2002 Statistics

written by Tim Stephens

For years, the offense stumbled, fumbled and generally put good Memphis defenses in terrible positions. That has changed under third-year head coach Tommy West, and in 2002 the Tigers scored more points than any Memphis team in a decade. The catalyst was the passing of quarterback Danny Wimprine, now a junior, who already ranks among the school's all-time leaders in 37 different record categories, including 14 new marks. His 4,149 career passing yards rank third all-time. With Wimprine, though, things can be feast or famine: He threw five TD passes in a victory over Murray State, but followed that the next week with five interceptions against Mississippi State. Wimprine is stocky and hard to bring down, but he's not much of a threat to run and he can be prone to interceptions. He has good arm strength and generally makes solid decisions, although he occasionally forces passes into coverage when pressured and must cut down on his interceptions if the Tigers are going to post a winning record.

Junior Bobby Robison and redshirt freshman Patrick Byrne are the backups, but neither has game experience. If Wimprine goes out, the Tigers could be in trouble.

Memphis has one of the better running backs in Conference USA. DeAngelo Williams burst onto the scene by earning C-USA All-Freshman honors. Williams rushed for 684 yards and five touchdowns, despite missing several games because of injuries. Williams had 100-yard rushing games against Murray State and Tulane. He has the speed to break long runs and is big enough to be durable. The Tigers also are excited about the addition of LSU transfer Derron Parquet, who was one of the top recruits in Louisiana a few years ago. Parquet will give the Tigers another breakaway factor and also should be able to make a significant impact as a receiver out of the backfield on third downs. Memphis returns only one starter, junior Darron White at wide receiver. Senior Tavares Gideon caught 42 passes for 466 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns, and now he'll get the chance to be a full-time starter. So far, he's been solid, but he needs to take his game up a notch to be considered one of C-USA's elite receivers. White has star potential, too, after catching 40 passes for 343 yards and two TDs. He is reliable and is the receiver Wimprine often turns to on third downs. The Tigers are counting on LaDarius Price, Tavarious Davis, Anthony Johnson and Von Webb to become solid backups. Webb is one of the fastest players on the team but so far in his career has not become the consistent threat the Tigers need. Memphis' offensive line gets an overhaul with only two of the top 10 on the two-deep returning. Junior left guard Andrew Handy is the only returning starter. Coming out of spring practice, five of Memphis' top 10 linemen have never taken a snap at the Division I-A level. Memphis needs immediate impact from junior-college transfers Bobby Garafolo, David Davis and Jason Matthews. Gene Frederic, the team's deep snapper the past two seasons, is expected to emerge as perhaps the team's best lineman. He'll take over for all-conference center Jimond Pugh. The Tigers essentially are starting over up front, so expect some miscues and blown assignments. If Memphis fans shrug off the prospect that this inexperience is a fatal flaw, all they need to do is remember the poundings Louisville quarterback Dave Ragone took behind a patchwork line last season. Wimprine is equally immobile and could be in for a season-long beating if the Tigers' line doesn't gel early.

TB DeAngelo Williams (PHOTO CREDIT - Troy Glasgow)

written by Tim Stephens

Dunn's blitzing style should be a nice fit with several veterans back on the Memphis front seven. The Tigers have three starters back on the line, and should get a boost from the return of former Parade All-American Albert Means after a year away from the game to improve his academics. Means, the Alabama transfer whose recruitment helped land the Tide on probation, is an immense talent (literally, listed at 350 pounds although he might be bigger than that) who could be a difference maker if he shows up for fall practice in shape. Tackles Kenyun Glover and Eric Taylor and end Trevco Lucas are back, too. They're solid, but probably won't show up on anyone's postseason all-conference team.

Watch out for Shaka Hill, who moves from linebacker to end in Dunn's scheme. Hill is an old-school football player - he just finds way to be around the ball. Even though he might be a little undersized on the line, his quickness and tenacity should make him one of the Tigers' best players.

Returning starters Derrick Ballard - an all-league pick - and Greg Harper on the outside and Coot Terry on the inside give the Tigers solid linebackers. All have good speed and instincts. Injuries to Terry and Harper contributed to Memphis' struggles against the run (197 ypg). If they stay healthy, Memphis' starting linebackers might be the second-best in the league behind the group at Southern Mississippi.

Free safety O.C. Collins and cornerback Cameron Essex are veterans in the secondary. Collins could rank among the best safeties in the nation before his career is over. He ranked fifth among all Division I-A freshmen with 68 tackles. He also added a team-high three interceptions but that statistic shows more about the Tigers' overall lack of interceptions than it does about Collins' talent. Memphis gets a big boost from the return of rover Derron Johnson, who missed all of 2002 with an injury. Johnson was a highly recruited player coming out of high school and has the size and speed to match up with bigger receivers while also providing good run support. In Dunn's scheme, Johnson will line up all over the field and likely will get many opportunities to blitz quarterbacks. When he gets to them, he's a big hitter.

LB Greg Harper (PHOTO CREDIT - Troy Glasgow)