Memphis Football Preview

Tommy West

When Tommy West was hired as the head coach for the Tiger football team in November of 2000, everyone had great expectations that he would rebuild the U of M?s football fortunes but it would take a couple of years. No one anticipated that West and his staff would have the Tiger team just four seconds away from their first bowl bid in 30 years in their first season directing the program.

Entering the final game of the 2001 season, Memphis had a record of 5-5. Bowl representatives from the GMAC Bowl and the Motor City Bowl were in attendance and prepared to offer the team a bid if West?s crew could defeat the Bearcats. With less than a minute remaining on the stadium clock, the Bearcats drove the length of the field and scored with just four ticks left on the clock.

Now, with recruiting completed and two new staff members on board, West and the Tigers are ready to begin fall camp and pick up where they left off in November of 2001.

Memphis returns eight starters from the offensive unit and eight from the defensive side of the ball. The Tigers incorporated the spread offense last season and saw dramatic improvement in their offensive production. The unit upped its passing yardage, total offense and touchdown production last season and with a freshman quarterback under center, set a new school record for touchdown passes in a season.

The defense lost two outstanding defensive backs in All-Conference USA safety Glenn Sumter and corner Marcus Smith, as well as inside linebacker Demorrio Shank, but will build on the return of the entire defensive front, three veteran linebackers and numerous young and talented defensive backs.

The class of 2002, which will join the varsity in fall camp, was one of the most highly rated classes in school history, even surpassing West?s first class which included nine highly-touted Memphians.

Two national recruiting services, Tom Lemming and SuperPrep Magazine, rated the Tiger Class of 2002 as the number one signing class in Conference USA and one of the Top 50 classes in the nation for 2002.

For the first time in school history the Tigers will play 12 regular season football games , including eight Conference USA contests. An additional first includes a Tuesday night, nationally televised contest with Louisville from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

With the incorporation of a top 50 recruiting class into the list of experienced players returning for 2002, West?s Tigers could well be on their way to the school?s first bowl game since the 1971 season.

OFFENSE
The Memphis offense took on a new look in 2001 and it was one that Tiger fans appreciated. Memphis incorporated the ?spread? offense last season and in a matter of a few weeks, Tiger fans saw great improvement and a new, exciting brand of football.

The Tigers witnessed their statistics increase in passing yardage and total offense and by the end of the season found they had set a new school record for touchdown passes in a season.

Quarterbacks
For the second consecutive season, the University of Memphis will return a starting quarterback from the previous season and for the first time in many years, Memphis fans can be excited because the quarterback is just entering his sophomore season and has three years to continue his magical performance of 2001.

Danny Wimprine saw action in the opening game of 2001 against Mississippi State but suffered a concussion and was forced to miss the next two games. He returned top action for the Louisville contest and by the sixth game of the season had earned the starting nod as the Tigers? signal-caller.

Wimprine made the most of his opportunities and began to demonstrate his leadership on the field. The New Orleans native improved from game to game and by the end of the season had passed 1,329 yards and tossed 14 touchdown passes. Both marks, the yardage and touchdown passes, set Memphis records for a freshman quarterback.

In the Houston game, Wimprine threw a 73-yard touchdown strike to Antoine Harden and finished the game with 216 yards passing and two touchdowns. He threw for 208 yards and a school record four touchdowns in the win over Army and in the season finale, Wimprine completed 12-of-21 pass attempts for 295 yards and three touchdowns.

His 1,329 yards were the most ever by a Tiger freshman and his 14 touchdown passes tie for the second highest total in school annuals, matching Steve Matthews 14 scoring tosses in 1992.

Wimprine completed the 2001 season ranked 83rd in the nation in passing, 50th in pass efficiency, 34th in points responsible for and 73rd in total offense according to the NCAA.

With the emergence of Wimprine at quarterback, senior Travis Anglin has made his late season switch to wide receiver a permanent move. Anglin worked as both a quarterback and receiver in 2001.

With a need for depth at quarterback, the Tiger staff signed junior college transfer Jeff Hilliard at mid-semester and the Texas native enrolled at Memphis in January and participated in spring drills. Hilliard threw for over 1,800 yards in 2001 and led Tyler JC to an 8-4 record. His 1,840 yards and 20 touchdown passes ranked the 6'1, 197 pound junior sixth in the nation among all junior college quarterbacks in passing.

Scott Scherer, who worked as a backup quarterback and a special teams player last season and redshirt freshman Matt Adams, the grandson of former Memphis head coach Fred Pancoast, will work as reserve quarterbacks this fall. Scherer started seven games during the 2000 campaign after injuries felled Neil Suber and Anglin and threw for 857 yards and four touchdowns. Adams was redshirted last season and has spent his first year learning the team?s new spread offense.

In addition to signing Hilliard, the Tigers were able to land Maurice Avery and Patrick Byrne during the February signing period. Avery, who was twice named the DeKalb County (GA) Offensive Player of the Year, was one of the top 13 athletic quarterbacks in the nation by Max Emfinger and was listed as the number 26 quarterback prospect by The Sporting News. He threw for over 1,800 yards in 2001 and added over 850
yards rushing.

Byrne, an all-state kicker/punter from Brewton, Alabama, also lettered as a quarterback and led his team to the Alabama AAAA championship in 2000. He threw for 1,348 yards in 2001 and had a long field goal of 55 yards.

Running Backs
Memphis fans worried and fretted about the much heralded arrival of tailback Dante Brown after fall camp opened in August of 2001 but his arrival was well worth the wait. The junior college transfer missed the first 11 days of camp and was put through a crash course prior to the season opener.

The big back led the team in rushing against Mississippi State but the following week, during the Tigers? home opener, really demonstrated his abilities to all in attendance. Brown took the opening handoff against UT-Chattanooga and raced 62 yards before being pulled down deep in UTC territory. He finished the game with 158 yards rushing and one touchdown.

The Georgia native pounded out 119 yards in the Louisville contest and set a Memphis record for touchdowns in a game with four against Houston. He gained 148 yards against the Cougars.

Brown finished the season with 902 yards rushing and 11 rushing touchdown. His 902 yards rank as the fourth highest single season total in school history and his 11 rushing touchdowns tie for the second highest total amassed by a Tiger back and the most since Dave Casinelli scored 14 in 1963.

Working with Brown in the Memphis backfield this fall will be junior letterman Jeremiah Bonds, senior letter winner Darche? Epting, who is battling back from knee and leg injuries, and Mario Robinson, a redshirt freshman from Melrose High in Memphis.

Bonds, an experience back, gives the Tigers a speedy back who can also catch the ball from his tailback position. He has lettered for two seasons and was effective running the ball last spring.

Epting, who worked as both a fullback and tailback in the old, two-back offense, will continue to work as a fullback this fall. He is coming off knee and leg injuries that forced him to miss all of the 2001 season.

Robinson brought impressive prep credentials to campus last fall but was redshirted while he learned the Memphis offense. He ran the ball well in spring practice and was the team?s third leading rusher in scrimmage situations. He should help provide depth for the Tiger offense this season.

Joining the list of returnees in the Tiger backfield will be Prep all-American DeAngelo Williams of Wynne, Arkansas. Williams was at the center of a major recruiting battle involving Memphis, Arkansas, Iowa and Ole Miss last winter but opted for the U of M. The SuperPrep Magazine All-American rushed for 2,204 yards and 34 touchdowns during the 2001 season. He gained 939 yards in the state playoff games alone and was considered by many to be the top football prospect in the state. Given the lack of numbers in the offensive backfield, Williams should see playing time by the season opener against Murray State.

Memphis also added LSU tailback Derron Parquet to the roster in the spring of 2002 but the junior-to-be will have to sit out the season under the NCAA transfer rules. Parquet was listed as the number three tailback for LSU in 22001 and appeared in ten games for the Tigers.

Receivers
Gone from last year?s squad are such noted receivers as Bunkie Perkins and Ryan Johnson but the Tigers return seven veteran lettermen, including Antoine Harden, Darron White, Darren Garcia, Travis Anglin, Tripp Higgins, Andrew Harden, Derrick Harmon and Tavarious Davis.

Perkins led the team in number of receptions in 2001 with 46 but Harden led the corps in yardage and in average yards per reception. In fact, his 19.0 yards per catch led all of Conference USA last season. The Dallas, TX, native caught the longest pass of the season when he hauled in a 73-yard bomb from Wimprine in the Houston victory. He caught 31 passes for 589 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

White arrived on the Memphis campus in August of 2001 as a running back from Covington High School, but was immediately moved to receiver. The speedster responded by catching at least one pass in ten of the team?s 11 games and completed his freshman campaign with seven receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the Cincinnati game. White, who was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team, grabbed 34 passes for 422 yards and three scores during his first collegiate season and enters his sophomore year as a starter for the Tiger offense.

Garcia has the speed to be a top receiver for the U of M. He caught six passes for 63 yards last year and will be given the opportunity in the fall to step into a more active playing role.

Anglin opened the 2001 season as the Memphis starter at quarterback but by midseason began to take snaps at a receiver spot. During the final three games he was moved to wide out and caught his first career touchdown pass against Tennessee in Knoxville. He ended the season with four catches for 95 yards and is expected to become a prime target for Tiger quarterbacks this fall.

Higgins is a three-year letterman who like Anglin, had his first career touchdown reception in 2001. The Georgia native scored on a 12-yard pass from Anglin during Memphis? win over UT-Chattanooga. During his career, the journeyman wide out has grabbed 23 passes for 237 yards.

Davis came to Memphis two years ago but was hurt on his first day of practice. He was redshirted in 2000 and made his come back last season. Coming off major knee surgery, Davis caught three passes for 25 yards and one touchdown, that too coming against UT-Chattanooga.

Andrew Harden, the brother of defensive back Anthony and receiver Antoine, has lettered as a receiver and running back over the past three season.

The Tigers will have sophomore Von Webb back for the fall. Webb sat out the 2001 season to concentrate on academic work and should help provide depth at receiver. He suffered a torn ACL in winter conditioning and missed all of spring practice. He is expected to be ready for fall camp.

Harmon, who has lettered on the Tiger special teams, was move to wide receiver in the spring and could help provide depth for the offensive unit.

Another addition to the receiver corps this fall will be Memphis East High graduate LaDarius Price. The speedy Price sat out the 2001 season and concentrated on his academic work. It is anticipated that Price will give UM quarterbacks another sure-handed speed receiver.

The Tigers? spread offense will receive a boost from two newcomers this fall. Tavares Gideon and Mario Pratcher are both big receivers who will give the team size and speed.

Gideon, the cousin of former Southern Mississippi great Sherrod Gideon, played for Mississippi Delta Junior College and caught 54 passes for over 900 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2001. The 6-3 receiver was recruited by West Virginia and Baylor before deciding on Memphis.

Pratcher, who played prep football at Trezevant high in Memphis, is 6-4 and will give U of M quarterbacks yet another big target. Pratcher caught 23 passes for 585 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

Tight Ends
Working as both a receiver and as a lineman, the Tigers? tight ends will have experience and depth in both areas. Senior letterman Jeff Cameron was a regular starter for Memphis last year and despite spending most of his time as a blocker, hauled in 10 passes for 71 yards. When the Tigers went into a two tight end set, redshirt sophomore letterman Jason Johnson was called on to help with blocking and he responded in each of the 11 contests.

True freshman Marcus West came to Memphis from Columbus, MS, last fall and played in the season opener against Mississippi State. He was injured in practice prior to the second game of the season and was diagnosed with a broken hip. West missed the remainder of the 2001 season and was granted a hardship redshirt by the NCAA. He spent the fall rehabbing his hip and was able to return to the practice field in the spring.

The Tigers tight ends will get added depth with the arrival of Louisiana?s top tight end prospect John Doucette.

The St. Augustine High graduate was rated as high as the number 10 tight end prospect in the nation during the 2001 season and had committed to Georgia before deciding to sign with Tommy West?s Tigers.

Offensive Line
The Tigers lost two of the five starters from last year?s offensive line but can rebuild the line with the return of starting tackles Wade Smith and Doug Whittaker and two year starting center Jimond Pugh.

Senior Donald Marshall started several games at both guard and tackle and senior Joey Gerda started five games at guard before suffering an ankle injury. Each of these Tigers give the team experienced veterans to battle for playing time.

Reconstruction at the guard spots will begin with part-time starters Gerda, Marshall, Trey Eyre and Eric Anderson, as well as lettermen Andrew Handy, Matt Gehrke and Baki Celaj. Additional help will come from young players such as Travis Triplett, Jon Crews, James Corder, Gene Frederic, Jeremy Rone and William Martin.

Smith, who lettered for two years at tight end before moving to tackle in the spring of 2001, is expected to return to his right tackle slot this spring. Smith started all 11 contests last year and played the final half of the season with a broken hand. Whittaker, a transfer from UT-Martin in two years ago, sat out the 2000 season under the NCAA transfer rule. He worked during his redshirt season as a defensive tackle but was moved to offense last October. He made the transition swiftly and became the starter at left tackle for the final four contests of 2001. He was signed to a scholarship at the conclusion of the 2001 season.

Marshall, a junior college transfer who signed with the Tigers four days before the start of fall practice, arrived in Memphis in August and became a starter at guard for game one and moved to tackle by the second week. Marshall started six games during the season. However, he was slowed by an ankle injury late in October and missed several games at the end of the season.

Gerda has lettered for two years in the offensive line and started four games at guard in 2001. He too injured an ankle and missed the final three games. Gerda could play a major role for the Tigers in 2002. Celaj, Gehrke and Handy all lettered last year. Celaj and Gehrke both worked on the Tiger special teams and Gehrke also served time as a blocking tight end.

Handy, who was a true freshman in 2001, played in three games but has the ability to move into a regular role this fall. Frederic worked as the team?s deep snapper, while Corder was redshirted during his freshman season.

Martin, a walk-on from Memphis, has been with the offensive line for two seasons and could see action this fall at tackle.

The Tigers were able to sign six offensive linemen with the class of 2002 and one enrolled at UM in January and participated in spring drills with the team.

David Davis, a transfer from Itawamba Community College, spent the spring of 2002 working with the Tiger offensive guards and will have a step up on newcomers Blake Butler, Ed Hutt, Bruce McCaleb, and Phillip Walls.

Butler is the son of former Tiger great Keith Butler. He was named to the 2001 Associated Press Division IV Team in Ohio.

Hutt, a native of Tuscaloosa, AL, was an All-West Alabama selection as a tight end but will move to an offensive line spot for the Tigers.

Walls was a Texas Associated Press 5A All-State selection as a senior
and was named to the Texas Sportswriter?s All-State team as a junior and senior.

McCaleb is the youngest of the Tiger signees having turned 17 last winter. He was a three year football letterman at John Muier High and should continue to develop his size in college.

Defense
The Memphis defense, which faced a restructuring last season, should again be strong despite losing such noted defensive backs as Glenn Sumter and Marcus Smith and inside linebacker Demorrio Shank. The unit should have enough experience returning to again give Memphis a nationally ranked defense. The Tigers played a number of young athletes last fall, including a five freshman defensive backs.

With the development of so many young players last year, Memphis could be well on its way to another national ranked defense.

Defensive Line
When Memphis opened the 2001 season, the Tigers had three first-time starters in the defensive front. Mowbray Rowand started a end, while Kenyun Glover and Eric Taylor opened at defensive tackles. Letterman Tony Brown was back at his end spot as the units only returning veteran.

However, during the season opener against Mississippi State, the Tigers substituted Alabama transfer Albert Means and journeyman Boris Penchion in at tackle and true freshman Jacob Ford, sophomore Treveco Lucas and junior college transfer Shakorr Bryant in at end. The rotation worked so well that it was continued throughout the season.

During the season, Taylor and Glover combined for 54 tackles while receiving on the job training. Taylor was credited with 32 stops and one sack and Glover registered 22 tackles and a sack.

Means, who had lettered at Alabama as a true freshman, worked himself into the starting rotation and by the conclusion of the year, had started six games at tackle. Means logged 51 tackles and finished the 2001 season as the unit's seventh leading tackler.

Penchion, who has already received his undergraduate degree and is in graduate school, started one game in 2001 and had 26 tackles and two quarterback sacks.

Brown placed fourth in the tackle race with 68 total hits, 10 tackles for lost yardage and a team leading seven quarterback sacks. The senior from Chattanooga, TN, was ranked 10th in Conference USA in sacks and now has 13 in his career.

Rowand, a converted linebacker, started nine of the 11 games until he injured his ankle in the Tennessee game. The native Memphian had 30 tackles last season and one fumble recovery.

Depth at defensive end will be supplied by letter winners Lucas, Ford and Bryant. Lucas, a former walk-on who was placed on scholarship in January of 2002, was the defense?s ninth leading tackler despite not starting but one game. He had 47 tackles and four quarterback sacks. Ford, a true freshman from Melrose High in Memphis, also worked as a special teams member. He logged 20 tackles on the season. Bryant, who came to Memphis from Middle Georgia College, played through two knee sprains last season but still managed 16 tackles and six tackles for lost yardage.

David McNair is a young defensive lineman that was forced to work at tight end last fall due to injuries to Marcus West. He returned to defensive end in the spring and should be ready to contribute this fall. He came to the Tigers from Hargrave Military in Virginia.

Dierre Carter, a highly touted defensive lineman from Melrose High in Memphis, will attempt to catch the eye of defensive coaches this fall and earn playing time. Greg Billingslea, a freshman last season, worked at defensive tackle in the spring and could contribute this fall.

The Tigers will have the services of three newcomers in the line this fall. Willie Henderson, the prep All-American from Ridgeway High in Memphis, Haracio Colen, an all-State defensive end from Russellville, AR and LaVale Washington of New Orleans, LA, could see playing time early in their careers.

Henderson, 6-7, 278, was the object of an intense recruiting between the Tigers and the University of Tennessee. He had committed to the Vols before recommitting to the Tigers.

Linebackers
For the past two years the Tigers have received outstanding play from three outside linebackers. The three all shared time as starters during their freshman season and now, as juniors, are prepared to lead the defense. Back for their third campaign are outside backers Coot Terry and Greg Harper. Joining Terry and Harper will be letter winner Robert Douglas, who spent most of his time on special teams last fall. Redshirt freshman Sheldon Taylor will also be trying to contribute this fall.

Harper was the unit's third leading tackler in 2001 and was credited with 73 total hits and 13 tackles for lost yardage. He led the Tigers in tackles for loss and added five quarterback sacks. The former walk-on from Memphis recovered to fumbles, both of which set up touchdowns for the Tigers. Terry ranked eighth with 48 stops. Terry had six tackles behind the line of scrimmage and registered one block kick last season.

Joining Terry, Harper and Douglas at outside linebacker will be newcomer Tim Goodwell. The Lithonia, GA, native was a first team All-DeKalb County selection as both a junior and senior. He had 103 tackles as a senior.

The inside linebacker spot remains open after the graduation of starter Demorrio Shank. Junior Shaka Hill lettered for the first time in his career working as a backup to Shank in 2001. The Nashville native recorded 35 tackles while playing in all 11 games and seems to be the heir apparent for the starters role.

However, redshirt sophomore Vincent Brown should battle in the fall for his share of time at inside linebacker. The Tigers will also look forward to having Charles Davis participate in the fall. The native of Memphis, who was known as Charles Wellington at Trezevant High School, sat out last season while concentrating on academics. Davis received all-state honors as a linebacker at Trezevant and was a high teammate of Sheldon Taylor and Albert Means.

Will Hyden, who has seen game action for the Tigers over the past two years, is also available at outside linebacker.

Newcomer Dwayne Mitchell of New Orleans, La., could provide depth it inside linebacker after he learns the Tiger system.

Secondary
The Tiger secondary took a hard hit in the off season when under classmen Glenn Sumter and Marcus Smith opted to enter their names in the NFL draft. Sumter was a first team, All-Conference USA selection, while Smith had built a reputation as an outstanding cover corner.

However, even with the loss of Sumter and Smith, the Tigers return two starters in Jason Brown and Anthony Harden and a number of experienced letter winners from 2001.

The UM defensive staff also made a bold decision in the spring of 2001 moving starting outside linebacker Derrick Ballard from backer to safety.

Ballard was the fifth leading tackler for the defense in 2001 and logged 60 tackles. He had eight tackles for loss and one pass interception which he returned 29 yards for a touchdown in the win over Southern Miss.

Brown started all 11 games for the Tigers at strong safety last season but was moved to cornerback in the spring of 2002. He registered 42 tackles, eight pass breakups and had two pass interceptions. His two interceptions ranked second among Memphis defensive backs.

Harden, who played corner opposite Smith, had 34 tackles and one interception. He started eight games last season and is expected to return to his corner spot this fall.

During the 2001 season, the defensive staff had no problem playing younger backs and in fact, had four true freshman defensive backs in the Mississippi State game at the same time. Scott Vogel, Cameron Essex, Tristan Thomas and Lionel Pieh all saw action in each game of last season and all will be expected to compete for starters roles this fall.

Joining the four freshmen will be senior Elijah Bell, sophomore Sean Garris and redshirt freshman Henry Washington. Bell and Garris lettered during the 2001 season. Bell, the cousin of former Tiger great Issac Bruce, registered 27 tackles and Garris was credited with two tackles
and one pass interception. Essex and Thomas worked as corners last year and Essex became a starter for three games after injuries effected the play of Anthony Harden. He was credited with 31 tackles and four pass breakups and is expected to press for Smith?s cornerback position.

Thomas had 20 tackles during his freshman season and will work at
boundary corner with Brown. Vogel will move to free safety and will work with Ballard. The MUS graduate logged 20 tackles and one pass interception last fall. He opened the season with eight tackles and one interception in the Mississippi State game.

Pieh, who was used as a running back and a defensive back last fall, will dedicate his efforts at free safety along with letter winner Bell.

Derron Johnson, one of the most highly recruited players in Memphis in 2000, was pressed into service as a receiver last fall. He lettered after appearing in four games but failed to catch a pass. He was moved back to the secondary in the spring of 2002. Johnson?s 6-4, 210 pound frame offers the U of M another big defensive back.

There are six new defensive backs joining the team in the fall and all carry outstanding high school credentials. Olen Whitely, O.C. Collins, Sam Brewer, Wesley Smith, Cato Mott and Brian Davis will all begin their careers in the Memphis secondary.

The group is made up of tremendous athletes with size and speed. Davis has great speed and is a former Georgia track all-stater. He has run a 10.33 100 meters and at 6-0, 195 pounds offer good size for a safety. Collins, who was highly rated by SuperPrep Magazine, is a 6-1, 175 pounder, who was recruited by Georgia Tech and Michigan State. Whitely played both running back and defensive back in Boynton Beach, FL, and has run a 10.6 100 meters.

Smith, who is from Lafayette County High in Oxford, Miss., stands 6-3 and was selected to the North Mississippi All-Star team. Brewer was an Associated Press All-State selection in Texas, while Mott, who played both outside linebacker and defensive back, was a 6-A all-state pick in Florida.

Special Teams
If there was one part of the Tiger football team that really plagued Tiger coaches last fall it was that of the special teams. The team was forced to play true freshman at several key locations and strides will be made this spring to correct problems from the 2001 season.

James Gaither, a true freshman, was called to handle all the team?s punting duties last fall. The Kentucky native responded by averaging over 40 yards per punt and for his play was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. Is addition, Gaither was selected to The Sporting News and The Football News Freshman All-America Teams. He punted 67 times for 2718 yards and had a long punt of 61 yards. He will be called on this spring to continue his work as punter and will be backed up by redshirt sophomore Ryan Ivey. Ivey has yet to see game action.

To add depth at the punter position, Memphis inked Brewton, Ala., freshman Patrick Byrne who played quarterback, punter and kicker for his school. Bryne was named to the all-State team as a punter and should work in that capacity for Memphis. He is also an outstanding kicker.

True freshman Gene Frederic worked as the team?s deep snapper and had an occasional problem with low snaps. The St. Louis native will work this fall with reserve center Matt Gehrke for the number one snapper?s position. Frederic will also work at offensive tackle.

Joining the group of snappers will be Rusty Clayton of Hattiesburg, Miss. Clayton played both defensive end and served as deep snapper for his Oak Grove team.

Scott Scherer, who is a back up quarterback for the Tigers will work again as the holder for the Memphis special teams. Scherer handled all of the snaps for field goals and PATs last season and gives the special teams the option of having a quarterback handling the ball.

The U of M lost four year kicker Ryan White, who had received All-America honors during his playing career, and now must find a replacement before the fall of 2002.

It is expected that Danny Haynes, a junior college kicker from Florence, Ala., will take over for White. Haynes signed with Alabama out of high school and remained with the Tide for two years before joining East Central Community College in Mississippi. The strong-legged kicker has kicked a 73-yard field goal in practice, which was witnessed by USA Today.

The Tigers top two kick returners are back from 2001 but punt returner Ryan Johnson opted to give up his final season of eligibility to try the professional draft.

Kick returner Antoine Harden is back and will once again handle all of the kick return duties. Harden returned 25 kickoffs for 533 yards and averaged 21.3 yards per return.

Defensive back Anthony Harden and receiver Darron White are also capable of returning punts.