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Welcome back to the Tigers Football Insider, where we bring you the latest news and analysis from The Daily Memphian’s Frank Bonner II, Geoff Calkins and John Martin each week.
This year’s spring football and fall camp will be an interesting one for the Tigers.
Memphis is looking to replace its top four pass catchers, a couple of starting positions on the offensive line and starting defensive lineman Cam’Ron Jackson has moved on to the University of Florida.
While Memphis lost some guys to the portal and graduation, the Tigers have brought in several transfers that include 11 former Power Five athletes.
Not all the new faces are going to make a major impact right away but Memphis needs some of them to have immediate production as soon as they arrive. The returning athletes such as receivers Roc Taylor and Koby Drake could also play much bigger roles than they did last season.
Quarterback Seth Henigan will need a couple of reliable targets that he can count on during crucial moments. Receiver Joseph Scates is the leading pass catcher from last season and he will likely have more targets next year.
The offseason will help the coaching staff see how quickly it can rely on transfer receivers Tauskie Dove and DeMeer Blankumsee to make an immediate impact.
The Tigers will also be looking to replace spots at the linebacker position and Memphis lost safety Quindell Johnson to the NFL draft. Memphis brought in a few defensive transfers including former Arkansas safety Simeon Blair who started all 13 games with the Razorbacks this past season. He was the third-leading tackler on the team.
Blair is a transfer I expect to have an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball. Memphis appears to have found a replacement for punter Joe Doyle by landing Blair’s former Arkansas teammate Reid Bauer.
The running back room continues to be crowded even after Asa Martin entered the portal. The Tigers landed a commitment from former Old Dominion running back Blake Watson one year after bringing in Jevyon Ducker from Northern Illinois. Brandon Thomas is also returning and Sutton Smith is expected to have a bigger role in the rotation as a sophomore.
Memphis has brought in some talented guys out of the portal to replace missing pieces. Now it’s up to the coaching staff to make sure the athletes are put in the right places to succeed.
More from your Insider:
The Oklahoma transfer is the 11th former Power Five player to commit to Memphis.
Former MUS offensive lineman Marcus Henderson is the third Arkansas transfer to commit to the Tigers this year. Former Razorbacks Simeon Blair and Reid Baur are also joining Memphis for the 2023 season.
Multiple members of coach Ryan Silverfield’s 2022 team have entered the NCAA transfer portal and there are pickups too. Here’s a tracker.
Former four-star prospect Ke’travion Hargrove announced his commitment to the Tigers through Twitter after spending two years at Mississippi State.
Asa Martin was the second-leading rusher for the Tigers in 2022.
Former Missouri receiver Tauskie Dove tallied 16 catches for 240 yards and a touchdown during the 2022 season.
Eddie Lewis led the Tigers with 615 receiving yards and tied a team-high seven receiving touchdowns this past season.
The Tigers landed another transfer from a Power Five school when former Florida State defensive back Malik Feaster committed to Memphis.
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