College Football Preview: Memphis

Memphis Tigers

2015 Results: 9-4 (5-3, 3rd in West)

Lost Birmingham Bowl to Auburn

Returning Starters: 5 OFF, 7 DEF, 2 SP

2016 Schedule

September

3rd SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE

17th KANSAS

24th BOWLING GREEN

October

1st at Ole Miss

6th TEMPLE

14th at Tulane

22nd at Navy

29th TULSA

November

5th at SMU

12th SOUTH FLORIDA

18th at Cincinnati

25th HOUSTON

Memphis surprised a lot of people last year. They came out of the gate to the tune of an 8-0 start. The biggest surprise was knocking off #18 Ole Miss who had just previously beaten eventual national champion Alabama. This year, they are without star quarterback Paxton Lynch, and it is going to be harder to sneak up on opponent. New head coach Mike Norvell will hope to pick up where Justin Fuente left off. 

The Tigers will have a new quarterback after they were spoiled last year with Lynch. Riley Ferguson, former Tennessee commit, will have the reins handed over to him. Ferguson made a stop at junior college before stepping into a decent situation in Memphis. Don't expect the numbers to live up to last years. Doroland Dorceus returns as the leading rusher. He scored 8 TDs while running for 661 yards. He is a punishing back who measures at 5-10 and weighs 215. Norvell has shifted the line into different positions. This will be the worrisome platoon seeing as they are all starting in different spots. 

On defense, the Tigers return seven starters. Other than four juniors expecting to start, there are seven seniors returning to a defense that held opponents to 406.7 yards per game, good enough for 77th in the nation. The front seven is going to be relentless. Expect a heavy pass rush and a defense that relies on it to work. The defense is expected to be much improved from a year ago.

Player to Watch: Sam Craft

The senior tailback/receiver will thrive in Norvell's up-tempo style offense. Last year, he combined for 1,609 yards and 18 TDs running, catching, and returning the ball. Expect to see him putting up big numbers in your weekly box scores.

If you only watch them play once, watch:

10/1 at Ole Miss

Don't expect Ole Miss to forget what happened last year. The Rebels will have payback on their mind. The loss last year hurt Ole Miss' playoff hopes. Expect retribution this year, and ugly at that.

What to Expect

Don't expect the Tigers to come out hot like they did last year. No one is going to overlook them this time. The Tigers should make it to a third straight bowl under their new head coach, but they will be a middle of the pack team in the west division,

Prediction

7-5 (4-4, AAC)

-Dug

@chansm1th