The Memphis Tigers had a great year as a team in 2023, but the offense did most of the heavy lifting. The defense gave up 30 points per game, which was 96th most in the NFL, also coming in 87th in the nation against the run and 130th against the pass. In this Memphis Tigers position preview, we will focus on the defense, specifically the linebackers.
Of course, the linebackers are not solely responsible for last year’s bad stats, as those numbers reflect issues across the defensive roster. The bad news is that the team’s second and third leading tacklers, linebackers Geoffrey Cantin-Arku and Cincir Evans, have both left the team. The good news is that the defense leader, Chandler Martin, remains at the heart of the defense, and a deep and talented cohort of offseason additions will support him. Tennessee transfer Elijah Herring headlines them but also features exciting names such as Matt Hudson, Javante Mackey, Wesley Scott, Jayden Flaker, and more. If a couple of those names can pop up and perform well alongside Martin, this unit could be the driving force behind a much-improved defense in 2024.
Current Depth Chart
WLB:
1. Chandler Martin
2. Wesley Scott
3. Brett Karhu
MLB:
1. Javante Mackey – injured
2. Rodney Dansby
3. Bryce Edmondson
4. Donovan Mathena
SLB:
1. Elijah Herring
2. Matt Hudson
3. Jayden Flaker
4. Rodney Dansby
5. Max Walenta
The leader at the heart of the Tigers’ defense is Chandler Martin, the First-team All-AAC linebacker who led the team in 2023 with 95 tackles and 17 tackles for loss. He was a true disrupter for the team and a rare bright spot during the disappointing 2023 campaign. He stands out as one of the best defensive players in the Group of 5, and he will be hoping that some of his new colleagues can step up around him to make life difficult for the opposition.
The biggest name to join him in the linebacker room is Elijah Herring, a major signing for the Tigers. Herring led the Tennessee Volunteers in tackles in 2023 with 79, and the fact that he opted to swap SEC action for a spot on the Memphis Tigers roster reflects how serious the Ryan Silverfield operation is heading into 2024. Despite leading the team in tackles, Herring was projected to fall behind Keenan Pili on the depth chart after his return from injury. As a result, Herring went on the hunt for a starting role, ending up in Memphis and shunning Colorado in the process.
Rodney Dansby is another name to watch after registering 96 tackles, six tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks for Houston Christian as a Junior last year. He is brilliant at tracking down the ball carrier and offers sideline-to-sideline ability in a big, speedy frame. Other additions include Matt Hudson from Harvard, Jayden Flaker, North Carolina Central, and Arkansas State’s Javante Mackey. Unfortunately, Mackey suffered a season-ending injury during spring practice, another reason the influx of new faces is good news. He was productive at Arkansas State, registering 84 tackles and seven tackles for loss, so he will be a name to watch for next year.
Hudson registered 66 tackles and four tackles for loss last year, with Jayden Flaker landing 74 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks for North Carolina. Both players have been productive elsewhere and should see plenty of action in Memphis, with defensive coordinator Jordon Hankins saying that linebackers will be on the field a lot. So, expect to see lots of rotation to keep the linebackers fresh and playing with aggression all game long.
Behind these more notable names, the Memphis Tigers have the likes of Bryce Edmondson, Donovan Mathena, Wesley Scott, Brett Karhu, and Max Walenta, offering depth.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The strength of Memphis’ defense as a whole has to be the linebacking group, led by the exciting duo of Chandler Martin and Elijah Herring. Both players led their respective teams in tackles last year, which is an area that has been significantly upgraded over the offseason. Martin was an all-round machine in 2023, also dominating in coverage by leading linebackers with two passes defensed and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
The one area that may be a slight weakness for this linebacking group is their ability to threaten the quarterback. Speed is not a strong point, and a lack of sack production could be the only downfall for this unit. Nevertheless, their versatility as strong tacklers and dropping into coverage should lead to a much-improved output from the defense.
Key Players to Watch
By now, Chandler Martin is well-known by Tigers fans, so Elijah Herring will be an exciting figure to watch. Anyone who can lead an SEC team in tackles has something about him, and with two years of eligibility still to go, he could become a very popular player. Aside from him, the Tigers have brought in a flurry of new additions to make it a busy linebacker room. They are seeing how Matt Hudson slots into the Memphis team after a career-best 65 tackles for Harvard, which will be key, in addition to the sideline-to-sideline impact of Rodney Dansby and the 74 tackles and 3.5 sacks brought by Jayden Flaker. It sounds like a cop-out to name most of the group, but frankly, this influx of linebackers could be one of the most exciting Tigers’ units, with loads of new names to keep an eye on.
Expectations for the Season
With so many new faces in the building, it could take time for the linebacker group to gel and work well together. They benefit from an excellent footballing brain in Jordon Hankins leading the defense. Hankins is the defensive coordinator and the linebackers coach, which means you can be sure this group will play a big part in the overall defensive effort. Hankins himself has confirmed that “We’re going to play with a bunch of linebackers,” so we should find out quickly how good this new cohort is.
On the surface, it looks like a very exciting bunch. Chandler and Herring stand out as players who will likely be amongst the very best at their position in the Group of 5, with an exciting range of experience and lower-division standouts behind them. They are also ready to chip in. With highly touted improvements also arriving on the defensive line, in the form of Reggie Grimes, and the secondary, in the form of Kobee Minor, this defense looks primed and ready to support a very talented offense. Memphis is in the hunt for the 12th College Football Playoff spot, and they certainly appear to have the talent required to take it.
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