Here are five Memphis 2021 football signees who could see the field early
Andrew Johnson, left, poses at John Ehret High School in Marrero, Louisiana, where he was a highly productive linebacker. (Courtesy John Ehret High Schoo)
With the Tigers’ historic 2021 recruiting class essentially wrapped up, it’s time to look ahead.
Coach Ryan Silverfield made sure to have a well-rounded class as Memphis landed top-notch prospects on each side of the ball and at every position.
It’s a given that some of these talented freshmen will be contributors, but which ones have a chance at playing sooner than later?
Let’s take a quick look at five who could earn a spot on the depth chart by the time this season rolls around.
Roc Taylor, TE
We saw how valuable tight end Sean Dykes was for the offense last season, and it’s a huge boost for the Tigers to have him returning. It also could be big for Taylor, who had committed to Tennessee and had held offers from Florida and Auburn before he eventually found his way to Memphis.
Oxford’s Roc Taylor readies for a play during a game. (Vasha Hunt/Oxford High School)
The Volunteers pulled Taylor’s offer right before national signing day, but their loss could be Memphis’ gain. There’s a clear path for Taylor to see the field after losing Tyce Daniel and Kameron Wilson to the transfer portal.
Listed at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds on Rivals, Taylor is the type of weapon that’ll be a pain for opposing defenses down the road.
Andrew Jones, LB/S
Before landing Taylor’s signature, Jones was the Tigers’ highest-rated commit. Jones was a highly productive linebacker at Marrero John Ehret, of the best high school programs in Louisiana.
Although he’s listed as an inside linebacker (No. 12 in the country), Jones has the athleticism to play multiple positions. That includes safety, and that’s the position he has listed in his Twitter bio.
Another benefit for Jones is the fact he’s an early enrollee. Listed at 200 pounds, he needs to add strength and bulk to his frame. Being on campus already allows him to get a head start and begin the transition to a new position, if need be.
247Sports projects Jones as a possible NFL draft pick.
Tyrell Raby, CB/ATH
Memphis lost two contributors, starter T.J. Carter and reserve John Broussard, to the transfer portal. But the Tigers added Michigan State transfer Julian Barnett, who projects to slide into Carter’s role and start with Rodney Owens and Jacobi Francis.
What about after that? That’s where Raby could come in, and compete for reps against Sylvonta Oliver and Gabriel Rogers. Raby is another who drew plenty of Power Five interest. He’s a dynamic playmaker who was an all-district wide receiver and a track standout at Madison Prep in Baton Rouge.
Javon Nelson, DL
Defensive line was an area the coaching staff clearly wanted to hit hard, and Memphis pulled in four signatures from players classified as defensive ends. Nelson, a standout at Murfreesboro Riverdale, is the best of the bunch. A top-20 prospect in the state, he held offers from Florida and Georgia.
Even with the loss of O’Bryan Goodson to the NFL draft and Joseph Dorceus to the transfer portal, there’s still good depth up front and adding a prospect like Nelson only helps.
Gregory Rubin, DB
Quindell Johnson, Tyrez Lindsey and Sanchez Blake took 99 percent of the snaps at safety last season. Johnson and Blake are returning, but if Lindsey decides not to use his extra year of eligibility, that’ll create an opening for a younger player to step up.
Rubin also could slide down and play cornerback. His versatility is what landed him so much interest from top programs nationally, even though the White Station star missed his senior season due to Shelby County Schools electing not to play football this season.
Other names to know: Offensive tackle Royce White could end up being the best from the class, but it’s extremely difficult for an offensive lineman to get snaps in Year 1. Could White be an exception?
Seth Henigan is another early enrollee and will have a legititmate shot in the quarterback competition. It’ll be tough to get past Arizona transfer Grant Gunnell, but Henigan is a gamer.
Topics
Memphis Tigers Football Memphis Football college football high school recruiting National Signing Day Roc Taylor Andrew Jones Tyrell Raby Javon Nelson Gregory Rubin Royce White Seth Henigan Grant GunnellSteven 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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