Memphis also won the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl versus Utah State to end last season. Its bowl game against Hawaii in 2021 was cancelled due to COVID-19 issues for Hawaii’s program.
This means that Ryan Silverfield’s Tigers have gone 13-12 over the past two seasons. Ten of those losses were in conference play. In a revamped AAC, the pressure is on Memphis to return to its winning ways that fans have grown accustomed to in the past decade.
If it fails to do that, Silverfield might lose his job and Memphis would sink even further into the rabbit-hole of mediocrity—the worst place you could be, particularly in a league like the American.
The good news is that Memphis has the talent to possibly stand atop the AAC in 2023. This year’s East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list thinks so, at least.
Ross is entering his second season at Memphis after transferring in from Eastern Kentucky last season.
The 5-foot-10 defensive back was an All-AAC Honorable-Mention last year. Analyst Phil Steele, however, included Ross in his All-AAC Fourth-Team in 2022.
Ross is a former wide receiver that converted to defensive back at Eastern Kentucky in 2020. He flourished immediately after the switch, and was named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. He returned three interceptions for touchdowns that same season, which led the nation.
Blake Watson
Watson will spend his final year of eligibility at Memphis after dominating at Old Dominion in the past two seasons.
In 2021, the 5-foot-9 running back ran for 1,112 yards and 8 touchdowns on 215 carries. In 2022, he recorded 921 yards and 5 touchdowns on 159 carries.
Steele named him to the preseason All-AAC Third-Team for 2023, as did Athlon Sports.
Simeon Blair
Blair, a 5-foot-10 safety, was a team captain at Arkansas.
The fifth-year senior totaled 135 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 13 pass breakups in 22 starts over four years. He hopes to realize his full potential at Memphis while in a more prominent role.
Steele named Blair to the preseason All-AAC First-Team.
Jaylon Allen
Allen is Memphis’ best pass-rusher.
The fifth-year senior 58 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 5 sacks in 2022. He also had 1 pass breakup, 1 fumble recovery and an interception that was returned for a touchdown against North Texas.
Allen is one of Memphis’ leaders on the defensive side of the ball, and will be heavily relied upon to help the Tigers consistently get off the field once again in 2023.
He is also a preseason All-AAC First-Team selection, per Steele. Athlon Sports included him on its Second-Team back in May.
Senior Editor for Tiger Blueprint. See more of my work on Bluff City Media, where I’m the Memphis basketball beat writer, the Men in Hoodies podcast on Apple and Spotify and on “Sports with Roman Cleary” live on University of Memphis Radio—The ROAR Fridays from 3-4 p.m. during the fall and spring.
