched up with a smaller corner, I’m definitely gonna put my body on you and try to use my size to my advantage. I’m gonna try to use any advantage I can to create separation. If you’re a bigger guy, I’m gonna make sure that you have to use your feet against me. It always comes down to knowing your opponent and how I can gain the upper hand.
JM: What kind of impact is Antonio Gibson going to make at the next level?
AG: I’m gonna continue to move things in the right direction. The game is changing. Coaches are starting to put their athletes in promising positions and I wanna be a part of that. I wanna add on to that trend. I wanna be known as one of the best athletes on the field at any given moment. I don’t have to be pigeonholed into one position. I just wanna make plays for my team. Whether you put me at running back, wide receiver or on special teams, I’m gonna make an impact wherever I’m needed.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Memphis linebacker/safety prospect Austin Hall
Every NFL defense loves having versatile weapons who can make plays all over the field. Memphis’ Austin Hall is one such prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft class.
Hall recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his unique skill set, the recent pro day workout he filmed, and why an NFL team should take a chance on him in this year’s draft.
JM: How would you describe your play style?
AH: I’m a versatile guy. I can do multiple things. I’ve played both inside and outside. I’ve played at linebacker and safety for multiple years now. I understand different techniques, schemes and coverages. Playing both positions taught me a lot. I’ve played at the line of scrimmage as well. I’ve dropped back in coverage and played man-to-man on tight ends and slot receivers. Memphis asked a lot of me and I was happy to do it. I’ve gone up against guys at all levels of competition. My versatility allows me to do a lot of different things. I bring a lot to the table.
JM: You’ve been so versatile throughout your time at Memphis. What’s your favorite part about your skill set?
AH: I love being able to set the tone on defense. I’ve always wanted to do whatever I can to help the team. That’s always been my mentality. It’s always going through my mind. I loved being able to play in that hybrid role. I can blitz like a linebacker or cover like a safety. We called it the “star” position at Memphis for a long time. We switched up our defense a little bit last season. I’ve done, and seen a lot of different things while playing that “star” spot. I played a lot outside on the perimeter and I really enjoyed that. That was probably my favorite position. I love playing on the outside and being able to blitz off the edge. I can make some plays on the outside.
JM: You held a pro day recently and filmed the results. What can you tell me about that?
AH: The results were great. I had 17 reps on the bench press. My broad jump was 10-feet. I had a 40-inch vertical. I brought my 40-yard dash time down to a 4.50 flat which was great. I hit a 6.84 in the L-drill. I’ve worked really hard the past few months. I’ve been preparing for the draft down in Birmingham. I became family with my trainers down here and we really put our heads down and went to work. There are a few guys down here and we had our Pro Day together. Everybody really showed out. The numbers were great and as they say, the film doesn’t lie. I’m very confident in my film. It was a successful day. Hopefully some of these NFL teams will take notice. All you need is one team to like you.
JM: Speaking of teams, which have you been in contact with?
AH: I’ve had interest from the Steelers, Colts, Chiefs, Cowboys, Raiders and Bills. I’ve either spoken to every single one of those teams, or they’ve been in communication with my agent. I’m supposed to do something with the Packers and 49ers as well. There’s been a solid two handfuls of teams. The Chiefs and Cowboys seem to like me quite a bit. My versatility brings a lot to the table.
JM: Playing at Memphis afforded you the opportunity to play against some of the best competition college football has to offer. Who are some of the best opponents you’ve squared off with?
AH: We played against Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl back in 2017 when David Montgomery was the running back over there. He plays for the Chicago Bears now. He was outstanding at Iowa State. He was tough to bring down. We actually forced a fumble in that game. I think that was the only fumble he had all season. It was some crazy stat. We felt pretty good about that (laughs). He’s very good. We played against Penn State in the Cotton Bowl this past season. They’re obviously a big-time powerhouse team. It was the last game of the season. The running back over there was also an outstanding player. Those were two talented guys right there. I enjoyed playing against them. They’re definitely the two best running backs I’ve ever squared off with.
JM: Why should an NFL team use one of their draft picks on Austin Hall?
AH: I’m gonna be one of the hardest workers you can find at the next level. I walked on at Memphis and the rest is history. I worked my butt off to become a main contributor on our defense. I’ve had to earn every single thing. All I need is one opportunity. I have a lot of skills that I’m excited to showcase. I’m gonna be a versatile chess-piece at the next level. I work hard both on and off the field. Relationships are everything. I try to do everything the right way. I truly believe in that.
The New Orleans Saints selected versatile Memphis prospect Antonio Gibson in the latest 2020 NFL mock draft from Pro Football Focus.
[jwplayer pB1E9gCb-ThvAeFxT]
The most recent 2020 NFL mock draft from Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus started out with an as-expected pick for the New Orleans Saints in the first round: LSU Tigers linebacker Patrick Queen. Citing Queen’s 4.5-second 40 time as a big improvement over A.J. Klein (who left in free agency), PFF envisions a great linebacker tandem between Queen and 2019 first-team All-Pro Demario Davis. That’s been a common pick in recent mock-ups.
What’s less typical is the player tagged with the Saints in the third round, at No. 88 overall. In that lost, PFF has the Saints picking Memphis Tigers pass-catcher Antonio Gibson — a versatile playmaker who caught 38 passes while carrying the ball 33 times on the ground last season. Here’s what they wrote to justify the pick:
More versatile weapons for Sean Payton. Gibson isn’t much as a pure slot receiver, but he’s got first-round type talent with the ball in his hands. He broke 33 tackles on 77 career touches.
Gibson is an interesting prospect on paper; he certainly boasts enough athleticism to win in the NFL, having timed the 40-yard dash in just 4.39 seconds at 6-foot-0, 228 pounds. But his lack of a clear role in the pros makes this kind of early selection a little questionable. The Saints should probably look for someone more NFL-ready considering they have just two picks in the first 100 selections to work with.
The final weekend of the regular season still has a lot on the line for what teams are in the mix for the Cotton Bowl bid from the Group of Five schools. To cut through all of the noise there are three teams that can earn this bad, and we can stretch it to a fourth but it is a big stretch.
The teams that have the best shot are Memphis, Cincinnati and Boise State. There is a scenario where Navy gets in and force some chaos but that is unlikely, however since chaos is fun that path will be mentioned.
In the latest College Football Playoff rankings, the order is Memphis at 18, Cincinnati at 19, Boise State at 20, and Navy unranked.
The Broncos have the easiest path to go undefeated over its final two games as they take on Colorado State and then Hawaii in the Mountain West title game. Boise State is heavily favored in both.
The Tigers and Bearcats are basically tied at the hip. These two teams play at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC this Friday and it could be a rematch the week later in the American title game.
If Memphis wins it will 100 percent be a rematch but if Memphis loses then they could be on the outside looking in. For it to not be a Bearcats vs. Tigers title game, it will require Navy to beat Houston, because in this scenario the Midshipman would be in the AAC title game with a better record.
If Navy loses to Houston it will be a Memphis vs. Cincinnati American title game. For the Middies to get in they need to win and Memphis lose.
For Boise State’s purposes and a potential Cotton Bowl berth, they would want Memphis and Cincinnati to split the final two games and give the American champ two losses. The College Football Playoff committee has never ranked a two-loss Group of Five champion over a one-loss ever, so those are odds Boise State should like.
An even better scenario would be for Navy to get into the championship game and beat Cincinnati. With Navy not ranked at the moment, they very likely would not move up high enough to surpass a Boise State team that will be around the late teens in the playoff rankings.
Also, if Navy wins the American the rankings just might be held since they play Army the week after the championship games. The committee noted in past years they would hold off the rankings but that was when Navy was ranked an in the conversation, them being not ranked probably means the committee would go with Boise State due to the difference in rankings.
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We’ve been doing what we’re supposed to do , all this came after we played them! 
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