Memphis football recruiting class 2023: Meet the Tigers' early signees
Memphis football added its newest recruits from the Class of 2023 on Wednesday, which marked the start of the early signing period.
The Tigers' class is ranked No. 60 according to 247Sports. The ranking does not include four players Memphis signed as transfers from other schools.
JUCO COMMITMENTS:Memphis football adds two juco commitments, including former PURE Academy standout Chris Morris
BLAKE WATSON TRANSFERS:Memphis football gets transfer commitment from Old Dominion RB Blake Watson
A few recruits might wait until February, but the majority of the Tigers' class is expected was signed and introduced Wednesday by coach Ryan Silverfield. As a reminder, only players announced by the school will be presented, no matter if the player or his high school posts something on social media.
The list also does not include transfer commitments who have signed with Memphis such as running back Blake Watson (Old Dominion) and linebacker Chandler Martin (East Tennessee State).
Memphis also signed punter Reid Bauer (Arkansas) and a late commitment Wednesday in lineman Xavier Hill (LSU).
Follow along for updates throughout the day.
DB MarJayvious Moss
Vitals: 5-11, 180 pounds
247Sports Composite: Four stars, national ranking: No. 367; position ranking: No. 36
What to know: A signing-day surprise for Memphis. Moss had offers from Minnesota and Baylor, among others, and didn't announce his commitment until the Tigers announced him Wednesday.
CB Traveon Wright (Perry, Georgia)
Vitals: 6-0, 177 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars; position ranking No. 138
What to know: Per Maxpreps, Wright caught 22 passes for 437 yards and also added an interception on defense.
OL Malachi Breland (Laurel, Mississippi)
Vitals: 6-3, 340 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars; position ranking: No. 108 (interior offensive linemen)
What to know: Breland’s size makes him an intriguing prospect and someone the Tigers’ staff can certainly mold the next year or two.
TE Christian Ross (Midland City, Alabama)
Vitals: 6-4, 215 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars; position ranking: No. 110
What to know: Ross played both receiver and defensive end, but with his size he could be another tall target in the Memphis tight end room.
OL Landon Zaldivar (Jenks, Oklahoma)
Vitals: 6-5, 300 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars; national ranking: No. 159 (interior lineman)
What to know: Zaldivar was a basketball player before switching to football in middle school. That footwork and his size should help his transition to Memphis.
ATH Tyson Edwards (Nashville, Tennessee)
Vitals: 6-2, 175 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars; position ranking No. 128
What to know: Edwards played both receiver and defensive back and is a multi-sport athlete.
CB Trevor Walton (Horn Lake, Mississippi)
Vitals: 6-1, 170 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars, position ranking: No. 154
What to know: Walton was Memphis’ first commitment in the 2023 class and played on the same 7-on-7 team as Memphis cornerback Greg Rubin.
DL Donovan Nevils (Franklin, Tennessee)
Vitals: 6-3, 255 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars; position ranking: No. 181
What to know: The Tigers looked for more depth in the trenches this class, and Nevils helps provide that.
🙏
📲 @IsaiahThomison pic.twitter.com/NWD7D2nMaH— Memphis Football (@MemphisFB) December 21, 2022
LB Isaiah Thomison (Fayetteville, Tennessee)
Vitals: 6-3, 230 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars; position ranking: No. 142
What to know: Thomison played both tight end and linebacker in high school, but his future is at linebacker. Behind Geoffrey Cantin-Arku and Cincir Evans, there’s quite a few young players at that position.
OL Parker Peterson (Alpharetta, Georgia)
Vitals: 6-6, 275 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars; position ranking No. 134 (offensive tackle)
What to know: Offensive line was a priority for Memphis as the Tigers recruited six in this class.
DL Jayden Marable (Smyrna, Tennessee)
Vitals: 6-2, 280 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars; position ranking No. 184
What to know: Defensive line is a position the Tigers love to have depth in, and Marable will add that.
DL Cevan Edwards (Atlanta)
Vitals: 6-3.5, 280 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars; position ranking No. 173
What to know: Edwards had 31 tackles for loss as a junior and followed that up with 17 tackles for loss as a senior.
LB Karmelo Overton (Ozark, Alabama)
Vitals: 6-0, 200 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars; national ranking: No. 603; position ranking: No. 53
What to know: Overton was named second-team All-State in Alabama’s Class 5A division.
TE Jamauri Chisolm (Hutchinson Community College, Kansas)
Vitals: 6-2, 250
247Sports Composite: Unranked
What to know: With Caden Prieskorn back, Chisolm adds to a tight end room that includes sophomore Anthony Landphere.
LB C.J. Johnson (Navarro College, Texas)
Vitals: 6-2, 225 pounds
247Sports Composite: Unranked
What to know: Johnson had 72 tackles and two forced fumbles this season. He’ll look to compete right away as Memphis looks to replace senior linebackers Xavier Cullens and Tyler Murray.
Ⓜ️EMPHIS Ⓜ️ADE
Welcome Home, 901’s Own @ChrisMo901!#ALLIN | #WildThing23 pic.twitter.com/GK36jZPB5r— Memphis Football (@MemphisFB) December 21, 2022
OL Chris Morris (Hutchinson Community College, Kansas)
Vitals: 6-4, 290 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars, position No. 7 (juco offensive tackle)
What to know: Morris initially signed with Texas A&M but spent last season at the junior college level. The Memphis native graduated from PURE Academy and was a former teammate of Tigers quarterback Tevin Carter.
LB Marcus Tillman Jr. (Navarro College, Texas)
Vitals: 6-1, 235 pounds
247Sports Composite: Three stars; national ranking: No. 52 (juco), position ranking: No. 4 (juco)
What to know: Navarro committed, decommitted and recommitted to Memphis in the span of two weeks. It’s a win for the Tigers looking to add linebacker depth.
DL Derick Hunter (Hinds Community College, Mississippi)
Vitals: 6-4, 300 pounds
247Sports Composite: three-stars; national ranking: No. 9 (juco); position ranking: No. 3 (juco)
What to know: Hunter was formerly at Texas A&M before transferring. He’ll add depth to a defensive line that returns All-AAC senior Jaylon Allen and sophomore CorMontae Hamilton.
QB Harris Boyd (Rowlett, Texas)
Vitals: 6-2, 195 pounds
247Sports Composite: two stars; position ranking: No. 132
What to know: Boyd only played two games as a junior due to a season-ending collarbone injury. But the Tigers had great success with the last quarterback they signed from Texas in Seth Henigan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis football's 2023 recruiting class for early signing period
