2003 Memphis Football Preview

Danny Wimprine

When the 2002 college football season concluded, head coach Tommy West knew that he had to make some tough decisions in order to continue to build the Tiger football program. The decisions included making changes in his staff, adding new staff members, putting the defense into the capable hands of a well known defensive coordinator and adding another outstanding recruiting class designed to fill some very specific needs.

?Last season I had to become far too involved in the day-to-day operation of the defense,? West said. ?I knew that I wanted our defense to be more aggressive and to do so, I would need to make a change in the leadership of that unit. As the season came to a close, I found out that Joe Lee Dunn was available and I knew that his philosophy of defense and mine ran along the same lines.?

Dunn, who had served as the Tigers? defensive coordinator in the late 1980s under Chuck Stobart, had served as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State University for seven years and had raised the Bulldogs? level of defensive performance into the national spotlight. He had also accomplished the same feat at Ole Miss and Arkansas before joining Jackie Sherrill?s staff at MSU.

?I was absolutely elated that Joe Lee decided to accept my offer and join our staff,? West continued. ?He was one of the best signees I had for 2003.?

With Dunn safely listed among the roster of Tiger assistant coaches, West and his staff set out to sign players for the 2003 season. Not just athletes that might develop into players or those who would some day fill roles, but key players recruited to fill specific needs for the 2003 season.

?There were certain key positions that had to be filled in order for us to continue to build for the future,? stated the former Clemson head coach, now the mentor of the Tigers. ?Last season we were hurt by the lack of experience at quarterback. When Danny (Wimprine) was injured, we did not have a veteran quarterback to replace him. That became a priority in our recruiting effort. And when we were able to sign the number one junior college quarterback in the nation, it allowed us to move other athletes into other positions that would help us immediately.?

As recruiting continued, the Tigers landed one blue-chip player after another and by the end of the February signing period, the U of M had inked a second strong class.

?After locking up a quarterback, I felt that our next biggest goal was to sign a punter and believe me, we needed a punter in the worst kind of way. I knew when we received a commitment from Brandon Roberson that we had filled our needs,? West said. ?It was a key element, another building block in creating a strong football team.?

During spring practice several key junior college players took their place with the Tigers? youthful squad. Quarterback Bobby Robison, wide receiver Chris Kelley, and linemen Bobby Garafolo and Jason Matthews practiced with the Tigers in the spring and proved to be strong additions to the squad, as was LSU transfer Derron Parquet.

As the team prepares for the 2003 season under Tommy West, it appears that his construction project is rapidly taking shape.

THE QUARTERBACKS
The Tigers will enter the 2003 season with a record setting junior quarterback in Danny Wimprine, the nation?s number one junior college quarterback in Bobby Robison and a redshirted freshman signal-caller, Patrick Byrne, who was named the Paul Gingold MVP of the annual Blue-Gray Spring game.

Wimprine, who has lettered for two years, completely rewrote the Tiger record book sections on passing and total offense in 2002. The big right-hander entered his name in the Memphis football record section 50 times last season and should hold virtually every passing record by mid-season 2003.

The New Orleans native set U of M records for most pass attempts in a game (53), most pass completions in a game (32), most touchdown passes in a game (five), most pass attempts in a season (435), most pass completions in a season (235), most yards passing in a season (2,820), most touchdown passes in a season (23), most touchdown passes in a career (37), highest number of 200-yard passing games in a career (10), most total offense plays in a game (66), most total offense plays in a season (533), most total offense yards in a season 2,860, most touchdowns responsible for in a game (five) and most touchdowns responsible for in a season (26).

Wimprine had two, 300-plus yard passing performances last season, as well as six 200-yard passing games. He started every contest but was forced to play injured in several games due to the lack of experience at quarterback. Now a starter in 17 career contests, Wimprine needs less than 200 yards passing to become the Tigers? all-time record holder.

With a new backup quarterback in camp and a redshirted freshman wanting to show Memphis coaches that he was ready to play, Wimprine stepped up his game in spring drills and passed for over 600 yards and eight touchdowns in just five scrimmages. He connected on 65.2 percent of his pass attempts and suffered just one interception during the spring and that came on a tipped pass.

If Wimprine falls victim to injury this season, Robison is waiting in the wings. The left-hander, who led Northwest Mississippi Community College to back-to-back winning seasons, was impressive in the spring, passing for 384 yards and six scores.

Robison passed for 1,737 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2002 and had 2,285 yards and 20 scoring tosses as a freshman. He amassed 4,562 yards passing and 43 touchdowns en route to being named the nation?s top junior college quarterback by J.C. Gridwire Magazine. The Ft. Walton Beach, FL, native was selected to the 2002 Mississippi Junior College All-Star game and received the Hubert Tucker Award as the MVP of the North All-Star Team.

The future of Memphis football seems to be in capable hands with the maturing of freshman quarterback Byrne. The Brewton, AL, native had an outstanding spring and after his four touchdown passing performance in the annual Blue-Gray Game, was voted the Paul Gingold MVP by the attending media. He finished spring drills with 366 yards passing and five touchdowns.

Byrne, a multi-talented athlete, played basketball for John Calipari?s Tigers in the winter of 2002-03, after injuries depleted the guard positions. He appeared in three games for a Tiger hoops team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

THE RUNNING BACKS
The Tigers lacked for veteran players in the offensive backfield in ?02 but that should not be a problem in 2003. Letterman tailback DeAngelo Williams and LSU transfer Derron Parquet will lead the way for the running backs and will receive support from redshirt freshman Brian Davis, walk-on candidate LaKendus Cole and newcomers Jamarcus Gaither and Taz Knockum.

Williams, one of the most highly-touted signees in Memphis history, made a statement in his first game as a collegiate player. The speedster rushed for 129 yards and one touchdown against Murray State University and added 100-yard performances against Tulane, Southern Mississippi and Army before the season ended.
He led the nation in average yards per carry for three weeks of the 2002 campaign, was ranked second in the nation entering the final game of the season and finished the year tied for fifth in the nation with a 6.6 yard average. Williams gained 684 yards rushing to lead the team, despite starting just one contest. He had a season long run of 86 yards in the Tulane game, which ranks as the fifth longest touchdown run in school history and had his first multiple touchdown performance against Army in a 38-10 Tiger victory.

For his play during the 2002 season, Williams was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team and The Sporting News Conference USA All-Freshman squad.

Parquet played at LSU for two seasons before transferring to Memphis in 2001. He sat out during that season under NCAA guidelines for transfers but has demonstrated why he was so highly recruited out of Rummell High School in New Orleans. The former high school all-American suffered a severe groin injury in spring drills but was still impressive with his speed and tackle-breaking strength.

With Williams and Parquet, the Tigers possess a great one-two punch at tailback but young players such as Davis and Cole should provide strong support for the veterans, and newcomers Gaither and Knockum are vital to the future of the offensive backfield.

Cole, a walk-on from Houston High School in Germantown, was at his best during spring drills. The speedy back rushed for 199 yards and four touchdowns in spring scrimmages and averaged 3.5 yards per carry. He is expected to help the team by participating on special teams and providing help at tailback. Davis was moved from defensive back to tailback in the spring and had to spend most of his time learning the Memphis offensive scheme. The former track star from Georgia has shown that he is ready to contribute at tailback and should help provide additional depth.

Gaither, a prep star from Frayser High School in Memphis, rushed for 1,813 yards and 13 touchdowns last season in being named to the Associated Press All-State team. He averaged 164.8 yards per game rushing and was ranked second in Shelby-Metro. Knockum, the nation?s 24th ranked all-purpose back, was a prep star at Baton Rouge Catholic High School. He was the district MVP after rushing for 1,143 yards and nine touchdowns in 2002 and added 29 pass receptions for 418 yards and nine additional scores. He is the reigning Louisiana 5A state champion in the 110 meter hurdles and posted the fastest time in the indoor 55-yard hurdles in the winter of 2003.

THE RECEIVERS
When the talk turns to the deepest position on the Memphis offense, it often centers around the quarterback spot or perhaps some think that the running backs have the most star power. But when it comes down to the most veteran players, the receivers corps stands out. Back for the 2003 season are letter winners Tavarious Davis, LaDarius Price, Darron White, Darren Garcia and Von Webb and add to that group former Tiger quarterback Maurice Avery, junior college transfer Chris Kelley and newcomers Ryan Scott and Mario Pratcher.

White is a two-year letterman for Memphis and will enter the 2003 season with 74 career receptions for 765 yards and five touchdowns. His 74 receptions ranks 11th on the UM career list and his 765 yards places him 27th in career yardage. He had a season-high eight catches for 73 yards and one touchdown in the Murray State contest and boasts a career-high 123 yards against Cincinnati as a freshman. White also serves as a punt returner for the Tigers.

Garcia, a senior from Millington, TN, has earned three letters during his career. He caught 19 passes for 204 yards as a junior and asserted himself during the spring of 2003 as a possible star for the receiver corps. His nine catches for 232 yards during the spring led the team in average yards per reception at a whopping 25.7 yard mark.

Webb, who has suffered through a knee injury and rehabilitation in his career, stepped up in 2002 with 10 catches for 166 yards. He had a season long 50-yard reception against Army, a 48-yard catch in the Houston game and grabbed two passes for 39 yards in the UAB contest.

Avery lettered as a quarterback and punter in 2002 but was moved to wide receiver after the signing of Bobby Robison. An outstanding athlete who can play many positions, he proved to be a prime target for Tiger passers this past spring. He caught six passes for 88 yards and two scores in spring scrimmages. At 6?1, 210 pound, the Atlanta native will become a valuable asset for the offense.

Price and Davis have both seen game action during their brief careers. Price had four catches for 22 yards in his first season of competition and Davis has played in 10 games over the last two years. Demonstrating that he was ready for more game time, Davis hauled in 16 passes in the spring for 155 yards and two scores. His improved play earned him a Chris Faros Most Improved Player Award for the spring of ?03.

Kelley came to Memphis in the spring after transferring to the Tigers from Northeast Mississippi Community College. The 6?1 native of Corinth, MS, was the overall Most Valuable Player in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star game in December and carried that over into a 13.2 yard average per catch in the spring.

Tavares Gideon, who came to Memphis as a junior college transfer in 2002, was expected to be the Tigers go-to receiver this fall, but he suffered a torn ACL early in the summer and will miss the entire 2003 season. The team?s second-leading receiver with 466 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns last year, his eight scoring catches rank as the fifth highest total in school history.

With veteran receivers back for the fall, it would stand to reason that newcomers might not have an opportunity to play. But with new arrivals such as Scott and Pratcher, the Tigers can expect to have two additional big receivers to throw to this fall.

Pratcher was an all-state receiver at Trezevant High School and sat out during the 2002 season to concentrate on academic work. At 6?4 and 215 pounds, Pratcher offers a huge target for UM quarterbacks. The holder of the Trezevant record for touchdown catches with 25, Pratcher averaged 25.4 yards per catch as a senior.

A native of Jackson, TN, Scott was recruited by several SEC teams before deciding to sign with Memphis. He had 936 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior and tallied 13 touchdown while averaging over 16.5 yards per catch as a junior.

THE TIGHT ENDS
It is not often that a freshman tight end comes to camp and finds himself a starter early in the season but that?s exactly what happened to John Doucette. The New Orleans, LA, native worked with Jeff Cameron in the fall but when Cameron was lost with a knee injury, Doucette became the starter and never relinquished the spot.

The 6?2, 260 pounder caught just five passes for 44 yards in his 11 games but was used mainly as a blocker. He gained in strength and experience as the season progressed and by the end of the 2002 campaign, was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. Doucette scored his first collegiate touchdown in the season finale against TCU. He tallied seven catches for 64 yards and one score during spring practice and is expected to return as the Tiger starter in the fall.

Doucette will receive support from junior Isaac Daniel this fall. The walk-on candidate was used as a linebacker and defensive end for two seasons before being moved to tight end in the spring of 2003. He spent his time learning the Memphis spread offense and should be able to provide some depth at tight end this fall.

THE OFFENSIVE LINE
If there was one position that really felt the brunt of graduation, it was the offensive line. The Tigers lost eight of the top 10 offensive linemen from last year?s squad and have just one returning starter in junior guard Andrew Handy. Gone from the 2002 squad are both tackles, Wade Smith and Donald Marshall, guard Joe Gerda and three-year starting center Jimond Pugh.

A great emphasis was placed on offensive line work in the spring of 2003 and several junior college players were brought in to help shore up the front.

Handy, who has lettered for two seasons, started nine games for Memphis last year and is the most experienced of the returning offensive linemen. He will be joined at the guard positions by redshirt freshman Blake Butler and newcomers Jason Matthews, Bobby Garafolo and Aaron Grimes

Butler, the son of former Tiger great Keith Butler, was redshirted last season but at 305 pounds, made quite an impression in the spring drills. Matthews and Garafolo are both junior college transfers who bring game experience to the unit. Grimes is an all-state performer from Martin, TN, who might be able to contribute as a freshman.

The center position appears to have been handed over to letterman deep snapper Gene Frederic. The St. Louis, MO., native has both size and experience and received nice reviews from coaches in the spring. He will be supported by redshirted freshman Bruce McCaleb and newcomer Abraham Holloway in the fall. McCaleb was moved from guard to center and is ready to back-up Frederic when needed. Holloway is the largest of the Tiger signees but will be expected to learn the offense very quickly if he is to play this season.

The tackle slots could be filled by several players and a real battle should develop in fall camp. Jeremy Rone and Jason Johnson have both lettered during their careers at Memphis and should provide leadership in the line. Redshirt sophomore James Corder also saw limited action in 2002, while junior college transfer David Davis was held out of action last season to give the team more experience for 2003. Davis is joined at tackle by former prep all-American Willie Henderson. Davis, 6?4, 305, and Henderson, 6?7, 345, offer the Tigers two large bodies at tackle.

Add to the group freshmen Lane Garcia and Andy Smith, and the U of M should have ample offensive line candidates for 2003.

THE DEFENSE
The return of Joe Lee Dunn has brought an entirely different attitude to the defensive unit. Installing a far more aggressive style of pressure defense, Dunn started building confidence and attitude during spring drills.

?Joe Lee and I have the same philosophy about defense,? West quipped. ?We both like to see a lot of hitting...people all around the ball. That?s what football is all about.?

Dunn should have plenty of talent and experience to work with this fall as nine defensive starters and a host of lettermen return to action. Of the team?s 37 returning letterwinners, 21 are defensive players.

THE DEFENSIVE LINE
The defensive front was very thin and inexperienced in 2002 but with the return of starters Eric Taylor and Kenyun Glover and big Albert Means, the unit takes on a new appearance. Then add to the mix several young lettermen and some key newcomers and the defensive front is again back at full strength.

Taylor and Glover had to carry the bulk of the trench warfare in 2002. The two combined for 68 tackles but had to play at less than full speed because of injuries. Glover finished the season as the 10th leading tackler, while Taylor came in at the 14th spot due to a broken hand which limited his playing time.

Means, who received a great deal of attention in 2001 after he transferred to Memphis from Alabama, sat out last season to concentrate on academics. At 6?4, 355, Means gives the defensive front a great deal more size and depth for the fall.

LaVale Washington played in 11 games for the Tigers as a true freshman, and he too wants his share of the playing time. Washington logged 18 tackles while learning the collegiate game and is hopeful of improving those numbers as a sophomore.

Joining the more experienced down linemen will be Trumann, AR, native Aaron Bentley. An all-state performer at Trumann High, Bentley is 6?3, 260 and could see duty this season in a reserve role.

THE DEFENSE ENDS
All-star Tony Brown has graduated but the defensive unit will have back returning starter Treveco Lucas at one end slot, as well as lettermen Marcus West and David McNair. Toss in several young players and newcomers and the end positions seem to be solid.

Lucas, a two-year letterman, was the team?s eighth leading tackler in ?02 with 43 stops and tied Brown for the team lead in quarterback sacks with four. The Memphis native is expected to start as a senior and to provide leadership for the younger players.

West and McNair both saw duty last season but will get a strong push from youngsters Greg Billingslea and Haracio Colen, as well as newcomers Tyus Jackson and Quintin Williams.

Jackson, 6?3, 250 pounds, comes to the Tigers after a junior college career at Northeast Mississippi Community College, while Williams was one of the top high school defensive players in the state of Tennessee. Williams, a middle linebacker at East High in Memphis, was heavily recruited by area schools but signed with the Tigers over several SEC offers.

THE LINEBACKERS
Perhaps the deepest position on the Memphis football team this fall will be the linebacker spots. Back for their third season as starters are veterans Derrick Ballard, Greg Harper and Coot Terry. Joining the trio will be part-time starters Shaka Hill and Robert Douglas and lettermen Sheldon Taylor, Will Hyden, Charles Davis and Tim Goodwell. Now add in newcomers Carson Hunter, Jerran Humphrey and Mike Snyder and you have the makings for some great linebacker play.

Ballard was the Tigers? leading tackler in 2002 with 101 total stops. He had 13 tackles for lost yardage, three quarterback sacks, one fumble recovery and three pass interceptions on his resume as well. For his play, the Georgia native was named to the Conference USA second team defense as a junior and appears headed for even bigger honors this year.

Harper and Terry were both starters at the outset of the 2002 season but both saw their seasons ended by injuries. Harper, who logged 37 tackles, suffered a broken leg in the Tulane game and missed five contests. Terry, who had 60 tackles, also missed the final five games of the season with hand and knee injuries. Both are ready to resume their play for Dunn?s defense.

When Harper and Terry left the lineup with injuries, Hill and Douglas stepped in and picked up the slack. Hill registered 53 tackles and a pass interception, while Douglas was credited with 39 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Taylor, who played part of the season with a torn ACL, logged 25 tackles in 2002 and then had his knee repaired during the off-season. He is fully recovered and ready to return to the field. With the number of injuries to the linebackers, Goodwell was forced into action and he contributed four tackles in limited playing time. Davis and Hyden also saw playing time in a reserve role. He had four tackles in his 10 games played.

Hunter came to the team as a walk-on in 2002 and immediately made an impression on the staff with his hustle and desire. He received the Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Year Award during the football banquet and after being redshirted, has four years of eligibility remaining.

Humphrey and Snyder are both highly decorated prep players who are destined to be stars for the Tigers. Snyder, who prepped at the same high school, J.T. Curtis, as UM quarterback Danny Wimprine, is slated to work at middle linebacker, while Humphrey will join Douglas, Hill and Hunter at outside linebacker.

THE SECONDARY
The Tiger secondary is loaded with talent and experience. With the return of starters Scott Vogel, Cameron Essex and O.C. Collins, many would think that most of the positions are nailed down prior to the start of fall camp. But that is far from true given the level of talent in the defensive backfield.

Vogel, who started 10 of the 12 contests at strong safety, was credited with 71 tackles and two pass interceptions in ?02. The junior from Memphis, who has tallied 91 career tackles, was moved to free safety in the spring and will enter camp as the starter.

Collins, who was named to two freshman all-America teams last season, logged 75 tackles and three pass interceptions in his first season of collegiate competition. He will work with Vogel at free safety as will Wesley Smith who redshirted as a freshman. Smith was most impressive in the spring registering four pass interceptions during the scrimmages. At 6?2, 214, he gives Memphis at big back at free safety.

However, two impressive newcomers will also join the mix at safety. Memphian Jamaal Rufus of Frayser High School and Javar Pollard of Batesville, MS, will also be seeking their fair share of time on the field. Rufus was recruited by every major conference school in the southeast. At 6?3, 210, he will help give the Tigers a great deal of size in the secondary. Pollard, who has run a 4.4 40-yard dash, played both tailback and defensive back in high school and was sought after by West Virginia and Mississippi State.

Essex will return to his field corner position, while Tristan Thomas is slated as the starter at boundary corner. Essex totaled 36 tackles last season after starting seven contests. Thomas was a starter against Southern Mississippi and finished the season with 15 tackles.

Depth at the corner positions should come from veterans Lionel Pieh, Derron Johnson and newcomer Lee Hayes. Pieh has lettered for two seasons working as a defensive back and special teams member. Johnson, who was highly recruited out of Melrose High School two years ago, sat out in 2002 to work on academics. His return will give Memphis more size in the secondary. Hayes was a Parade All-American in Hopkinsville, KY, and signed with Arkansas before attending Northeast Mississippi Community College, He is expected to challenge for time at cornerback.

The strong safety position will be battled out this fall between Olen Whitely, Sam Brewer, Cato Mott and newly arrived but highly-touted freshman Quinton McCrary of Columbus, MS.

Mott lettered as a special teams player in 2002, while Whitely and Brewer were redshirted. McCrary was ranked as the number seven outside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com and had committed to Mississippi State before Joe Lee Dunn joined the Tigers. He now brings his talent to Memphis along with his 170 tackles, eight sacks and two pass interceptions as a senior at Columbus High. At 6?2, 210, he gives Memphis yet another big defensive back.

THE SPECIAL TEAMS
During the 2002 season, the Tiger special teams struggled with the injury to kicker Danny Haynes and the demise of punter James Gaither.

With junior college transfer Haynes injured, West was forced to sign baseball player Stephen Gostkowski and turn the kicking duties over to the true freshman. Gostkowski responded by booting a 50-yard field goal on his first collegiate kick. The Madison, MS, native maintained his kicking duties throughout the season and was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team. He connected on 9-of-14 field goal attempts and 32-of-37 PATs to finish the season as the team?s leading scorer. Haynes has now recovered from his injury and will battle Gostkowski for playing time this fall.

As Gaither?s statistics headed downhill in 2002, the Tigers were forced to use quarterbacks Danny Wimprine and Maurice Avery as rugby-styled punters. Therefore, when West sent his assistants out recruiting, signing a punter was a top priority. The staff responded by landing Brandon Roberson of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Roberson, who had committed to the University of Arkansas, averaged 42.8 yards per punt in junior college. However, the Mississippi Junior College All-Star reconsidered his decision and inked with the Tigers giving West his much needed punter.

Memphis has veteran snappers and holders back for the 2003 campaign. Center Gene Frederic will again handle the snapping duties and will be supported by Jared Bidne and redshirt freshman Rusty Clayton. Ryan Ivy, who lettered last season as the team?s holder, will return to that position for his junior season.