Where are they now? Taking a look at Memphis Football’s top signees from 2017 – 2022

Many factors can be attributed to the rise of Memphis Football over the last decade. Along with solid coaching hires, university investment, and conference affiliation, high-level recruiting would have to be included in a list of reasons the Tigers have been a competitive program on both a national and conference level. Since arriving at Memphis in 2016, head coach Ryan Silverfield has been known as one of the top recruiters for the Tigers. While exceptional recruiting has become the norm at Memphis during the Silverfield era, how has it transitioned to the field? In a generation of recruiting rankings, NIL, and the transfer portal, one could assert that development at the collegiate level has become more challenging than ever.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the five highest-rated prospects in each signing class and track their careers at Memphis and elsewhere. In addition, we’ll point out one player from each class who emerged as a true “diamond in the rough” after arriving on campus. **All rankings according to 247Sports Composite.

2017 –

1. Obinna Eze (#207 Nationally, #21 OT, #9 TN) – Appearing in 31 games as a Memphis Tiger from 2018 to 2020, Eze was a two-year starter at LT, including the 2019 Cotton Bowl team. He transferred to TCU for his redshirt senior season, starting in all 12 games for the Horned Frogs. Eze received an invitation to the 2022 NFL Combine and signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent.
   
2. Carlito Gonzalez (#366 Nationally, #27 S, #35 GA) – Initially signed with Auburn out of high school and enrolled at Memphis prior to the 2017 academic year. Gonzalez appeared in 21 games at DB from 2017 to 2020, logging 29 tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble during his time as a Tiger. He entered the transfer portal following his junior season and committed to play at Morehouse College. In 2021, Gonzalez appeared in six games, recording 33 total tackles and 3.5 TFLs.
   
3. Nick Robinson (#473 Nationally, #70 WR, #8 OK) – Robinson moved to TE after arriving at Memphis and redshirted the 2017 season. Robinson entered the transfer portal prior to the start of his redshirt freshman season. He enrolled at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in 2019 but never completed a season with the team.
   
4. T.J. Carter (#486 Nationally, #47 CB, #14 TN) – Started all 13 games as a true freshman and ended the year as the 2017 AAC Rookie of the Year. Named to the 2017 Freshman All-America Team by USA Today and ESPN. Appeared in 44 games as a Tiger and received all-conference accolades in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Carter transferred to TCU for his senior season and appeared in 10 games for the Horned Frogs. Following graduation, Carter signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad in 2022 and played for the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions in 2023.
   
5. Quindon Lewis (#502 Nationally, #35 S, #10 OK) – Redshirted the 2017 season at Memphis. Transferred to Abilene Christian University in 2018 and appeared in 12 games in two years with the Wildcats. Lewis then transferred to Central Oklahoma in 2020, which did not field a team due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lewis swapped to WR for the 2021 season and appeared in 8 games, logging 6 catches for 65 yards.
   
   “Diamond in the Rough” – Dylan Parham (#3,155 Nationally, #143 WDE, #350 GA) – Appearing in 50 games at Memphis, Parham boasts one of the most impressive careers in recent Tiger history. Recruited as a defensive end, Parham was first moved to tight end prior to becoming one of the staples of the Memphis offensive line from 2018 to 2021. A 2021 First-Team All-AAC selection, Parham received an invite to the 2022 NFL Draft Combine and the Reese’s Senior Bowl. He was drafted in the 3rd Round to the Las Vegas Raiders and finished the 2022 season on the PFWA All-Rookie team.

2018 –

1. Kayode Oladele (#310 Nationally, #13 SDE, #54 FL) – Initially signed with Auburn out of high school and enrolled at Memphis prior to the 2018 season. Oladele appeared in 12 games from 2019 to 2021. He entered the transfer portal in June 2022 and committed to play at UConn. As a senior, Oladele appeared in all 12 games for the Huskies, logging 11 total tackles.
   
2. Antonio Gibson (#81 JUCO, #6 WR, #20 GA) – Transferred from East Central Community College and appeared in all 28 games as a Tiger. Making 11 starts, Gibson was responsible for 1,850 all-purpose yards (5th all-time) and 15 total touchdowns in his Memphis career. He was invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl and drafted in the 3rd round by the Washington Commanders. In the NFL, Gibson finished the 2020 NFL season leading all rookies in rushing touchdowns with 11 total.
   
3. Keith Brigham (#115 JUCO, #8 SDE, #15 IL) – Transferred from Pima Community College and appeared in 25 total games at Memphis, including all 12 games during the 2019 Cotton Bowl season. Recorded 8 career tackles.
   
4. Troy Hurst (#1,364 Nationally, #102 ATH, #54 LA) – Moved to DB after arriving at Memphis. Redshirted during 2018 season and assigned to special teams play in 2019, logging 10 game appearances. Hurst recorded two tackles prior to transferring to Nicholls State, where he moved to the RB position. Hurst received seven carries for 83 yards and one touchdown while with the Colonels.
   
5. Nigel Brannon (#1,443 Nationally, #132 OT, #19 OK) – Appeared in 22 games at the University of Memphis, including 14 games during the 2019 Cotton Bowl season. Swapped from OL to DL in 2020 as a redshirt sophomore and logged 2 total tackles. Transferred to Austin Peay prior to the 2021 season and never played a game with the team.
   
   “Diamond in the Rough” – Jaylon Allen (#1,844 Nationally, #125 OLB, #265 TX) – Entering his fifth season with the Tigers, Allen is a rare find in the current college football landscape. Redshirting in 2018 and appearing in limited game action throughout 2019 and 2020, Allen has worked his way up the Memphis depth chart to being a heralded leader within the program the last two seasons. As a probable First-Team All-AAC preseason selection, Tiger fans will hope he’s saved his best season for his final year of eligibility in 2023.

2019 –

1. Cole Mashburn (#555 Nationally, #36 SDE, #9 OK) – Appearing in 25 games throughout his Memphis career, Mashburn was a two-year starter with the Tigers. He logged 87 career tackles and one sack in three years of play. After dealing with a back injury throughout his college career, Mashburn elected to medically retire from football following his redshirt sophomore season.
   
2. Jalil Clemons (#662 Nationally, #43 SDE, #21 MS) – Played in 13 of 14 games as a true freshman on the 2019 Cotton Bowl team. Recorded four starts in three years and logged 36 total tackles and three sacks as a Tiger. After redshirting in 2021, Clemons transferred to Southern Mississippi, where he played in all 13 games for the Golden Eagles last season.
   
3. Ja’Len Sims (#980 Nationally, #70 OLB, #36 AL) – Sims appeared in 15 games at Memphis, primarily on special teams. He recorded two tackles and a forced fumble in his Tiger career. In April 2022, Sims transferred to Copiah-Lincoln Community College and recorded 74 tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble in his lone season with the Wolves. He’ll play for Southern Mississippi as a redshirt junior in 2023.
   
4. Joseph Honeysucker (#993 Nationally, #63 WDE, #29 TN) – Redshirted his freshman season at Memphis before announcing he was retiring from football in 2020. In 2021, Honeysucker enrolled at MTSU and did not see game action throughout the season.
   
5. Rodney Owens (#73 JUCO, #8 S, #6 TN) – Transferred to Memphis from Iowa Western Community College. Appeared in 46 games as a Tiger with the 2021 season being his best statistically. Recorded 140 tackles, five interceptions, and 11 PBUs in four seasons. Named 2021 Fourth-Team All-AAC (Phil Steele).
   
   “Diamond in the Rough” – Jacob Likes (#2,055 Nationally, #109 OG, #53 TN) – Entering his third season as a starter, Likes is nationally regarded as one of the top Centers in the country. He has a solid chance to be a 2024 NFL Draft selection and has appeared in 33 games in four seasons at Memphis. Likes was named to the Rimington Trophy preseason watchlist in 2022, and should be once again named a candidate as the 2023 season approaches.

2020 –

1. Kundarrius Taylor (#32 JUCO, #4 WR, #4 TN) – Taylor remained at Memphis only four months after signing with the Tigers in 2020. After a brief stop at UAB, Taylor again entered the transfer portal in 2021 before ending up at Central Missouri University. If you want to know why he never logged a snap with the team in 2022, well, do a quick Google search on this one.
   
2. Cam’Ron Jackson (#649 Nationally, #56 DT, #25 LA) – A long-time LSU commit in high school, Jackson landed at Memphis and appeared in 34 games from 2020 to 2022. He recorded 50 total tackles, two sacks, and five TFLs during his time with the Tigers. Following the 2022 season, Jackson entered the transfer portal and will suit up for the Florida Gators this fall.
   
3. Keilon Brown (#788 Nationally, #24 DUAL, #34 LA) – Appeared in two games in two seasons at Memphis, both blowout victories. Brown entered the transfer portal in the middle of the 2021 season and enrolled at Georgia State in December 2021. He did not record any stats in his lone season with the Panthers and again entered the transfer portal last December. Brown has not enrolled at a school as of this writing.
   
4. Khi Mathieu (#955 Nationally, #140 WR, #39 LA) – Saw playing action in nine games at Memphis. Logged four receptions for 56 total yards in his Tiger career. Mathieu was not listed on the Tigers’ roster in 2022 and doesn’t appear to have enrolled with any other program.
   
5. Kalyn Grandberry (#79 JUCO, #6 RB, #16 TN) – Grandberry didn’t see game action in his lone season with the Tigers. He was not listed on the 2021 Memphis roster and has not appeared with any other program.
   
   “Diamond in the Rough” – Sylvonta Oliver (#228 JUCO, #32 CB, #46 MS) – Oliver appeared in all 36 games in his Memphis career, recording 92 tackles, five interceptions, and 12 PBUs as a Tiger. He was invited to rookie camps for the Giants and Steelers, and hopes to land a roster spot on a minor league team.

2021 –

1. Roc Taylor (#440 Nationally, #28 ATH, #15 AL) – A casualty of coaching changes at Tennessee, Taylor was a signing day commitment for the Tigers. He has appeared in 17 games in two seasons at Memphis, recording 28 receptions for 342 yards and one touchdown. Taylor will be looked to as a potential go-to weapon in the upcoming 2023 season.
   
2. Andrew Jones (#453 Nationally, #50 LB, #14 LA) – Jones appeared in 14 games in two seasons at Memphis, recording four tackles and a forced fumble. He was moved to the DB position for the Friday Night Scrimmage and entered the transfer portal shortly thereafter. In May, Jones committed to play for Grambling State.
   
3. Royce White (#701 Nationally, #57 OT, #62 GA) – White will enter his third season with the Tigers in 2023. He has yet to see game action. As a redshirt sophomore, it will be interesting to see if he can crack the rotation along the Tigers’ offensive line.
   
4. Tyrell Raby (#755 Nationally, #63 CB, #23 LA) – Raby did not see game action in his two seasons at Memphis. Entering the transfer portal in April, Raby has committed to play for MTSU in the 2023 season.
   
5. Javon Nelson (#775 Nationally, #96 DL, #19 TN) – Nelson did not see game action in his two seasons at Memphis. He entered the transfer portal in May and has yet to enroll with another program.
   
   “Diamond in the Rough” – Zy Brockington (#1,484 Nationally, #172 DL, #139 GA) – Brockington has appeared in 18 games in two seasons at Memphis, including 10 as a true freshman in 2021. He has recorded 18 tackles with 3 TFLs and one forced fumble. He should be soundly in the mix for continued playing time in his junior season.

The jury remains out on the 2022 class, as most were redshirted last season. Just for fun, here are the top five recruits in that class — keep up with them as we head into 2023!

1. Joshua White (#414 Nationally, #55 DL, #42 GA)
   
2. Tevin Carter (#635 Nationally, #37 QB, #21 TN)
   
3. Jamari Hawkins (#966 Nationally, #134 WR, #38 AL)
   
4. AJ Odom (#1,074 Nationally, #105 LB, #44 AL)
   
5. Eric Gaston (1,074 Nationally, #137 DL, #36 TN)