(Photo Credit: Matthew A. Smith)
Key Players Returning:
RB Rodrigues Clark, RB Kylan Watkins, WR/PR Calvin Austin, WR Jason Ivory, TE Sean Dykes, OG Isaac Ellis, OG Ryan Fields, OT Dylan Parham, DE Wardalis Ducksworth, DE Morris Joseph, LB Xavier Cullens, LB Cole Mashburn, LB Thomas Pickens, CB Sylvonta Oliver, NB Jacobi Francis, FS Quindell Johnson, FS Tyrez Lindsey, BS Sanchez Blake, BS Rodney Owens, and KR Gabriel Rogers.
Key Players Departing:
QB Brady White, WR Damonte Coxie, WR/KR Tahj Washington, OC Manuel Orona-Lopez, OT Obinha Eze, DE Joseph Dorceus, NT O’Bryan Goodson, LB Tim Hart, LB J.J. Russell, CB T.J. Carter, PK Riley Patterson, and PT Adam Williams.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: CB Julian Barnett (Michigan State transfer).
3 Star Recruits: ATH Roc Taylor (Oxford, Alabama), LB Andrew Jones (Marrero, Louisiana), WR Tyrese Johnson (New Orleans, Louisiana), OT Royce White (LaGrange, Georgia), CB Tyrell Raby (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), DL Javon Nelson (Murfreesboro, Tennessee), QB Grant Gunnell (Arizona transfer), RB J.P. Martin (Houston, Texas), and S Gregory Rubin (Memphis, Tennessee).
2020 Results:
G01 ARKANSAS STATE W 37-24
G02 at SMU L 27-30
G03 UCF W 50-49
G04 TEMPLE W 41-29
G05 at #7 Cincinnati L 10-49
G06 USF W 34-33
G07 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN W 56-14
G08 at Navy W 10-7
G09 at Tulane L 21-35
G10 HOUSTON W 30-27
BOWL vs. Florida Atlantic W 25-10
Misc. Team Information:
2020 Record: 8-3 (3rd in American)
Home: 6-0
Away: 1-3
Neutral: 1-0
AAC: 5-3
Non-AAC: 3-0
Head Coach: Ryan Silverfield
Memphis: 8-4
Career: 8-4
Bowls: 1-1
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Calvin Austin (1-1, 7 yards, 100%%, 7.0 avg., 31 TD, 10 INT)
Rushing: Rodrigues Clark (136 car., 561 yards, 4.1 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Calvin Austin (63 rec., 1053 yards, 16.7 avg., 11 TD)
TDs Scored: Calvin Austin (12)
Sacks: Morris Joseph (8)
Tackles: Quindell Johnson (81)
Interceptions: Quindell Johnson/Rodney Owens (3)
Pass Deflections: Rodney Owens (6)
Tackles For Loss: Morris Joseph (11.5)
Forced Fumbles: Quindell Johnson (2)
Kick Returns: Tahj Washington (12 ret., 242 yards, 20.2 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Calvin Austin (20 ret., 188 yards, 9.4 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: Riley Patterson (15-22 fg/fga., 68%, 36-37 xp/xpa., 81 pts.)
Punting: Adam Williams (43 punts, 1829 yards, 42.5 avg., 13 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 7 Grant Gunnell (SO/TR)
RB: 2 Rodrigues Clark (SO)
WR: 87 Jeremy Tate (RS SO)
WR: 13 Javon Ivory (RS FR)
WR: 4 Calvin Austin (RS JR)
TE: 5 Sean Dykes (RS SR)
LT: 56 Austin Myers (GR/TR)
LG: 74 Isaac Ellis (RS SO)
OC: 00 Jakari Robinson (RS JR/TR)
RG: 71 Evan Fields (RS SO)
RT: 56 Dylan Parham (RS JR)
KR: 9 Gabriel Rogers (RS JR/TR)
PK: 47 Noah Grant (FR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 10 Morris Joseph (JR/TR)
NT: 99 Kajuan Robinson (FR)
DE: 7 John Tate (RS SR)
LB: 40 Jalil Clemons (SO)
LB: 23 J.J. Russell (SR)
LB: 00 Thomas Pickens (RS SR)
LB: 46 Cole Mashburn (RS FR)
CB: 11 Sylvonta Oliver (JR/TR)
CB: 12 La’Andre Thomas (RS JR)
FS: 15 Quindell Johnson (RS SO)
BS: 30 Rodney Owens (RS JR/TR)
PR: 4 Calvin Austin (RS JR)
PT: 00 Joe Doyle (GR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: A
Kicking: C
Punting: C
Schedule:
09/04 NICHOLLS COLONELS | Memphis won (31-10) the only prior meeting between schools in 2008.
09/11 at Arkansas State Red Wolves | Memphis leads the series 29-24-5. The Tigers are 2-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (28-33) was in 2012.
09/18 MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS | Memphis trails the series 10-34. The Tigers lost (14-59) the last meeting between schools in 2011, and their last series win (45-35) 1993.
09/25 UTSA ROADRUNNERS | First meeting between schools.
10/02 at Temple Owls | The series is tied 3-3. The Tigers won (41-29) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (28-30) was in 2019.
10/09 at Tulsa Golden Hurricane | Memphis leads the series 19-11. The Tigers won (42-41) the last meeting between schools in 2019, and their last series loss (30-59) was in 2016.
10/14 NAVY MIDSHIPMEN | The series is tied 3-3. The Tigers won (10-7) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (21-22) was in 2018.
10/22 at UCF Knights | Memphis trails the series 2-13. The Tigers are 1-7 since 2011, and their last series loss (41-56) was in 2018.
11/06 SMU MUSTANGS | Memphis leads the series 9-4. The Tigers are 6-4 since 2011, and their last series win (54-48) was in 2019.
11/13 EAST CAROLINA PIRATES | Memphis trails the series 8-15. The Tigers won (59-41) the last meeting between schools in 2018, and their last series loss (7-41) was in 2012.
11/19 at Houston Cougars | Memphis trails the series 14-15. The Tigers are 5-3 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series loss (34-35) was in 2015.
11/27 TULANE GREEN WAVE | Memphis leads the series 23-13-1. The Tigers are 7-2 since 2011, and their last series win (47-17) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 2-6
Non-AAC: 2-2
Overall: 4-8 (8th in AAC)
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