Tigers Football Insider: O’Bryan Goodson receives All-American honors
University of Memphis defensive lineman O'Bryan Goodson (1) drags down University of Central Florida quarterback Dillon Gabriel (11) during an Oct. 17, 2020 game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian file)
Welcome back to the Tigers Football Insider, where we bring you the latest news and analysis from The Daily Memphian’s college football reporters each week.
The Memphis defensive line has been one of the more underrated storylines of the season.
The Tigers are undersized up front, but relentless in how they attack the run and the quarterback. One member of the defensive line was recognized for a standout year.
Senior O’Bryan Goodson was named a second-team All-American by Pro Football Focus at interior defensive line.
PFF graded Goodson as the sixth best interior defensive linemen in the country with a grade of 88.4. Goodson had 28 tackles and four sacks as the Tigers’ rock in the middle of the defense.
The fact that Goodson received this honor despite missing the Tigers’ last two games against Tulane and Houston speaks volumes about his stellar play.
Memphis certainly will miss him in the Montgomery Bowl as he’s out due to injury, but Goodson was able to make a huge impact in what could be his final season with the Tigers.
More from your Insider:
Memphis vs. Florida Atlantic: Three things to watch in Montgomery Bowl
Winning the battles against the FAU secondary will be key in breaking the bowl game losing streak
Memphis football lands two high-profile transfers from Michigan State
Devontae Dobbs and Julian Barnett were both four-star prospects in the class of 2019.
FAU defense is the Tigers’ biggest hurdle to snapping their bowl drought
Memphis will need to somehow achieve a balanced offensive attack.
Why Memphis decided not to opt out of the Montgomery Bowl
This will be the Tigers’ seventh straight bowl appearance, but they also have lost five in a row.
Silverfield’s recruiting emphasis on local, Texas and Louisiana talent pays off
Seven or eight players likely will enroll early to take advantage of workouts and learning Memphis’ playbook.
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Tiger Football Tigers Football InsiderSteven Johnson
Johnson is a Memphis native who graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2016. He's traveled the country covering teams like Syracuse, the Buffalo Bills and the Memphis Grizzlies. He's excited about the opportunity to cover the Tigers and all things in the city of Memphis.
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