The Memphis Tigers are in transition heading into the 2025 college football season. Coming off a program-best 11–2 campaign, head coach Ryan Silverfield faces the tall task of maintaining that momentum despite major roster turnover. Gone are several of the team’s top contributors, including quarterback Seth Henigan, star wideouts, and most of the defensive depth chart. With more than 20 transfers and a mix of unproven returnees on hand, this season will be defined by how quickly Memphis’ new faces can step up.
Fortunately, the Tigers have a history of producing breakout stars under Silverfield, particularly through the transfer portal and player development pipeline. As preseason camp ramps up and the opener looms, here are five Memphis players poised to break out in 2025.
1. Brendon Lewis, Quarterback
Replacing a four-year starter like Seth Henigan is no small feat, but Brendon Lewis brings the experience and skill set to command the offense. A former Colorado starter who spent last season at Nevada, Lewis arrives in Memphis with dual-threat capabilities and over 2,000 career passing yards. His ability to extend plays and operate in tempo will be crucial in offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey’s system.
Lewis won’t be asked to be a one-person show, but he must provide stability and leadership for a largely new supporting cast. If he performs efficiently and avoids turnovers, Lewis could surprise AAC defenses and help Memphis maintain one of the conference’s more productive attacks.
2. Greg Desrosiers Jr., Running Back
The most buzzed-about returnee on offense is running back Greg Desrosiers Jr., who flashed explosiveness in limited action last year behind Mario Anderson. With Anderson now gone, Desrosiers is expected to be the lead in 2025. He brings a strong blend of vision, burst, and pass-catching ability that fits well with Memphis’ spread tendencies.
Desrosiers averaged 6.3 yards per carry in 2024, showing he can be a home-run threat. With a rebuilt offensive line needing time to gel, Memphis may lean more heavily on the run game early in the season, which means more opportunities for Desrosiers to shine. Don’t be surprised if he surpasses the 1,000-yard mark and becomes the Tigers’ next all-conference rusher.
3. William Whitlow, Defensive End
One of the few holdovers from last year’s defense, William Whitlow, is being counted on as the foundational piece of a rebuilt unit. The pass rusher recorded four sacks and seven tackles for loss in 2024, often flashing dominance despite being in a rotation. Now entering a full-time starting role, Whitlow could be the centerpiece of Memphis’ defensive front.
At 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, he has the power to hold up against the run and the quickness to beat offensive tackles off the edge. With little returning experience around him, Whitlow’s leadership and consistency will be crucial to keeping the Tigers competitive defensively.
4. Sam Brumfield, Linebacker
The loss of first-team All-AAC linebacker Chandler Martin (95 tackles, three sacks) leaves big shoes to fill, but senior transfer Sam Brumfield is ready to step up. The 6’2″ linebacker, with 81 tackles at Middle Tennessee and 60 at Virginia Tech, brings versatility to Jordon Hankins’s aggressive 4-2-5 defense.
His 2024 stats—10 tackles for loss and three sacks—highlight his ability to disrupt both the run and pass, making him a cornerstone for a unit that ranked top-25 nationally in rushing defense (108.4 yards allowed per game). Brumfield’s leadership, alongside returners Everett Roussaw Jr. (78 tackles) and Drue Watts, will improve Memphis’s third-down defense (38.6% opponent conversion rate).
His pass-rushing skills could wreak havoc against mobile quarterbacks like Tulane’s Jake Retzlaff in the November 7 showdown, while his tackling prowess will be tested against Navy’s option attack. A multi-sack game against Arkansas or a double-digit tackle performance in the AAC title race could earn Brumfield All-AAC honors and NFL draft buzz, especially with his Power 4 experience.
5. Kamari Wilson, Defensive Back
Memphis’s secondary, which allowed 219.7 passing yards per game in 2024, lost NFL-bound corner Kobee Minor and Davion Ross, creating a need for new playmakers. Kamari Wilson, a 6’0″ senior transfer from Arizona State, steps in with Power 4 experience from Florida and ASU (11 tackles, two pass breakups in 2024). His coverage skills and physicality fit Hankins’s 4-2-5 scheme, which relies on defensive backs to limit big plays and support the run defense.
Wilson, alongside redshirt senior Kourtlan Marsh (three pass breakups in limited 2024 action), will anchor a revamped secondary facing pass-heavy AAC teams like Rice and FAU.
His ability to lock down top receivers could be pivotal in the November 15 Road game at East Carolina, the toughest away test on the schedule. A game-sealing interception or a lockdown performance against Tulane, as Ross achieved in 2024’s 34-24 win, could elevate Wilson to All-AAC status. His Power 4 pedigree makes him a prime candidate to boost Memphis’s 10-interception total from last season.
Every successful season needs players to enter the spotlight for Memphis; that spotlight is wide open. With so many new faces across the roster, breakout performances won’t just be welcome, they’ll be necessary if the Tigers want to contend for another American Conference crown. Whether it’s the quarterback guiding a new offense, a breakout rusher picking up where Watson left off, or a pass rusher anchoring a young defense, the 2025 season will be shaped by who rises to the occasion. If this group meets expectations, don’t be surprised if Memphis once again exceeds national projections.
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