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Memphis football adds speedy athlete Kenny Gainwell to 2018 recruiting class

 

Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 4:20 p.m. CT June 26, 2017 | Updated 19 hours ago

   

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(Photo: Bob Smith, Bob Smith)

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Memphis added another speedy playmaker to its 2018 recruiting class on Monday afternoon when Kenny Gainwell, an unrated athlete from Yazoo County High School in Mississippi, posted on Twitter that he has committed to the Tigers.

Gainwell played quarterback for Yazoo County last season, throwing for 1,184 yards and nine touchdowns, but he expects to play running back or wide receiver at Memphis. A 5-foot-11, 185-pounder, he exhibited a shifty, explosive rushing style as a junior, rushing for 1,292 yards and 20 touchdowns.

View image on TwitterView image on Twitter
 
 

Gainwell, who attended Memphis' "Big Cat Mega Camp" earlier this month, also reportedly held offers from Ole Miss and Tulane, among others.

Gainwell is the fifth skill position player in Memphis' 2018 class and the eighth high-school player who has committed to the Tigers overall. Memphis has picked up a flurry of commitments since hosting its satellite camp earlier this month, including three in a span of 24 hours and the addition of Texas running back Cameron Fleming, a three-star recruit, last week.

 

Memphis' 2018 recruiting class, as it currently stands:

  • OL Nigel Brannon (Oklahoma City, Okla.): 3-star (247, Rivals)
  • RB Cameron Fleming (Cedar Hill, Texas): 3-star (247, Rivals)
  • RB/WR Kenny Gainwell (Yazoo City, Miss.): Unrated
  • DB Quindell Johnson (New Orleans, La.): 2-star (Rivals)
  • OL Titus Jones (New Orleans, La.): 3-star (247, Rivals)
  • LB Nyle Love (Memphis): 2-star (247, Rivals)
  • DB Alondras Strong (Hazel Green, Ala.): 3-star (Rivals) | 2-star (247)
  • WR Jeremy Tate (Columbus, Miss.): 2-star (247, Rivals)
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Memphis football adds two more 2018 commitments

 

Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 6:29 p.m. CT July 1, 2017 | Updated 10:19 p.m. CT July 1, 2017

 

Memphis football players and coaches alike dispersed this weekend to spend the days leading up to the Fourth of July holiday with family and friends.

But that didn't stop the Tigers from making two more additions to their 2018 recruiting class Saturday afternoon.

North Panola (Miss.) offensive and defensive lineman Christopher Clark and Homewood (Ala.) High School defensive back CD Daniels posted on Twitter that they have committed to the Tigers, pushing coach Mike Norvell's 2018 recruiting class to 10 members.

 

Clark, who is listed at 6-3, 270, is rated a 2-star prospect by Rivals. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Daniels is a Rivals 3-star recruit. Both players are unrated by 247 Sports and ESPN.

 

Daniels, a rangy cornerback who had 42 tackles and seven interceptions for Homewood last season, chose Memphis over offers from Mississippi State, Tulane, UAB and Troy, among others. Clark reportedly holds offers from Middle Tennessse State and a handful of junior colleges.

Clark and Daniels played multiple positions for their high school teams last fall. Clark played offensive tackle and defensive end for North Panola. Daniels, who was recruited to Memphis as a cornerback, also got some snaps at running back.

With the commitments of Clark and Daniels, the Tigers continued to address two positions of future need. Of their 10 commitments, three are offensive linemen and three are defensive backs — two positions that will experience significant turnover over the next two years.

Here's Memphis' complete 2018 recruiting class, as it currently stands:

  • OL Nigel Brannon (Oklahoma City, Okla.): 3-star (247, Rivals) 
  • OL/DL Christopher Clark (Sardis, Miss.): 2-star (Rivals)
  • DB CD Daniels (Homewood, Ala.): 3-star (Rivals)
  • RB Cameron Fleming (Cedar Hill, Texas): 3-star (Rivals) | 2-star (247)
  • RB/WR Kenny Gainwell (Yazoo City, Miss.): 3-star (Rivals)
  • DB Quindell Johnson (New Orleans, La.): 3-star (247) | 2-star (Rivals)
  • OL Titus Jones (New Orleans, La.): 3-star (247, Rivals)
  • LB Nyle Love (Memphis): 2-star (247, Rivals)
  • DB Alondras Strong (Hazel Green, Ala.): 3-star (Rivals) | 2-star (247)
  • WR Jeremy Tate (Columbus, Miss.): 2-star (247, Rivals)
Edited by kwc
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Memphis Tigers football 2017 breakdown: Quarterbacks

 
Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 8:00 a.m. CT July 3, 2017 | Updated 10:36 p.m. CT July 4, 2017
  TigersUSFfootball02

(Photo: Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal)

It may still feel like the middle of summer, but believe it or not, the Memphis football team will report to campus for fall camp a little more than three weeks from today. The Tigers' season-opener against Louisiana-Monroe is Aug. 31. College football is suddenly right around the corner.

So for the next nine days, we'll be breaking down the 2017 Tigers, position by position, with projected starters, newcomers to know and other summer tidbits. We'll start today with the quarterbacks.

Projected Starter: Riley Ferguson, Sr.

Returners: For the fourth consecutive year, there is no real doubt who will start for the Tigers at quarterback. Ferguson was the clear heir to Paxton Lynch last summer, and this time around, there will not even have to be a formal preseason announcement. After completing 63.2 percent of his passes and throwing for 32 touchdowns (to 10 interceptions), Ferguson is the guy — and a likely NFL draft pick, to boot. The only real intrigue here is behind him on the depth chart, where redshirt sophomore Brady Davis and redshirt freshman David Moore were neck-and-neck this spring. Moore had the stronger spring game showing, but coach Mike Norvell said the backup QB competition would continue into the fall.

 
Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson
 
August 11, 2016 - University of Memphis teammates Riley
 
August 11, 2016 - University of Memphis teammates Riley Ferguson (right) and Joey Magnifico (left) work on building the highest house of cards during a team building session at preseason training camp on the Lambuth Campus in Jackson, Tenn.   
 
Newcomer: Memphis signed two quarterbacks in its most recent recruiting class: Connor Adair and La’Andre Thomas. But it appears only Adair will stay in the position this fall. Thomas posted a video of himself catching passes on Instagram last month and indicated that he’s going to be playing cornerback for the Tigers when fall camp begins. That leaves Adair, a two-star recruit from Trussville, Alabama, as the fourth quarterback on Memphis’ depth chart.

The Skinny: Ferguson quietly had one of the best seasons by a quarterback in Memphis history last year, and there’s reason to believe he could be even better this fall. Most of his targets are back, with the significant additions of Damonte Coxie and (a presumably healthy) Sam Craft, and he showed a new level of confidence and comfort in Norvell’s offense this spring. If Ferguson can stay healthy, there’s a legitimate chance that he will not only be drafted, but could push himself into the top four rounds

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Memphis Tigers football 2017 breakdown: Running backs

 
Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 8:00 a.m. CT July 4, 2017 | Updated 10:37 p.m. CT July 4, 2017
 
TigersTulaneFootball

(Photo: Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal)

Over a period of nine days, we're breaking down the 2017 Memphis football team, position by position, with players to watch, newcomers to know and more.

Next up, let's look at arguably one of the Tigers' deepest position groups: The running backs.

Projected Starters: Doroland Dorceus, R-Sr.; Tony Pollard, R-So.

Returners: Pretty much everybody. Dorceus, Pollard and rising sophomores Darrell Henderson and Patrick Taylor Jr. accounted for a combined 1,997 rushing yards last season, with Dorceus receiving the bulk of the carries. (The only other running back to record a rushing yard last season was Tearris Wallace, who had 10 yards on nine carries). The others are all back, giving Memphis one of the deepest backfields in the American Athletic Conference. And coach Mike Norvell welcomes that sort of depth, given the structure of his offense. The Tigers used plenty of two-back formations last season but you could see even more of them in 2017.

 
University of Memphis running back Doroland Dorceus
 
University of Memphis running back Doroland Dorceus (left) scrambles past Navy defenders Patrick Forrestal (top) and Micah Thomas (right) during second quarter action at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.   Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal
 
The Skinny: Norvell and offensive coordinator/running backs coach Darrell Dickey have done a superb job of assembling a variety of talented pieces in the backfield. The only question, really, is how everyone will be used. Dorceus is arguably still the most well-rounded guy in the group, but that could change as Henderson and Patrick Taylor continue to learn the offense and master some of the finer points of the position, namely pass protection. Don’t be surprised if Patrick Taylor, with his ability to plow people over between the tackles, begins to shoulder more of the load. Pollard will also probably get some carries out of the backfield, though he’s expected to line up all over the place. Memphis would be smart to get the ball to him in space as frequently as possible.
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Memphis Tigers football 2017 breakdown: Wide receivers

 
Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 8:00 a.m. CT July 5, 2017 | Updated 8:00 a.m. CT July 5, 2017
 

Over a nine-day span, we're taking a position-by-position look at the 2017 Memphis football team, from projected starters to players to watch — and everything in between.

Up next, let's break down record-breaking senior Anthony Miller and the wide receivers.

Projected Starters: Sam Craft, Sr.; Phil Mayhue, Sr.; Anthony Miller, Sr.

Returners: After a brief period of post-bowl uncertainty, Miller announced in the spring that he was returning to Memphis for his final season, solidifying what was otherwise still a supremely talented receiving corps. Miller, who caught 95 passes for 1,434 yards and 14 touchdowns, broke single-season school records in all three categories last year and could be just as good, if not better, in 2017. But don’t forget about the guy lining up opposite him, either. Mayhue had 42 catches for 677 yards last season and could benefit from all the attention that opposing defenses will have to give Miller. Don’t be surprised if Mayhue has an excellent season in 2017 and grabs the attention of NFL scouts. Behind them, the Tigers will also return a ton of young players with untapped potential, including a relatively new faces (Kedarian Jones, Mechane Slade and John “Pop” Williams) and a pair of veteran slot receivers: Sam Craft and Roderick Proctor. Craft, in particular, could add a new dimension to the offense, if healthy. Sophomore Tony Pollard also figures to line up at receiver quite a bit, in addition to his snaps out of the backfield.

 
October 1, 2016 - University of Memphis receiver Anthony
 
October 1, 2016 - University of Memphis receiver Anthony Miller (right) celebrates a 7 yard touchdown run against the against Ole Miss defense during second quarter action at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)  Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal
 

The Skinny: In terms of raw talent, this may be the deepest receiving corps that Memphis has had in a long time. There’s a mixture of size and speed, youth and experience — and athleticism across the board. Mayhue and Miller will likely get opportunities in the NFL. And in Coxie and Robinson, Memphis has two tall, agile receivers who can either beat cornerbacks with speed on deep routes or leap over them and adjust in mid-air to secure a jump ball. They are the type of heavily recruited receivers the program has rarely been able to land in recent years. All told, quarterback Riley Ferguson will certainly have no shortage of playmakers at his disposal, and the Tigers’ passing attack should remain dominant in 2017.

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Memphis Tigers football 2017 breakdown: Tight ends

 
Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 8:00 a.m. CT July 6, 2017 | Updated 11:21 a.m. CT July 6, 2017
 
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(Photo: Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal)

Over a period of nine days, we're breaking down the 2017 Memphis Tigers football team, position by position, with newcomers to know, players to watch, projected starters and more.

Next up, a look at one of the least experienced position groups on the offense: Tight end.

Projected Starter: Joey Magnifico, So.

Returners: If there’s a hole on offense that Memphis needs to fill, it’s at tight end. Daniel Montiel earned first-team all-conference honors in his first (and only) year as a starter, and now the Tigers will lean on Magnifico and sophomore Sean Dykes to replace him. Magnifico, a local product and former walk-on, caught nine passes for 85 yards and two scores last year but still has some growing to do. And Dykes, who was recruited to Memphis as a wide receiver, has shown glimpses of pass-catching talent, but he’s also been inconsistent in practice. Magnifico will likely enter fall camp as the starter, but Dykes could push him and compete for playing time.

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August 13, 2016 - University of Memphis receiver Sean Dykes (left) makes a catch as head coach Mike Norvell (right) looks on during practice in Jackson, Tenn. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal) (Photo: The Commercial Appeal)

 

Newcomers: Former Tennessee tight end Kyle Oliver, who redshirted last season, will also be in the fold here, but it’s unclear how much (or whether) he’ll be able to contribute. The Tigers also signed three tight ends in their most recent recruiting class: Tyce Daniel, Jared Edwards and Dylan Parham. Daniel is 6-4 and played wide receiver at McCracken County (Ky.) High School, but he’ll need to prove to the coaching staff in fall camp that he can handle the blocking requirements. Edwards and Parham were primarily run-blocking tight ends in high school but didn’t catch many passes. Parham  was primarily a defensive player until switching to tight end his senior season. He’s got good size (6-3, 230) and also played basketball and ran sprints for the track team at Carrollton (Ga.) High School, but he was a fairly unheralded recruit. Edwards was working his way back from a serious knee injury this spring.

 

The Skinny: This is the least experienced position on a very experienced Memphis offense, so there’s definitely some uncertainty here. Magnifico played quite a bit last year but was never asked to shoulder a serious load. Dykes played some, but he’s just been so inconsistent in practice. And who knows what you’re going to get out of Oliver and the incoming freshmen. Don’t expect anyone in this group to catch 27 passes like Montiel did last year (only Antony Miller, Phil Mayhue and Tony Pollard caught more) but with continued development from Magnifico and Dykes, Memphis should be OK. New tight ends coach Kenny Dillingham certainly has some talent to work with here. It’s just a matter of developing discipline in run-blocking and consistency in the passing game.

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Memphis Tigers football 2017 breakdown: Offensive line

 
Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 8:00 a.m. CT July 7, 2017 | Updated 8:00 a.m. CT July 7, 2017
 
636215624664361757-obinna-eze.jpg

(Photo: Submitted)

As our position-by-position look at the 2017 Memphis football team rolls on, let's delve into what was arguably the least consistent unit on the Tigers' offense last season: The offensive line.

Projected Starters: LT Harneet Gill, Jr.; LG Dustin Woodard, So.; C Drew Kyser, Jr.; RG Gabe Kuhn, Sr.; RT Trevon Tate, Jr.

Returners: Let’s start with the positive: Only one offensive lineman who started a game for Memphis in 2016, Christopher Roberson, is gone. The rest of the unit — including multi-year starters Kyser, Kuhn and Tate — is back. So there’s tons of experience here. On the other hand: This group simply wasn’t very good last year. Now, to be fair, there were a lot of reasons for that. From an offensive line standpoint, Mike Norvell’s system is more demanding than Justin Fuente’s was. New offensive line coach Ryan Silverfield taught the group entirely new blocking techniques. There was a steep learning curve. And, for what it’s worth, the unit made noticeable improvement as the season went along; It was just too inconsistent, overall. Another year in Silverfield’s system should help with that, but the offensive line still needs to prove itself and take a step forward in 2017.

“Competition, competition, competition — that’s the

“Competition, competition, competition — that’s the biggest thing for us,” said University of Memphis offensive line coach Ryan Silverfield. “We have good size in the offensive line room already, right now. We have a very talented offensive line group already. But we were able to bring in size that we may not necessarily have at every position, or in every class.” (Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

 

Newcomers: Silverfield was ecstatic with the three offensive linemen the Tigers were able to sign in February: Four-star recruit Obinna Eze, three-star prospect Mikhail Hill and junior-college transfer Tanis Joseph. Eze and Joseph are tackles, while Hill could play either tackle or guard. All three are raw, but all three could compete for starting jobs right away. Eze has the highest ceiling of the group ,but might need a year to develop. The Tigers also have a potential new starter in Gill, a former Missouri signee who redshirted last season. The staff has been pleased with how he’s worked to add weight to his 6-foot-7 frame and he spent the majority of spring ball as the Tigers’ first-string left tackle, with Tate moving back to the right side.

August 19, 2016 - University of Memphis offensive lineman

August 19, 2016 - University of Memphis offensive lineman Harneet Gill during practice. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal) (Photo: Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal)

 

The Skinny: The two main things that could stop Memphis’ offense from putting up big numbers in 2017? Injuries and poor offensive line play. The inconsistency here is cause for concern, but there’s reason for optimism, too. In terms of physical tools, the offensive line is getting larger and stronger. Eze, Gill, Hill and Joseph are all at least 6 feet 4. Eze, Hill and Joseph all exceed 290 pounds. Eze has the type of quick feet and long arms that scouts absolutely love at tackle. The tools are there. Meanwhile, Kyser, Kuhn and Tate are entering their third season together as starters, which is pretty rare in college football. That chemistry counts for something.

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Memphis Tigers football 2017 breakdown: Defensive line

 
Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 8:00 a.m. CT July 10, 2017 | Updated 8:00 a.m. CT July 10, 2017
   
Tigers SMU Football

(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

Last week, we took a position-by-position look at the 2017 Memphis football team's offense, with projected starters, notable newcomers and more.

This week, it's the defense's turn, starting with the defensive line.

Projected Starters: DE Ernest Suttles, Sr.; NT Emmanuel Cooper, Jr.; DT Jonathan Wilson, So.

Returners: Wilson was a late addition to the Tigers last year, joining the team midway through fall camp, but he ended up being the most destructive member of the defensive line. The Louisiana native started the final eight games of his true freshman season and wound up leading the unit with 30 tackles, including six for a loss, and three sacks.

He’ll be joined by veterans Christian Johnson and Suttles, as well as young nose tackles Jared Gentry and Cooper, who are vying to take over for two-year starter Donald Pennington.

Sophomores Khalil Johnson and Peyton Jones could also see some playing time, if they can continue to develop and put on weight like they did in the winter and spring.

March 22, 2016 -  University of Memphis defensive line

March 22, 2016 - University of Memphis defensive line coach Paul Randolph. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal) (Photo: Nikki Boertman, The Commercial Appeal)

 

Newcomers: Keep an eye on junior Desmond Hawkins, a Craigmont graduate who spent the past two seasons at Hinds Community College. He’s listed at 6 feet 5 inches and 280 pounds and could slide into Memphis’ defensive line rotation immediately, given his size and junior-college experience.

Incoming freshman O’Bryan Goodson, who was not announced as a member of Memphis’ recruiting class on National Signing Day but enrolled in school this summer, also plays that nose tackle position. (Meanwhile, Cordova product Braylon Brown has not enrolled at Memphis yet this summer but told The Commercial Appeal he hopes to be able to do so soon.)

John Tate, a former four-star recruit, is coming off a redshirt season and also looking to carve out a role. And then there’s the player that defensive line coach Paul Randolph likened to a Tazmanian devil: Joseph Dorceus, the younger brother of Tigers running back Doroland. Dorceus is a bit undersized but impressed the coaching staff with his energy and work ethic on the scout team last year.

 

The Skinny: For a defense that bills itself as attack-minded, the Tigers didn’t consistently create enough pressure last season. The defense had only 23 sacks over 13 games, and six of them came in the Boca Raton Bowl against Western Kentucky.

That’s not entirely the defensive line’s fault, of course, but when you're talking about pressure, that’s where it all starts. And often times, it comes down to discipline. It’s not just about a player winning his one-on-one matchup; It’s about everyone around him holding their blocks and executing the plan, to allow the first guy to be in position to win a one-on-one matchup in the first place.

The same goes for run fits, another area in which Memphis was inconsistent in 2016. The Tigers have some experienced guys in this group, led by Suttles and Johnson, but if the defense is going to thrive this season, the line has to be more effective than it was a year ago. Period.

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Memphis' Riley Ferguson on Maxwell Award watch list

 

Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 9:45 a.m. CT July 10, 2017 | Updated 10:12 a.m. CT July 10, 2017

 

TigersTulaneFootball

(Photo: Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal)

Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson is among the 85 players who were named to the summer watch list for the Maxwell Award, which was announced Monday morning.

Ferguson, a senior from North Carolina, completed 280 of 443 passes for 3,698 yards last fall, in his first season as the Tigers' starting quarterback. He also threw for a program-record 32 touchdowns, to only 10 interceptions, and finished second in the American Athletic Conference with a passer efficiency rating of 152.7.

August 11, 2016 - University of Memphis teammates Riley
August 11, 2016 - University of Memphis teammates Riley Ferguson (right) and Joey Magnifico (left) work on building the highest house of cards during a team building session at preseason training camp on the Lambuth Campus in Jackson, Tenn.   Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal
 
The Maxwell Award, which Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson won a year ago, is given annually to the Football Bowl Subdivision's player of the year. Ferguson is the first Memphis player to receive consideration for the award since Paxton Lynch, now of the Denver Broncos, was named a semifinalist in 2015.

Semifinalists for this year's Maxwell Award will be revealed Oct. 30, and the winner will be announced Dec. 7. 

Ferguson and his teammates will begin fall camp July 27 and open the regular season on Aug. 31 against Louisiana-Monroe at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

Edited by kwc
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Memphis Tigers football 2017 breakdown: Linebackers

 
Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 8:00 a.m. CT July 11, 2017 | Updated 8:00 a.m. CT July 11, 2017
   
Tiger Football

(Photo: File / The Commercial Appeal)

There will be a few new pieces on the Memphis defense this fall, but the strength of the unit will remain the same: the linebacking corps.

Next up in our position-by-position preview of the Tigers, let's take a look at Genard Avery, Jackson Dillon and the rest of the defense's deepest position group.

Projected Starters: KAT Jackson Dillon, Sr.; ILB Curtis Akins, Jr.; ILB Genard Avery, Sr.; STAR Austin Hall, So.

Returners: All eyes will be on Avery, the reigning first-team all-conference honoree who considered leaving school early to enter the NFL draft. He had five sacks and 11 tackles for a loss last season, establishing himself as the most dominant pass-rusher on the team. Physically, he’s an absolute beast; he posted a video on Twitter this summer of himself squatting 610 pounds. But Avery still has room to grow, particularly against the run, where he needs to continue to be more disciplined in his gaps and aggressive at the point of contact.

 
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The rest of the inside linebacking corps returns, too, including Akins and seniors Darian Porter and Shareef White. Akins took big, big strides last year and will hope to remain on the same trajectory. Memphis also figures to be strong at the outside hybrid positions, KAT and STAR. Hall was one of the most reliable players on the Tigers’ defense last season and appeared more comfortable in his hybrid safety/linebacker role as the year went along. Dillon (more on him later) and Bryce Huff probably will get the bulk of the snaps at KAT, following DeMarco Montgomery’s departure.

Newcomers: Memphis is well-stocked with young talent at linebacker, but the position is so loaded that it’s difficult to say whether, or how much, any of the freshmen will play.

Nehemiah Augustus and Tim Hart both redshirted last season and could see time on special teams. Jacoby Hill is a potentially explosive pass-rusher at the KAT spot but still needs to round out his game, while Thomas Pickens probably will enter the year as Hall’s backup at STAR.

The Tigers also have three incoming freshmen here: STAR Zay Cullens, inside linebacker Cade Mashburn and mid-year enrollee JJ Russell. Russell probably will have the best chance of contributing as a true freshman on special teams because he had the advantage of practicing with the team in the spring.

Dillon discusses the injuries that ended his 2016 season and his new outlook on football in an interview after practice on April 4, 2017. Tom Schad/The Commercial Appeal

The Skinny: The linebackers are without a doubt the strength of this Memphis defense. There’s veteran savvy across the board and tons of depth. The key to it all may be the return of Dillon. The native Oklahoman was away from the team for part of last year as he dealt with a season-ending knee injury and said this spring that he considered quitting football altogether.

His return wasn’t guaranteed, and some of the coaches on staff believe he could prove to be a difference-maker for this defense. Remember that, just two years ago, some thought Dillon would be a candidate for defensive player of the year honors in the American Athletic Conference. He’s fast, tough and extremely physical. If he can stay healthy and focused and help take some of the attention off Avery in pass-rushing situations? Watch out.

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