Often, an upcoming season brings change, optimism, and usually excitement. For the Memphis Tigers’ offensive unit, a new season marks the end of an era as the Tigers transition from Seth Henigan to an entirely new offensive unit. One that lacks experience in the system, but compensates with a recruiting class of both first-year players and transfers that gives Coach Silverfield and his staff something to work with as they cautiously keep the expectations for this season at a manageable level without shying away from the winning standard of Memphis football.

Like many teams across college football, the offensive unit for Memphis is the heart and soul of the upcoming season. For the Tigers, with just two returning starters from last season, the depth chart might look different, but the Tigers have a roster filled with playmakers.

At quarterback, Memphis has two guys battling for the position. Brendon Lewis, a transfer from Nevada, and the highest-rated high school quarterback to ever commit to Memphis, in Arrington Maiden. If the season started today, Coach Silverfield and Offensive Coordinator Tim Cramsey would likely turn to the experience of Brendon Lewis over the youthful, inexperienced quarterback; as quarterback battles go, everything is fluid. Lewis brings the experience of starting 36 games over the last two seasons to the Memphis Tigers as they navigate life after Seth Henigan.

At the running back position, Memphis has Sutton Smith back from injury and Greg Desrosiers for a senior season. Both Smith and Desrosiers earned preseason honors with the Doak Walker Award, announcing the pair made the list as possible candidates for the award this offseason. As we saw last season, Desrosiers will likely take snaps at both running back and be a productive member of the wide receiver group.

For the Tigers to be successful this season, the long-standing legacy of having a star-studded receiving room adds a new chapter to the book as the likeness of Brady Kluse, Ger-Cari Caldwell, Jamari Hawkins, Marcello Bussey, CJ Smith, and Keondre Henry try to channel their inner Anthony Miller or Calvin Austin as the next generation of legendary Memphis wide receivers. From the group, CJ Smith ( Purdue), Ger-Cari Caldwell ( North Carolina A&T), and Jadon Thompson ( Louisville) bring experience from the transfer portal to the 901 as they look to continue a legacy of breaking school records at Memphis.

On the offensive line, the Tigers’ lone two returning starters from last season, Chris Adams at left tackle, and Malachi Breland at right guard, return to the Memphis football program looking to create a brick wall around Brendon Lewis, Arrington Maiden, Sutton Smith, and Greg Desrosiers as they look to rule the line of scrimmage with an iron fist. Elsewhere around the offensive line, Memphis fans will likely get to know the names of Parker Mitchell at left guard, Yakiri Walker at center, and Travis Burke at right tackle. On paper, the Tigers have a solid offensive line that has the potential to win the trenches and dominate the American Conference.

Overall, there are a lot of question marks surrounding this Memphis Tigers offensive unit, but the Tigers have the pieces to put together a special season as the talent on the roster resembles that of the best teams in college football. Memphis might take one or two on the chin early on, but as the cold weather nips through, Coach Silverfield could very well have an offensive unit that has the Tigers in the best position to not only make a run at the American Championship, but to earn a bid to the College Football Playoff as well.

Photo Credits- Memphis Football on X