The importance of the Memphis Tigers win against Boise State last week should not be understated. Here are the studs and duds of the Tigers’ come-from-behind victory against the Broncos.
Studs
Here are the studs for Memphis from the Boise State game.
Blake Watson (RB) – 133 all-purpose yards, two TDs
A permanent resident on the “studs” list, the legend of Blake Watson continues to grow. Watson is a dominant player and has been Memphis’ best through five weeks of the season. I’ve reiterated this across multiple articles and a scouting profile of the Tiger star that discusses how his game translates to the NFL. The main concern with Watson has been his fumbling on the goal line, which has almost cost Memphis big. Over his first three years at Old Dominion, Watson had a total of zero fumbles. His two goal-line fumbles in 2023 have been a surprise.
Seth Henigan (QB) – 18/28, 269 yards, two TDs, 64 rush yards
Henigan started the game a little shaky but had a couple of chunk plays that put him on the studs list. This 59-yard bomb to Demeer Blankumsee helped to put the game out of reach. What impressed me most about Henigan’s performance was his grit. Nobody wanted to win that game more than Seth Henigan. His hard-earned 64 rush yards led to critical first downs and was why Memphis took home the win.
Geoffrey Cantin-Arku (LB) – 4 Tackles, one blocked kick returned for TD
Cantin-Arku had a monumental impact on the game in just one play. His 80-yard blocked kick returned for a touchdown gave the Tigers a lead they would never surrender against the Broncos. Cantin-Arku subsequently won AAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Roc Taylor (WR) – Five catches, 102 yards, one TD
The Tigers began the game with three punts and a turnover on downs. However, that changed after Henigan connected with Taylor for a 53-yard gain that moved the offense to the 22-yard line. Two plays later, Henigan found Taylor in the back corner of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown. The Memphis wideout displayed his leadership when discussing the Tiger sideline’s mood after the team went down 17-0.
Duds
Here are the duds for Memphis from the Boise State game.
Memphis’ Pass Rush
Of 133 FBS teams, Memphis’ 65.4 PFF pass-rush grade is good for 104th. This trend only worsened in the Boise State game, as the pass rush received a grade of 58.3. Against the Broncos, Memphis had one total sack from off-ball linebacker Chandler Martin. Not only did the defensive line have no sacks, but QB Taylen Green ran for 51 yards and consistently left the pocket to throw the ball downfield.
Anthony Landphere (TE) – No catches
Memphis’ lack of a safety blanket continues to be a problem. The Tigers’ starting tight end has just eight catches for 56 yards on the season. He has not caught a touchdown pass through five games and didn’t catch a pass against Boise State.
