Memphis Tiger head coach Ryan Silverfield pulled in the best transfer class in the conference. In that class, there were high-profile transfers like Elijah Herring and Mario Anderson, but many transfers that will make big impacts have flown under the radar. In this series, I will be profiling the Memphis transfers that haven’t received the coverage they deserve.
First up, Jyaire Shorter. A wide receiver who spent the first five years of his career at North Texas and spent 2023 at Auburn. The seventh-year senior committed to Memphis in December. After a quick study of the tape, here’s what I found:
Scouting Report – Where Shorter Excels
- Big bodied (6’2, 218) vertical athlete – Great red zone threat, long arms, high points the ball well
- Physical in all phases – Uses his hands at the top of his route stem well, fights through contact
- Strong hands – Attacks the ball well
- Release package – Fundamental releases – gets off the line in minimal steps and fights through press coverage well
Scouting Report – Where He Underperforms
- Injury concerns – Season-ending injuries in the 2020 and 2021 seasons
- Average athleticism – Shorter doesn’t overwhelm opposing secondary’s with athleticism, that’s just not his game
- Limited route responsibility – Shorter hasn’t shown an advanced entire route tree at any point in his career. Not saying he can’t, he just hasn’t been asked too
What’s Shorter’s Role?
With the Tigers returning three of its top four wide receivers in Roc Taylor, Demeer Blankumsee, and Koby Drake, Shorter may have a tough time finding the field. With others having the trust of quarterback Seth Henigan and the coaching staff. While playing time may not come easy initially, Shorter is too talented not to find his way on the field. I expect Shorter to have a slow start to the season, but as he builds rapport with Seth Henigan, his role will expand. In the best-case scenario, Shorter is the Tiger’s wide receiver at the season’s end. Worst case, he is a solid red-zone threat.
The Tigers, and Shorter, kick off their season on August 31st against North Alabama.
