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Memphis Tigers sign 12 recruits on first day of college football early signing period

Mark Giannotto, USA TODAY NETWORK – TennesseePublished 6:05 p.m. CT Dec. 20, 2017 | Updated 9:57 p.m. CT Dec. 20, 2017
     
Tigers ECU Football

(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

 

As college football’s new early signing period approached, Memphis coach Mike Norvell talked often about how the program’s success created an excitement and awareness among recruits that the Tigers hadn’t experienced. It allowed him and his staff to enter the fray with more high-profile recruits.

But over the past 24 hours, when many of those new targets elected to sign with other schools and two commitments re-opened their recruitment, Norvell’s thoughts on his 2018 class didn’t waver.

“We knew there was a couple possibilities of some late additions,” Norvell said. “But we’ve got a great group and everything’s on track to where we want to be in February and the final signing day.”

Memphis announced 12 signees as part of its 2018 recruiting class on Wednesday, including four linemen, three junior-college prospects and a quarterback. Norvell noted the players who are signing with the Tigers early fill positions of need, particularly along the offensive and defensive line and at linebacker.

More: Early signing period for Memphis Tigers football

As of Wednesday afternoon, Memphis was ranked No. 85 in the 247Sports team rankings and 10th in the American Athletic Conference. A year ago, the Tigers were ranked No. 56 in the country and second in the AAC, according to 247Sports.

 

 

 

How did the early signing period play out?

Given that, some couldn’t help but wonder what might have been had Memphis come out on the right end of several decisions made during the past two days.

The disappointment began Tuesday when four-star dual threat quarterback Gerry Bohanon of Earle, Ark., picked Baylor over the Tigers, Arkansas and Indiana. A few hours later, junior college defensive tackle Charles Cole elected to go to Kansas over Memphis.

On Wednesday, Cordova teammates Jerome Carvin (four-star offensive lineman) and Jeremy Banks (four-star running back) signed with Tennessee. Norvell hired their high school coach, Anthony Jones Jr., as an assistant coach last week.

Whitehaven’s Devon Robinson and St. Benedict’s Cam Jones also chose to stick with their commitments to Mississippi State and Indiana, respectively, despite a push by Memphis over the past month.

In addition, defensive backs Alondras Strong and CD Daniels announced via Twitter that they had de-committed from Memphis.

Norvell, however, insisted he was pleased with the Tigers’ initial haul of recruits.

Northwest Mississippi's Keith Brown Jr. tackles East

Northwest Mississippi's Keith Brown Jr. tackles East Mississippi's Tyrell Price on Saturday. (Photo: Jared Thomas, For Clarion Ledger)

 

He singled out Northwest Mississippi Community College linebacker Keith Brown, Jr., who committed last Tuesday before signing on Wednesday, as a prospect who could help right away. He also mentioned the program’s two wide receiver signees — Antonio Gibson from the junior college ranks and 6-foot-4 incoming freshman Jeremy Tate, Jr. — as intriguing options.

Three-star quarterback prospect Brady McBride, meanwhile, could immediately factor into the competition to replace Riley Ferguson under center. Norvell said McBride turned down power five conference schools to remain committed to Memphis.  

“Exactly where we are is where we want to be and some of the players that we’ve been able to bring into the program … really will impact us early,” Norvell said.

 

What's next in 2018 recruiting?

The past few weeks have been hectic and “the most challenging time for any coach,” Norvell said.

The introduction of an early signing period, which began Wednesday morning and  runs through Friday, forced Memphis and many schools to figure out on the fly how best to approach the situation.

Norvell noted that the Tigers’ appearance in the AAC championship game eliminated a week in which he and his staff could conduct home visits with potential recruits.

Memphis still has six other players who have given commitments and at least six others its coaches are actively recruiting. They could sign in the coming days or on the traditional National Signing Day in February.

But this year’s recruiting class, Norvell said, will be smaller than the previous two because the Tigers have used so many blueshirts in recent seasons.

Blueshirting is an NCAA rule exemption used by schools to avoid oversigning. A player who didn't take an official visit or sign is not put on scholarship until the first day of fall practice. Therefore, the player counts toward the next year's recruiting class.

Norvell added that Memphis plans to “leave a little wiggle room” for potential transfers.

“All of the positions we needed to address, we addressed,” Norvell said. “Now, if you can add a couple guys here late, I think that’ll be really special. It’s going as planned, and we’ll always be excited about being able to get an extra guy or two. But we’re right where we need to be.”

Memphis 2018 early signees

Keith Brigham

DE, 6-3, 265
Pima Community College (Tucson, Ariz)
247 ranking: 2-star
Commit date: Dec. 17
Twitter handle: @keith_brigham 
The final word: Brigham is one of several junior college defensive linemen Memphis pursued in recent weeks and became the first to commit earlier this week. Brigham, who is from Danville, Ill., enrolled at Illinois State last August before ending up at Pima this past season. Brigham earned second-team all-conference honors by finishing with a team-best six sacks and 79 tackles. He will have three years of eligibility.

Keith Brown Jr.

LB, 6-2, 230
Northwest Mississippi Community College
247 ranking: 3-star
Commit date: Dec. 12
Twitter handle: @keithbrown_jr
The final word: Brown, who is from Madison, Miss., got a late offer from Memphis after finishing with 94 tackles, six sacks and 10.5 tackles as a sophomore this past season. Reportedly chose the Tigers over Toledo, North Texas and Jackson State after helping Northwest Mississippi to a No. 7 final ranking in the NJCAA poll. 

Christopher Clark 

OL, 6-3, 270
North Panola (Sardis, Miss.)
247 composite: 2-star, No. 187 offensive tackle
Commit date: July 1
Twitter handle: @clcj0987
The final word: Clark is a two-way linemen who was a four-year starter and will help address the fact that Memphis loses seven offensive linemen to graduation over the next two offseasons. He picked the Tigers over reported offers from Tulane, Middle Tennessee State and Austin Peay. 

Evan Fields

OL, 6-6, 265
East Coweta (Sharpsburg, Ga.)
247 composite: 3-star, No. 173 offensive tackle
Commit date: Oct. 5
Twitter handle: @TODD285
The final word: Fields appears to be the most versatile offensive lineman in the Tigers'  class, with the ability to play multiple positions. He was the fifth offensive lineman to commit to Memphis and reportedly had offers from UConn, Army, Florida Atlantic and Troy, among others.

Cameron Fleming

RB, 5-9, 175
Cedar Hill (Texas)
247 composite: 3-star, No. 34 all-purpose back
Commit date: June 21
Twitter handle: @camfleming24
The final word: Fleming is a big-play threat as a runner, receiver and returner who also played cornerback on a traditional high school powerhouse. His multi-faceted skill-set fits right in with what Norvell's offense requires from its tailbacks. Fleming reportedly picked Memphis over Colorado, UCF and Tulane.

Kenneth Gainwell

RB/WR/DB, 5-10, 190
Yazoo County (Miss.)
247 Composite: 3-star, No. 123 athlete
Commit date: June 26
Twitter handle: @Kennethgainwel1 
The final word: Gainwell rushed for 1,791 yards, passed for 1,101 and accounted for 39 total touchdowns while leading Yazoo City to the state championship game and earning Class 3A Mr. Football honors. Given his speed and shiftiness in the open field, Gainwell could be unleashed in a role similar to how the Tigers used Tony Pollard the past two years. 

Antonio Gibson

WR, 6-2, 220
East Central Community College (Decatur, Miss.)
247 Composite: 3-star, No. 5 JUCO WR
Commit date: Nov. 7
Twitter handle: @AntonioGibson14
The final word: Gibson, who is from McDonough, Ga., averaged more than 19 yards per catch and had nine touchdowns as a freshman at East Central and then hauled in 21 receptions for 308 yards and four touchdowns this past season. He reportedly had  offers from West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Colorado, among others.

Troy Hurst

RB/WR/DB, 6-2, 185
St. Helena Central (Greensburg, La.)
247 Composite: 3-star, No. 112 athlete
Commit date: August 22
Twitter handle: @thurst9_
The final word: Hurst is another player to choose the Tigers despite reported interest and offers from power five conference schools. Though Hurst versatile enough to play multiple positions, his high school coach told 247 Sports that he believes Hurst's length makes him best suited to be in the defensive backfield at the college level. 

Quindell Johnson

DB, 6-0, 181
Edna Karr (New Orleans)
247 Composite: 3-star, No. 145 safety
Commit date: June 12
Twitter handle: @quindell6
The final word: Johnson is one of two players in the class from Edna Karr along with offensive lineman Titus Jones. The duo won a 4A state titlethis past season. Johnson played safety and reportedly had offers from Purdue, Houston and Tulane, among others.

Titus Jones

OL, 6-3, 265
Edna Karr (New Orleans)
247 Composite: 3-star, No. 59 offensive guard
Commit date: April 15
Twitter handle: @_tee73
The final word: Jones is high school teammates with Johnson and stuck with the Tigers despite reportedly receiving offers from Arizona, Houston and SMU since committing to Memphis. Jones is earliest commitment among the class who signed with the Tigers on Wednesday.

Brady McBride

QB, 6-0, 189
Coppell (Texas)
247 Composite: 3-star, No. 57 pro-style quarterback
Commit date: July 12
Twitter handle@_bradymcbride_
The final word: The Tigers' lone quarterback recruit, at least for now, de-committed from Rice and promptly flipped to Memphis one day later. He threw for 2,414 yards and had 35 touchdown passes and just three interceptions this past season. Coach Mike Norvell has indicated he could add another quarterback before next year, but McBride will have a chance to figure into the battle to replace Riley Fergusons.

Jeremy Tate Jr.

WR, 6-4, 209
New Hope (Columbus, Miss.)
247 Composite: 2-star, No. 359 WR
Commit date: May 8
Twitter handle: @_jtate13
The final word: Tate is the tallest member of the class and that size makes him an attractive option at wide receiver for Norvell and his staff. 
 

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Memphis Tigers football lands first 2 verbal commits in class of 2019   

Evan Barnes, USA TODAY NETWORK – TennesseePublished 11:24 a.m. CT
April 15, 2018 | Updated 9:07 p.m. CT April 15, 2018

Memphis landed its first two verbal commits from the class of 2019 when Keveon Mullins, a four-star recruit from Whitehaven, and Trevis Hopper, a three-star recruit from Central High, announced their decisions over the weekend.

Hopper, a defensive tackle who was previously committed to Arkansas, announced his decision on Saturday. On Sunday morning, Mullins, who plays wide receiver and safety, followed suit with his commitment. Both made the announcements on their Twitter accounts.

Both attended the Tigers' spring game Friday, where more than 10,000 fans watched Memphis in action in one of the largest crowds to see a Memphis spring game in recent memory according to a Memphis athletics department spokesman.

Both are also a great start for Memphis' 2019 recruiting class since the 2018 class only had one local scholarship player in Lausanne's Nyle Love. 

Mullins, who is 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, is rated No. 18 in the state and the No. 31 athlete in the country according to 247Sports. He is the Tigers' first four-star commit since Obinna Eze two years ago. 

Mullins caught 52 passes for 1,011 yards last season for East before transferring to Whitehaven.

Hopper, who stands 6-foot-2 and 260 pounds, de-committed from Arkansas earlier last week and also had offers from Tennessee, Ole Miss, Georgia and Clemson, among others. Hopper was named Tennessee Mr. Football Class 5A Lineman of the Year as a sophomore.

I won’t to take time out my day to thank my friends and Family and the man up above everyone who has been there for me and has pushed me to be all I can be with that i won’t to say i will be committing to The University Of Memphis Home Sweet Home

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3 Memphis Tiger football players named to preseason award watch lists

 
Mark Giannotto, Memphis Commercial AppealPublished 10:52 a.m. CT July 16, 2018
igers Spring Football Game 201
Tigers UCF AAC Champ

(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

A trio of Memphis football players were named to prestigious preseason award watch lists Monday now that the 2018 season is fast approaching. 

Tailback Darrell Henderson and multi-dimensional redshirt junior Tony Pollard led the way, earning spots on the Maxwell Award watch list. It's an award presented annually to the best college football player in the country. 

Linebacker Curtis Akins also made the watch list for the Bednarik Award, which is given to the nation's top defensive player. 

All three players are coming off breakthrough seasons and are once again expected to be key figures for the Tigers.

Pollard, a redshirt junior, has emerged as one of the most dynamic all-around weapons in the country at Memphis. He was named a Walter Camp all-American and earned the AAC's special teams player of the year award for the second season in a row after he led the nation in kickoff return touchdowns (4) and kickoff return average (40 yards) in 2017.

He also took on an important role within the Tigers' offense as a running back and wide receiver. The Memphis native was second on the team with 36 receptions for 536 yards and four touchdowns. In addition, he rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

With the graduation of record-setting wide receiver Anthony Miller and a new quarterback under center, Pollard should see his role on offense increase even more this season.

 

Memphis kick returner Darrell Henderson (left) runs

 

Memphis kick returner Darrell Henderson (left) runs by UCF kicker Matthew Wright (right) during second quarter action of the the AAC Championship football game in Orlando, Fl., Saturday, December 2, 2017. (Photo: Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal)

Henderson earned second team all-AAC honors as a sophomore last year when he rushed for 1,154 yards and scored nine touchdowns. He was the first Memphis football player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season since 2009, and averaged a school record 8.9 yards per carry. He closed the regular season by finishing with more than 100 rushing yards in five-straight games.

Henderson missed the Tigers' Liberty Bowl loss to Iowa State due to a leg injury and did not participate in their spring game as a precaution. He did, however, take part in scrimmages during spring practice.

 

University of Memphis defender Curtis Akins celebrates

University of Memphis defender Curtis Akins celebrates a tackles against University of Tulsa during second quarter action in Tulsa, Okla., Friday, November 3, 2017. (Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

 

Akins will be one of the leaders for a Memphis defense that returns many of its top players from last season. The senior led the Tigers in tackles (88) last year despite missing two games due to injury. 

Memphis is coming off a 10-3 campaign and its first appearance in the AAC championship game. The program will open its 2019 preseason training camp on Aug. 2.

The Tigers begin the 2018 regular season Sep. 1 with a game against Mercer at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

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