Memphis takes a seven-game winning streak
into the 2015 season. Only Ohio State, Boise
State and TCU have longer active winning
streaks entering the season.
Memphis coach Justin Fuente was one of eight
finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award as the
national coach of the year after he led the Tigers
to a share of the American Athletic Conference
title in 2014.
Memphis’ conference title was the Tigers’ first
since the 1971 season.
OFFENSE
The Tigers scored 471 points in 2014, shattering
the old school record of 430 points, set in 2004.
QB Paxton Lynch threw 22 touchdown passes
and added 13 rushing TDs as a sophomore in
2014. Lynch earned second-team all-conference
honors.
The Tigers should expect a boost from the return
of RB Doroland Dorceus, who averaged 5.2 yards
per cary and had four rushing touchdowns in
four games before suffering a season-ending
injury.
The Tigers return four starters on the offensive
line, as well as first-team all-conference TE
Alan Cross.
DEFENSE
Memphis was ranked 11th nationally in scoring
defense (19.5 ppg) in 2014, but the Tigers return
only three starters from that unit.
LB Jackson Dillon is the top returning tackler.
Jackson had 43 stops with nine tackles for loss
and 3.5 sacks in 2014.
S Reggis Ball is the lone returning starter in the
secondary, though the Tigers do have a number
of players who saw regular action there last
season.
DE Ernest Suttles emerged as a starter on the
defensive line as a freshman and will be the most
seasoned of the Tigers’ down linemen in 2015.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Jake Elliott is one of the nation’s top kickers
and was an all-conference first team selection
last season. Elliott, who led The American in
scoring (9.2 ppg), hit 21 of 32 field goal attempts
and was 15-for-16 from inside 40 yards. Elliott
hit a season-long 54-yard field goal in overtime
in the Miami Beach Bowl win against Brigham
Young.
P Spencer Smith stepped in as the regular
punter last season and averaged 40.3 yards per
punt. Smith helped the Tigers finish third in The
American in net punting.
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