Author: J- Allen

2021 2020 2019 2018 #1 #1 #1 #1 Coaches Poll Coaches Poll Coaches Poll #25 #25 #25 #25 UNRANKED IN Coaches Poll It has been years since the American Athletic Conference had a team finish in the top 5 in preseason polls. Interestingly, though, the AAC has had a team in top 10  of the final Coaches poll 2 of the last 4 years.  Furthermore,  last year, and the year before, the American Athletic Conference was greatly undervalued.  When was it overvalued, their best team.?  Answer, …. NOT in the last 4 years. Here are those last 4 years:…

This is part of a series of preseason position breakdowns for the University of Memphis; you can look at the others here, here, and here. The Tigers receiving corps will be led by Javon Ivory, Gabriel Rogers and Eddie Lewis.  Javon Ivory had 23 catches for 356 yards in 2020, and 29 catches for 413 in 2021.  Eddie Lewis had 22 catches for 349 yards in 2021.  Gabriel Rogers had 15 catches for 179 yards in 2021.  These players will try to step up to fill the substantial loss of Calvin Austin III who was drafted last year. Some notable…

Groucho Marx (above) famously said, “I wouldn’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member”.  Let’s look at the last 4 teams to move out of the Big 10 for other destinations. This is not going to be a hot take.  I don’t have any connections or fan bases to favor among these four programs.  But I’ve got these attendance figures, and there’s other proofs I won’t get to in this brief article. The last 4 major teams to leave the Big 12 now have a decade of experience to share.  Let’s see about their…

The Memphis Tigers offensive line is bolstered by two notable additions. Memphis Tigers will be joined by  Kyndall McKenzie, of Little Rock, Arkansas’  Parkview Magnet High School.  He’s an Offensive Lineman, 6 foot 2 inches tall, 305 pounds  graded Three-star by 247Sports. Also joining the Tigers is Davion Carter, of Pearl, Mississippi. Carter transfer from Northwest Community College, he is 6 foot 2 inches tall, 290 pounds. He was rated a three-star defensive lineman by 247Sports coming out of high school in 2021. Unfortunately, they will not be joined by Devotae Dobbs, according to this news. https://twitter.com/memphisnews/status/1552792942145929217 Center, Remington Award watch-listed, …

Most likely you will enjoy some of the parts of the “diatribe”.  Frankly,  it really wasn’t just a state of the league speech.  Truthfully, you’ll compare it more to an Adam Silver “state of the game” speech.  He was talking about how 10 years ago no one thought this league would do what it’s done.  He talked about how no one thought a team (Cincinatti) from a non-power-5 league would elbow their way into the final four.  How UCF would become folk heroes (my words, not his) for having gone undefeated and having legitimate mention for national champions years earlier.…

In a movie, the hero rides away. The American Athletic Conference is having 3 ride away… but probably not thinking of them as heroes. Memphis vs. Houston October 7  When Rick told Ilsa, you’d better get on that plane (in Casablanca)… he was thinking about this game.  Last year, Houston won in a dominating fashion 31-13.  Houston will be replacing ECU, South Florida, and Tulsa with the likes of Oklahoma, Texas, and Oklahoma State.  Memphis will be happy to put the Cougars on the plane themselves; next year Memphis will be top contenders for the conference title with Houston (and…

Likes is a redshirt Junior.  Memphis used to be known as Running Back U, but the numbers show a little pullback since graduating two highly drafted NFL RBs the same year. The last Memphis interior lineman to be on a preseason watchlist was Dylan Parham (Outland trophy watchlist) in 2020-21. This highly recruited offensive lineman graduated from high school at Christian Brothers High School, Memphis.  He was graded a three-star prospect according to 24/7 sports.  These are the stats for rushing attempts, rushes, yards per play, longest run, and touchdowns. 2019                   …

https://twitter.com/MemphisFB/status/1549812735600476171 There are several athletes on this year’s watchlist, but not all universities, (or even most) are represented. This year, there were football players across 3 divisions. Qualifications for the Good Works team are listed on the AFCA Website. “Each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing. ”   The key dates are for nominations on May 22, and then the selection for the nominations in July. Selection for the final 22 (11 from the FBS and 11 from other divisions) “Good Works Team” are made in September. According to…

For the American Athletic Conference, it’s a pivotal year. Suitably, the three leaving teams (Cincinatti, UCF, and Houston) highlight a fairly light nonconference schedule for the league. Nonconference games traditionally let a team tune up for the conference schedule.  This ain’t dem games.  This is a matchup, a test, a burgeoning rivalry, a future arch-enemy.  These are circled games, no parents allowed, tell your significant other the wrong day, send them to the movies game.  “Rub some dirt on it son, and get back in” games. Sat, Sep 3            Cincinnati at Arkansas    3:30pm   ESPN An early bellwether game,…

The Memphis Tigers defense line recruits,  highlighted by four-star defensive lineman Joshua White from Decatur, AL; who according to Website 24/7 Sports he turned down interest and offers from four top-level SEC schools. Others are James Quinnelly is a three-star defensive lineman signed from Daphne, AL.  Also, Eric Gaston is a three-star edge rusher signed from Antioch, TN. A big addition is DT Hydee Barlow is three-star transfer from Gulf Coast Community College. There are some linebackers added.  Three-star Warren Peeples is a transfer from Highland Community College. in Kansas.  Another big get for the Tigers is AJ Odom is…