by Graham Watson
The Memphis Tigers are one of three teams in Conference USA with a new coaching staff. The Tigers return seven starters on both sides of the ball, but they lost almost all of their scoring with running back Curtis Steele, and receivers Duke Calhoun and Carlos Singleton graduating.
The depth chart is open this spring and here’s a look at the strongest and weakest positions on the depth chart.
Strongest position: Offensive line
Key returners: Junior Tommy Walker, junior Michael Antonescu, Senior Brad Paul, junior Joel McCleod, junior Ronald Leary.
Key departures: None.
The skinny: The offensive line is the deepest position on the field with all eight of the Tigers’ top offensive linemen returning. They were young a year ago and still opened enough holes for top running back Curtis Steele. The offensive line will be relied upon to help break in a new quarterback and running back starter.
Read the rest…
Archive for the ‘Football’ Category
Spring Superlatives: Memphis
In the Bigs Spotlight: 02/10/2010
In this issue of the “In the Bigs” spotlight, there are updates for several former Tiger athletes including Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls), Chris Douglas-Roberts (New Jersey Nets), Joey Dorsey (Houston Rockets), Shawn Taggart (Caceres 2016 of Spain), Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots), and DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers). It is chock-full information, so please enjoy the read.
Derrick Rose
Rose at last year's Skills Challenge
With all of the excitement surrounding Rose’s inclusion in the 2010 All-Star game, he will also be defending his crown in the Taco Bell Skills challenge. The Skills Challenge tests the players’ dribbling, passing, and shooting abilities, showcasing their all-around game. This year, the contestants for the Skills Challenge are Rose (2009 winner), Steve Nash (2005 winner), Deron Williams (2008 winner and current record holder), and Brandon Jennings. Although some may consider the 4-minute long Skills Challenge not all that important, Rose told the Chicago Tribune that he is looking forward to the Skills Challenge.
Signing Day Blog
Today is national football signing day. To keep you as updated as possible, we will be updating this article as news trickles in with signings, commitments, decommitments and other pertinent news. Check back often, as this will be the first chance to see all of the dividends from Coach Larry Porter and staff’s hard work.
Signed players:
- QB Andy Summerlin (6-5, 230) Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College (Enrolled)
- QB Ryan Williams (6-5, 220) Miramar (Fla.) High (Enrolled)
- WR Dejarrius Adams (6-2, 205) El Camino (Calif.) Community College (Enrolled)
- LB Alphonso Bruton (6-2, 225) El Camino (Calif.) Community College (Enrolled)
- OL Johnnie Farms (6-2, 285) Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy (Enrolled)
- Devin Clark DL Batesville, MS 6′2″ 255 South Panola HS
- Al Bonds OL Memphis, TN 6′4″ 265 Southwind HS
- Fred Harvey LB Memphis, TN 5′11″ 230 White Station HS
- Chris Schuetz OL Southaven, MS 6′4″ 285 Southaven HS
- Delmon Robinson DB Vicksburg, MS 5′11″ 185 Vicksburg HS/Copiah-Lincoln CC
- Taurean Nixon DB Baton Rouge, LA 6′1″ 190 Southern Lab HS
- Reggie Travis WR Plaquemine, LA 6′3″ 180 Plaquemine HS
- RobDonovan Lewis DB Jonesboro, LA 5′11″ 175 Hodge HS
- Martin Ifedi DL Houston, TX 6′4″ 230 Westside HS
- Shonte Sims ATH Paris, TN 6′0″ 175 Henry County HS
- Todd Washington DB Gramercy, LA 5′11″ 180 Lutcher HS
- Sean Farr WR Baltimore City, MD 6′4″ 200 Dunbar HS/Hargrave Military
- Kevin Wright ATH Baton Rouge, LA 6′3″ 215 Baton Rouge, LA/Christian Life Academy
- D’Angelo McCray DL Jacksonville, FL 6′4″ 325 Andrew Jackson HS/Coffeyville CC
- Khiry Battle LB Dacula, GA 6′0″ 225 Dacula HS/Arkansas
- Jerrell Rhodes RB Durham, NC 5′10″ 195 Jordan HS/Hargrave Military (Enrolled)
- Tesfa Samuels WR Fort Lauderdale, FL 6′2″ 175 Fort Lauderdale HS
- Bakari Trotter WR Horn Lake, MS 6′4″ 185 Horn Lake HS
- Corey Jones DL Memphis, TN 6′4″ 235 Mitchell HS
- Justin Henderson TE North Little Rock, AR 6′4″ 250 North Little Rock HS
- Ketaraus Stanton RB Diboll, Texas 6′1″ 230 Diboll HS/Cisco College
VIDEO: Football Weightroom Groundbreaking
Today, University of Memphis fans gathered on the South Campus as Larry Porter, RC Johnson and Shirley Raines kicked off the construction of the the football weightroom project. Take a minute and watch the following five videos of today’s festivities.
Eric Price – Leading Candidate for Offensive Coordinator
Over the last week, plenty of smoke has began billowing with regard to who Larry Porter will hire as the Tigers’ next offensive coordinator. Eric Price is a name that has surfaced numerous times, with all signs pointing toward a recommendation that Price be hired as the Tigers new lead offensive mind. Like Mike DuBose, the Tigers’ new defensive line coach, Price brings a mix of NFL and college experience to the table and appears to be a high-level hire by Larry Porter and the University of Memphis.
Porter Recommends Jay Hopson as New Defensive Coordinator
According to GoTigersGo.com, the University of Memphis’ official athletic website, Jay Hopson has been recommended as the Tigers’ next defensive coordinator to the Tennessee Board of Regents. Hopson was Southern Mississippi’s defensive coordinator for three years prior to his two year stint in Ann Arbor. During his time with Southern Mississippi, Hopson helped the Golden Eagles lead Conference USA in scoring defense each of those years. He was named the All-American Football Foundation Top Assistant Coach in 2007.
