We will break down the defensive backs in this next Memphis Tigers position preview. Over the years, this has been one of the Tigers’ most consistently poor units, and they are coming off another bad year in 2023. With the team now seeking the much bigger prize of a playoff spot, it will be crucial for the secondary to up their game and start getting off the field on third down.
The numbers do not paint a pretty picture of the 2023 campaign. Memphis’ 30 points conceded per game placed them 96th in the nation, and the pass defense is a big reason why. Only three teams conceded more passing yards than Memphis, with their 287.1 yards given up per game slotting them 130th out of 133. This follows an unfortunate trend for the Tigers, who always seem empty in the biggest moments, even when they put out a talented secondary. The secondary wasn’t helped out by a very disappointing sack percentage of just 4.45% by the D-line, which tells the story of an underperforming defense in 2023. Can they turn it around in 2024 and help the offense secure a much-needed AAC title?
Current Depth Chart
Of all the position groups we will cover for Memphis, the secondary is the one with the most concern. They were poor last year and are in danger of declining further because of the departures of DeAgo Brumfield and Simeon Blair, who still managed to churn out some good individual performances. Blair led the secondary with 63 tackles, and Brumfield’s ten passes defended were four more than Cam Smith in second place, who is no longer on the team. The four leaders on a passes-defended basis are all no longer on the Tigers’ roster.
Thankfully, there have been some useful additions over the offseason to make up for this.
Cornerback depth chart:
1. Kobee Minor
2. Davion Ross
3. An’Darious Coffey
4. Tyrin Taylor
5. Julian Barnett
6. DJ Bell
7. Cameron Miller
8. Jaidyn Denis
Kobee Minor is the stand-out name from the secondary school after transferring from Indiana. Minor is fresh off a season in which he earned an honorable All-Big Ten mention, appearing in 11 games. These games were highlighted by a stellar performance against Marvin Harrison Junior and the Ohio State Buckeyes. In that game, Minor restricted the future top 5 pick to just two catches for 18 yards on 40 snaps played. It was a fantastic outing that suggests he can truly dominate in the AAC.
Alongside him, Tigers’ fans will be excited to see Davion Ross, whose 2023 campaign was cruelly cut short after just two games. He is expected to instantly inherit a bigger role because of the departure of DeAgo Brumfield. Still, he must fight off Julian Barnett, who has been impressing the coaches this preseason. As a senior, Barnett is an experienced presence in the locker room, and 2023 was by far his best season. He will be hoping to capitalize on that this year.
Tyrin Taylor is another name who will be fighting for the other outside corner position after a 2023 campaign that saw him collect two pass breakups and an interception. An’Darius Coffey is the presumptive starter at nickelback after a solid 2023 season in which he posted 25 tackles, two tackles for loss, three passes defensed, and one sack. Cameron Miller is backing him up, with Jaidyn Denis and DJ Bell joining the corner rotation.
Safety depth chart:
1. Greg Rubin
2. Kourtlan Marsh
3. Jordan Grier
4. AJ Watts
5. Samson Israel
Greg Rubin remains the group leader after a very good sophomore season. The departure of Simeon Blair means he has big shoes to fill, but if he can continue on this upward trend, he is more than capable of doing that. His 38 tackles in 2023 are more than anyone else who remains on the roster, also tacking on 2.5 sacks and three passes defensed for good measure. He has a real opportunity to be a bright spot in 2024 and could elevate everyone around him.
The reliable Rubin is joined by a recruit, Kourtlan Marsh, who joins after three years with Samford. As a Bulldog, Marsh has posted 99 tackles over the last two seasons, adding 19 passes defended, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. He is an exciting name to add, but he isn’t a lock for the position. Tahj Ra-El and AJ Watts have also made the trip to Memphis and will be eager to impress.
There is a lot of experience in this secondary group but also a long track record of inconsistencies. The depth chart will likely see lots of chopping and changing well into the season, hopefully producing a unit that can help propel this team to the playoffs.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
The strength of the secondary has to be the presence of Kobee Minor and Greg Rubin, leading the cornerbacks and safeties, respectively. Both players are a step above the rest talent-wise and have the experience to thrive in leadership roles. Another low-key strength for this group is that they will enjoy weekly contests against arguably the best pass attack in the conference. They say iron sharpens iron, and weekly training battles against Seth Henigan, Roc Taylor, and DeMeer Blankumsee will surely help.
The weakness is the lack of snaps and consistency behind the big names at the top. There is potential for sure, but also a lot of unknowns. Hopefully, the tough test in practice and hot competition will bring out the best in the backups.
Key Players to Watch
A key player to watch has to be Kobee Minor. After earning a Big-Ten honorable mention with Indiana, he has the chance to be one of the best defensive backs in the conference in his first year with the Tigers. He won’t face any tests as tough as the one he did against Marvin Harrison Junior, so the sky is the limit. In terms of a breakout candidate, Davion Ross has to be on the watchlist after missing last season. In 2022, he had a very impressive stat line of 43 tackles (including 32 solo tackles), six passes defended, one forced fumble, and one interception. Before that, in 2021, he had three pick-sixes for Eastern Kentucky. One to keep an eye on.
Expectations for the Season
As one of the Tigers’ weakest units, this group has a lot of unknowns. Thankfully, they have leadership and quality in Kobee Minor and Greg Rubin and exciting upside in Davion Ross and Kourtlan Marsh. Of course, the success of the secondary is greatly influenced by the success of the front 7, which has seen significant improvements via the transfer portal. Javon Denis, Reggie Grimes, and Devin Baldwin have bolstered the defensive line, and Elijah Herring is a very exciting addition to the linebacker group. He and Chandler Martin can be the stars of this defense, which will only help the rest of the group around them.
While it may be a stretch to say that the secondary will suddenly become a good unit in 2024, it’s not hard to see a scenario where they are at least massively improved from their 2023 effort. That’s not saying much, given they conceded the 130th most passing yards, but they just need to get a bit closer to average and have more success getting off the field on third down. If they can do that, they will go a long way to solidifying the Memphis Tigers’ already very strong case for the AAC title, and, hopefully, a playoff berth.
