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.

Multiple Memphis football fans have reached out and asked what I think the Tigers’ depth chart will look like heading into this season.

With four months left before the season kicks off, there is a lot of time for guys to continue battling for positions. The coaching staff stated multiple times during spring camp that the depth chart was far from being finalized.

What happens in fall camp will have a lot to do with how the depth chart fills out also, but here is my crack at who I think the front runners are for the defensive positions.

Defensive line

• Wardalis Ducksworth
• Jaylon Allen
• Cam’Ron Jackson
• Zy Brockington
• Maurice White

The defensive line has two fifth-year seniors returning in Ducksworth and White. Allen is the third senior in that group while sophomores Jackson and Brockington are expected to take a jump in playing time this year. Five guys are on this list which means one of these names will not be listed as a starter, but these are the five defensive linemen who I believe are in the best position to be at the top of the depth chart. 

Linebackers

• Xavier Cullens
• Geoffrey Cantin-Arku
• Tyler Murray

Cullens has been in the program for a while being a fifth-year senior for the Tigers. Transfers Murray and Cantin-Arku are new additions to the roster but the chemistry between the three of them has been great. Cantin-Arku had a good showing during the spring game that included a big stuff at the goal line.

Safeties

• Quindell Johnson
• Rodney Owens

Seniors Owens and Johnson are the leaders of that secondary group. Owens didn’t play in the spring game but the fifth-year senior has enough skin in the game to where you know what to expect out of him. The same goes for Johnson who was named to the All-AAC second team last season.

Cornerbacks

• Greg Rubin
• Sylvonta Oliver

Rubin had a solid freshman year last season and there is no reason to believe that he won’t have the same spot as a starting cornerback this season. I expect Sylvonta Oliver to be on the other side of Rubin as the other starter.

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