the real Tigers :D
By Pete Fiutak
Memphis is coming off two of the best years in its history going to bowl games and boasting one of the nation's most explosive offenses. So why does it all feel so disappointing?
Sure, it's hard to argue with the 17 wins over the last two seasons, but it would've been nice to have come up with a few more big wins in Conference USA play. The Tigers haven't been able to figure out UAB over the last two seasons and there have been just enough league losses to keep them from being in the hunt. The offense can't be blamed for anything other than a few too many turnovers; it's been the defense.
There was a time when Memphis had one of the most fearsome mid-major defenses in college football. It was hard-hitting, aggressive and always tough. Last year it was way too inconsistent and didn't show up against the top offenses on the slate. This year, the defense has to shine with the turnover of talent throughout the offense.
Sure, RB DeAngelo Williams is one of the nation's best, but defenses are going to tee off on him if a quarterback doesn't emerge and play like Danny Wimprine. The offensive line is a big question mark as well. With seven starters returning on defense and enough athleticism to make plenty of big plays, there should be a little bit of improvement. Considering all the concerns, a third straight bowl season will feel like anything but a disappointment.
The Schedule: It's a dream early and brutal late. If the Tigers can continue their mastery over Ole Miss, they should make a serious run at starting the year 7-0 before facing recent nemesis UAB. After the home date with the Blazers it's at Tennessee, at Southern Miss and Marshall. Yuck. Fortunately, Memphis appears to be a team that'll be better by the end of the year than early.
Best Offensive Player: Senior RB DeAngelo Williams. The injury suffered against Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl has healed well enough to be a non-issue. Now Williams has to be prepared to be a marked man all season long with a still developing passing game not there to help him out.
Best Defensive Player: Senior FS Wesley Smith. The long-time starter is a big hitter and fast. He's the leader of the defense and should be one of the top tackling defensive backs in Conference USA. Now he needs to provide more help in pass coverage.
Key player to a successful season: QBs Will Hudgens and Billy Barefield. It might be asking too much to match Danny Wimprine's yardage totals, but there's no reason the new starting quarterback can't put up some big numbers in this offense. Wimprine, for all of the good things he did, also threw a ton of interceptions and the team still won. First year mistakes from Hudgens and Barefield might not be too much of a killer.
The season will be a success if ... Memphis wins eight games and challenges for the Conference USA title. The team isn't as good as it was the last two seasons, but the league is far worse and the schedule isn't all that bad.
Key game: November 19 at Southern Miss. The Tigers will likely have to regroup after the road trip to Tennessee and get up for what could be the battle for the Conference USA title. At the very least, this should be the game for the East division title.
2004 Fun Stats:
- Sacks: Memphis 23 - Opponents 5
- Third down conversion: Memphis 48% - Opponents 42%
- Average passing yards per game: Opponents 275.9 - Memphis 257.2
Offense Breakdown and Analysis | Defense Breakdown and Analysis
2005 Recruiting Class
Star of the Class
T.J. Pitts RB 5-10 190 Gainesville (North Hall) Ga.
One of Memphis' most heralded signees for 2005...Hails from Gainesville, Ga., which is Coach Tommy West's hometown...Prepped at North Hall High School under Coach Bob Christmas...Transferred from Baldwin High School in Milledgeville, Ga., midway through his sophomore year...Rushed for 2,422 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior at NHHS...Helped squad to a 12-1 record and a Region 7-AAA title in 2004...Squad advanced to the state quarterfinals, and won its first playoff in school history...Listed as one of the top running backs in the Southeast...Ranked as the 36th-best running back in the country by Scout.com...The Gainesville Times named him Area Football Player of the Year two straight years...Rushed for more than 4,200 yards in two seasons at NHHS, and totaled 24 straight 100-yard rushing games...Scored a rushing touchdown in 23 straight games until his streak was snapped in the quarterfinals
Instant Impact Players
Brandon Hunt WR 6-2 195 Southaven Ms.
Totaled 24 receptions and two touchdowns in a predominantly rush offense at Northwest Mississippi Community College where he played for Coach Tank Arrington...Totaled 251 yards receiving in 2004...Was named the North squad's most valuable player in the MACJC Football All-Star Game...Scored the only touchdown in that game and finished with seven catches for 102 yards...Helped squad to a 7-2 finish and a third-place showing in the MACJC North Division...Squad opened the year on a seven-game winning streak...Prepped at Southaven High School, and was the leading as a senior with 30 catches in 2002...Also played cornerback and returned punts...Totaled five interceptions as a senior
Brandon McDonald DB 5-11 180 Collins (Collins) Ms.
Lettered for two seasons at Jones County Community College under Coach Parker Dykes... Worked as a receiver during his first season, and in the secondary in 2004...Was credited with 25 tackles and a team-leading eight pass interceptions in 2004...Also led JCCC in punt returns...Received MACJC Player of the Week honors last season when he returned six punts for 132 yards against East Central Community College...Played for Coach Bruce Merchant during his prep career at Collins High School...Led his CHS team to back-to-back state championships
Rest of the Class
Billy Barefield QB 5-9 165 Shreveport (Evangel Christian) La.
Miguel Barnes RB/DB 5-11 190 Millington (Millington) Tn.
Chris Barnett AT 6-0 195 Southhaven Ms.
Paul Edwards OL 6-6 305 McKenzie (McKenzie) Tn.
Eric Evans OL 6-4 290 Lepanto (East Poinsett Cnty) Ark.
LaKeitharun Ford DB 5-9 170 Rosedale Ms.
Michael Gibson P 6-2 190 Tupelo (Mooreville) Ms.
Lucian Godwin WR 6-0 185 Cordova (St. Benedict) Tn.
Michael Grandberry WR 5-10 170 Covington (Covington) Tn.
Tyler Griffin DB 5-11 192 Nashville (Brentwood Acad) Tn.
Brian Hall AT 5-11 180 Collierville (Collierville) Tn.
Chris Huffman DB 6-3 190 Montgomery (Jefferson Davis) Ala.
Greg Jackson LB 6-2 195 Marietta (Marietta) Ga.
Stacy Jones TE/FB 6-2 235 Columbus (Columbus) Ms.
Maurice Jones WR 6-2 185 Memphis (White Station) Tn.
Bernard Key DB 5-11 175 Montgomery (Sidney Lanier) Ala.
Deante' Lamar DB 5-10 183 Atlanta (Lithonia) Ga.
Clinton McDonald DL 6-3 240 Jacksonville (Jacksonville) Ark.
Clayton Presley OL 6-0 280 Memphis (Harding Academy) Tn.
Jeremy Rockette LB 6-3 200 Olive Branch (Olive Branch) Ms.
Traye Simmons DB 5-11 175 Marietta (Marietta) Ga.
Carlos Singleton WR 6-7 195 Brownsville (Haywood) Tn.
Alton Starr WR/ 6-0 185 DeCatur (McNair) Ga.
Greg Terrell DL 6-4 215 Birmingham (Wenonah) Ala.
Dave Thomas III AT 5-11 180 Murfreesboro (Riverdale) Tn.
Donald Thornton LB 6-3 230 Memphis Tn.
Brett Toney QB 6-1 180 Germant. (Briarcrest Christ) Tn.
Ken Turner OL 6-3 280 Marrero (Higgins) La.
Steven Turner DL 6-3 240 Brownsville (Haywood) Tn
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