Memphis football strength coach Noah Franklin gives scouting report on transfer portal additions

Memphis football will have a lot of new faces in 2024.

That's how it is for most college football programs in this day and age of the transfer portal, and coach Ryan Silverfield brought in 23 new players to help shore up the Tigers heading in to a critical season. The Group of Five will have a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff, and Memphis will be among the top contenders for that spot.

It's a near-certainty that the Tigers will start transfers at key positions on both offense and defense in 2024.

With spring practices underway, strength coach Noah Franklin told the Commercial Appeal in his own words what to expect from some of the new additions.

OT Trent Holler (Marshall)

"The kid's done a phenomenal job coming in, buying in to what we're asking of him. Obviously there's a connection with our offensive coordinator, the Marshall ties, so he seems to be ahead on the playbook. But the kid's been phenomenal. Sixth year player that we expect a lot out of."

OT Keydrell Lewis (Louisiana-Monroe)

"He's been a phenomenal worker for us. Had some concerns as he came in with his body weight being larger than some of our offensive lineman in the past, but he's been a real warrior about it. He's pushed through, he's gotten his body down quite a bit of body fat, put on a good bit of lean mass, very encouraged to continue to work with him this summer and see what we can turn him in to by this fall."

OT Jaylen Nichols (South Carolina)

"What you expect when you think of an SEC tackle. Big, wide body, solid framed kid. Incredibly strong. Exactly what you expect those guys to look like."

RB Mario Anderson (South Carolina)

"Good addition to a solid running backs room. Has shown some early leadership qualities as he gets to know his teammates. A guy that will fight, will strain."

WR Jyaire Shorter (Auburn)

"Has put on seven or eight pounds of muscle mass since he's been here. Kid can absolutely fly. He hit 22 miles an hour last week. Really excited to see him kind of plug in to that bigger bodied receiver role this fall."

WR Ja'Koby Banks (Houston)

"Really fun young guy to work with. Great positive attitude. Works extremely hard. Will fight through a lot of things. Really nice to have a guy that young in his career that we're going to get three, four years with to really see what he can turn in to."

LB Jayden Flaker (NC Central)

"Another guy that can absolutely roll. For a 230-pound body he can move. He's done a great job buying in to what we ask of our guys here. Think he's going to have a good impact on our defense."

LB Matt Hudson (Harvard)

"Obviously an intelligent kid coming from Harvard. Seems to be on a mission. Takes incredible care of his body, always prepared for training. More often than not, the first guy in the building getting prepped. Done a phenomenal job of jumping in the deep end with both feet in and getting after it."

DL Mond Cole (Holmes Community College)

"Another guy who came in a little bit heavy. Done a great job, lost about 20 pounds. He's moving really well, strength numbers are driving up. Excited to have a big-bodied nose out there that can stand up against the run."

DL P.J. Lucas (Indiana)

"Really stood out as a 325-pounder that can condition and train at an extremely high level. Nothing seems to faze this guy, he's just kind of a stone-faced worker."

DB Jaidyn Denis (Elon)

"Doesn't say much, just has great eyes. Locked in on everything you're asking him to do. Another guy that moves extremely well in space. Continues to develop his body in the weight room. He's a creature. Long-bodied DB that really should be able to do some things for us."

DB Kourtland Marsh (Samford)

"Reminds me a lot, personality wise, of Quindell Johnson. Always positive, always here for it, encouraging teammates, always working with a smile on his face. Has shown some leadership ability. Really excited to get him out there."

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @thejonahdylan.