2008 Memphis Tigers Football
Tommy West enters his 8th year at Memphis with a 41-44 record at the head of the football program. West should be pleased with the returning talent at his disposal for 2008, as 18 starters return in all. Memphis finished the season strong by winning 5 of their last 6 regular season games before losing to Florida Atlantic in the New Orleans Bowl 27-44. Memphis looks primed to win the C-USA East Division, but they’ll have to improve on defense as the team ranked 100th nationally in total defense last season. Find out how the Tigers fare this season as Info Plays gives their 2008 Memphis Tigers football predictions and season preview below.
Offense:
Gone is quarterback Martin Hankins, who threw for 3,220 yards and 25 touchdowns last year. The spring drills ended with junior college transfer Arkelon Hall and sophomore Matt Malouf in a dead heat to take Hankin’s place. Hall is a nationally regarded prospect out of California, who originally signed with Washington State. He’s 220 pound and can break tackles as a running QB. Malouf showed an accurate arm in the spring. Coach Tommy West is eager to use a quarterback with running skills near the goal line, as the Tigers struggled in red zone efficiency last season. Both Hall and Malouf can handle the task.
Memphis returns a veteran offensive line and perhaps the best group of receivers in the league. Duke Calhoun, at 6-4, is easily an all-conference candidate. He’ll join forces with 6-8 Carlos Singleton, 6-4 Maurice Jones and 6-3 Steven Black to give whoever wins the QB job plenty of tall targets on the outside. Calhoun led the team with 890 receiving yards, but Singleton used his height to lead the Tigers with 11 receiving touchdowns. Junior college transfer Curtis Steele won over the coaching staff after rushing for 94 yards in the spring game to earn offensive MVP honors. Junior T.J. Pitts missed the spring with a broken ankle and should challenge Steele for the starting job in the fall.
Defense:
Memphis allowed more than 400 yards/game for a second straight season. West brought in Tim Walton, who spent last season as coordinator at the University of Miami, to instill a more attacking, aggressive mentality that has been missing on this side of the ball. Veterans up front return led by Corey Mills, Clinton McDonald, Freddie Barnett and Greg Terrell. The Tigers should show improvement at linebacker with Winston Bowens and Greg Jackson returning after missing most of last year with knee injuries. Jackson is considered the leader of the linebacker corps.
Memphis moved defensive end Josh Weaver to outside linebacker, but he injured his shoulder in the spring and is not expected to be ready for the opener. You’ll see Jeremy Rockette, who had a solid spring, step in if Weaver is unable to go. Senior Brandon Patterson is solid at free safety and Tony Bell, a former Auburn player, has made strides at strong safety. Michael Grandberry will be one of the answers at the cornerbacks spots after excelling in the spring.
Memphis Football Predictions at Info Plays: 1st in the Conference USA East Division
New coordinator Tim Walton might just be the boost the defense needs, and junior college transfers Curtis Steele and Greg Ray potentially give Memphis an opportunity to improve on a running game that’s been missing since DeAngelo Williams left for the NFL a few years ago. If a solid QB emerges, there’s a second straight bowl game, and fifth in six seasons, upcoming for the veteran Tigers. Oh yeah, the C-USA East Title goes through Memphis this year as well.
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Conference USA Wins Expected in ‘08: RICE, at Marshall, at UAB, SOUTHERN MISS, at SMU, TULANE
Potential Scares/Losses: at East Carolina, UCF
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