When we look back at the Tigers’ fifth-ever 10 win season in 2023, certain names will immediately jump off the page in our memory bank, and for good reason. Seth Henigan became the all-time leading passer in Memphis Football history. Blake Watson and Roc Taylor each had outstanding seasons, surpassing the 1,000 yard mark in rushing and receiving, respectively. Chandler Martin made the jump up from the FCS level only to become an unstoppable force at linebacker for the Tigers.
And while they may not have received the media limelight this season, the Tigers had a solid core of contributors working in the background. How important is a supporting cast? It can be the difference between the 6-11 Tennessee Titans (Derrick Henry) and the 11-6 Buffalo Bills (James Cook). So who were were the difference makers that perhaps flew under the radar for Ryan Silverfield and the Tigers this season?
DeMeer Blankumsee
Perhaps no other player arrived in Memphis with more preseason hype than the Junior transfer from Cincinnati, Ohio. Excitement among Tiger fans only heightened after his eye-popping performance at the 2023 spring game was followed up by an opening act of six receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown in game one against Bethune-Cookman. The weeks that followed proved that it would ultimately take some time for the Toledo transfer and Seth Henigan to fully sync, however. Down the stretch of the season, Blankumsee emerged as a bona fide big play threat in important matchups versus Boise State and Tulane. He’d go on to average 90 yards per game over the final six games of the Tigers’ season. Roc Taylor finished as the team’s leading receiver, but Blankumsee wasn’t far back as the Tigers’ second-best pass catcher. He’ll look to build upon an impressive year one in Memphis after reeling in a career high 53 catches for 901 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2023.
The Entire Memphis Offensive Line
The Tigers finished the 2023 season nationally ranked 6th in scoring offense, 10th in passing offense, and 14th in total offense and the Memphis offensive line played a large role in that performance. After back-to-back seasons of the front five becoming somewhat of an Achilles heel to the offensive performance, the offensive line stepped up in a major way in 2023. Allowing 37 sacks in 2022, the Tigers finished 31st in the country in sacks allowed this season with only 19 surrendered on the year. Blake Watson averaged 6 yards per carry en route to becoming the Tigers’ first thousand yard rusher since 2019. LSU transfer Xavier Hill proved to be a golden addition from the transfer portal and Jacob Likes will go down as one of the top centers in Tiger Football history. Perhaps the most impressive performance of the 2023 season came in the Tigers’ bowl victory over Iowa State. Down two starters from the regular season, the Tigers allowed zero sacks and Seth Henigan and company racked up 530 total offensive yards on the day. Malachi Breland, Mitchell Gildehaus, and Kyndall McKenzie are just a few of the multiple young linemen that could see increased playing time in 2024.
Josh Ellison
Shortly following the Tigers’ 2022 bowl victory over Utah State, Cam’Ron Jackson entered the transfer portal after three seasons at Memphis. Ryan Silverfield and staff, in response, brought in Oklahoma transfer Josh Ellison, a one-year rental looking to impress NFL scouts with increased playing time in his final year of eligibility. Finishing the season with 30 total tackles, 4 TFLs, and a sack, Ellison effectively filled the role vacated by Jackson in the middle of the defensive line. There were times during the season when Ellison looked to be the strongest player on the field, and it’s a shame he doesn’t have another year to build upon his short career at Memphis. One of the highlight performances of Ellison’s career came during the Tigers’ Thursday Night matchup with Navy. As the Midshipmen were driving on the final possession of the 4th quarter, Ellison chased down Navy QB Tai Lavatai from behind to get what would be one the Tigers’ most important sacks of the season. The play set up a difficult 4th and 6 situation for Navy and the Midshipmen were ultimately stopped a yard short of the line-to-gain, securing a win for Memphis.
Anthony Landphere
There’s no question Anthony Landphere had big shoes to fill after being named the next starting tight end at Memphis this past offseason. A position that has produced the likes of Alan Cross, Joey Magnifico, Sean Dykes, and Caden Prieskorn must undoubtedly bring some pressure to “keep the fire burning” when your name is called. When speaking to Bluff City Media earlier this season, however, Landphere insisted that his top priority in 2023 was being a great teammate. He ended up displaying an ability to be one of the better blockers in recent tight end history at Memphis and increased in his offensive production as the season progressed. Finishing the season with 29 catches for 260 yards and three touchdowns, Landphere’s statistics were roughly half of what Caden Prieskorn put up in 2022. But here’s the difference — with a 1,000 yard receiver in Roc Taylor and a 900 yard receiver in DeMeer Blankumsee, Landphere simply wasn’t called upon in the same fashion as Prieskorn in 2022. Simply put, Landphere excelled in the areas in which he was asked this season and for that he was unquestionably an asset to the Tigers’ high-flying offense. He showed flashes of excellent pass catching ability in several moments this season (including a Tony Gonzalez-esque touchdown catch versus USF) and there’s good reason to be optimistic about the tight end position with Landphere poised to be the starter again in 2024.
Koby Drake
In his fourth season in the Memphis Football program, Koby Drake skyrocketed into fan favorite status in 2023. Ending the year with a career high 33 catches for 352 yards and two touchdowns, Drake developed a reputation of being the Tigers go-to receiver in critical situations. From a late touchdown to bring the Tigers within striking distance against Missouri to a highlight reel 3rd down conversion at home versus Boise State, Drake always seemed to makes plays when the Tigers needed it most. Serving as a reliable punt returner for the second consecutive season also cannot be overlooked. Drake finished 29th in the nation in punt returns and most importantly made sound decisions with the football on a consistent basis. To the pleasure of the Memphis coaching staff and fanbase alike, Drake announced his intention to return to the Tigers as a fifth-year senior in 2024.