Memphis football spring game: What to know, admission, who to watch
The Memphis football team will be back under the lights Friday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for the annual spring game.
"Friday Night Stripes" is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. Gates will open at 6 p.m. Parking (in blue and gold lots) and admission are both free of charge.
The Tigers, entering Year 4 of the Ryan Silverfield era and Year 3 of the Seth Henigan-at-quarterback era, are coming off a 7-6 season in 2022 that ended with a win over Utah State in the First Responders Bowl. Memphis struggled in close games last season. Each of its seven victories were by 10 points or more, but two-thirds of its losses were of the one-score variety.
There will be plenty of things to see and do Friday, but here's what you need to know.
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How Friday Night Stripes will be structured
Remember the Blue-Gray Spring Game format? The Tigers are bringing it back this year.
So, it won't be the first-team offense facing the first-team defense, and so on. Instead, Silverfield is mixing it up.
“Part of that is because our roster this spring is as big as (it can be),” said Silverfield. “So, instead of 1s versus 1s, 2s versus 2s, we’re gonna split up the roster and go play ball.”
Aside from players missing the game due to injury (including running back Brandon Thomas, who missed all camp), four more who began spring camp at Memphis won't participate because they entered the transfer portal late last week. Safety Ladarian Paulk, defensive linemen James Stewart and James Quinnelly, and defensive back Tyrell Raby each announced their departures when the transfer portal reopened.
The first glimpse of all the new faces
As has become the norm for most college football teams, Memphis underwent a considerable makeover this offseason. Fourteen Division I transfers, six junior college signees and a handful of early high school enrollees joined the team ahead of spring camp.
Two of the more prominent newcomers, receiver Tauskie Dove (foot) and running back Blake Watson (undisclosed), will not participate Friday. But several newcomers at key positions have emerged this spring, including receivers DeMeer Blankumsee and Marcello Bussey, offensive tackles Chris Morris and Marcus Henderson, and defensive backs Simeon Blair and Malik Feaster.
A fresh look at quarterback Seth Hannigan
Henigan, as the quarterback, is the lynchpin. As he goes, so go the Tigers.
Numbers-wise, the junior took a step backward in some areas last season, throwing for more than 150 fewer yards and five fewer touchdowns while playing one more game. But, attempting 16 more passes than he did as a freshman, Henigan also threw fewer interceptions. He also ran a lot more, finishing with 50 more carries and three more rushing touchdowns.
The interior of his offensive line (Jonah Gambill, Jacob Likes and Davion Carter) is back. Silverfield has bolstered Henigan's arsenal at receiver and running back. But he will also benefit from returning weapons like Joseph Scates, Roc Taylor, Brandon Thomas, Jeyvon Ducker and Sutton Smith.
Answers to some questions
Even though the spring game comes more than four months ahead of the season opener against Bethune-Cookman (Sept. 2), it could answer a number of questions that have been lingering.
Is there room for quarterback Tevin Carter to have a role? Memphis has been pleased with the homegrown product's growth and is confident he can be a "great weapon."
Will there be any positional shuffling from 2022 to 2023? For the most part, no. But Silverfield said recently that Greg Rubin, who spent the majority of his time on the field at corner, could line up at safety quite a bit this season.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis football spring game: What to know and who to watch
