Three storylines as Memphis football preseason practices begin, including at quarterback
College football is here. Almost.
Memphis football kicks off preseason practices July 30, exactly a month before the Tigers open the 2025 season at home against Chattanooga. And there's plenty that needs to be decided between now and then.
After four years with Seth Henigan under center, the team will have a new quarterback in 2025. Nevada transfer Brendon Lewis is expected to take that role, but he has yet to be named the starter and is still in a competition with redshirt freshman Arrington Maiden and true freshman A.J. Hill.
There are other spots up for grabs, too. The Tigers have only three returning starters on offense and two on defense, so position battles will continue until the season kicks off.
Here are three things to look forward to.
Until Ryan Silverfield names a starter, quarterback is the top storyline
Anyone who closely follows the team or has been reading between the lines has noticed that Lewis clearly has the edge in the quarterback competition. He has started 35 games — something coaches have repeatedly pointed out — while the rest of the quarterback room have a total of zero. The Tigers also decided to bring Lewis to American Conference media days, choosing him as one of two players who represented the team alongside coach Ryan Silverfield.
"It gives me confidence," Lewis told The Commercial Appeal. "It motivates me to do more and push myself more to be able to lead the team and do what I need to do to be successful and make the team successful."
Still, Silverfield said at media days in Charlotte, North Carolina, that Lewis has not been named the starter. Until that happens, this will be the top storyline surrounding the Tigers.
Who emerges at wide receiver?
The Tigers lost their top three receivers from 2024 in Roc Taylor, Demeer Blankumsee and Koby Drake. The pecking order to replace them hasn't been finalized, especially because some players were injured during the spring.
Marcello Bussey returns and could play a bigger role, while Louisville transfer Jadon Thompson missed the spring but is expected to be healthy ahead of summer practices. Purdue transfer C.J. Smith is one of the fastest players on the team and showed out during the spring game.
Sophomore Brady Kluse is poised to step into a bigger role after flashing his talent at the end of last season. He's a potential No. 1 option, but he'll have to earn that spot.
There are plenty of new faces at tight end. Anthony Landphere left for the NFL, and Penn State transfer Jerry Cross could play a major role there. Redshirt sophomore Christian Ross has impressed coaches with his development and could earn more playing time.
How does the defensive line rotation shake out?
The biggest offseason storyline on the defensive side of the ball was first-team all-conference defensive lineman William Whitlow's decision to return after briefly entering the transfer portal. He'll be an anchor for a defense that little resembles last season's.
Memphis was busy there in the spring, bringing in Indiana transfer Marcus Burris, Western Michigan transfer Isaiah Green and junior college transfer Le'Kell McGowan, among others. They'll join a group that includes returner Mond Cole, Kennesaw State transfer Pooda Walker and Colorado transfer Rayyan Buell.
The linebacker room has plenty of talent, but those spots still will be up for grabs ahead of the season. Virginia Tech transfer Sam Brumfield and UAB transfer Everett Roussaw Jr. are among those who will be expected to play major roles at linebacker.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.