Norvell finds clues on QB competition
JACKSON — Memphis’ season opener is two weeks away, and Tigers coach Mike Norvell hasn’t announced who his starting quarterback will be.
After his team’s second preseason scrimmage, held at the university’s Lambuth campus, Norvell said Saturday provided “good clues” where things stand between junior Brady White and sophomore David Moore.
What those clues are, Norvell did not say. He did say White and Moore remained even in how they have looked and progressed after 14 practices..
“These guys have been back and forth throughout the entire camp,” Norvell said, “I think we’re going to have further growth toward our decision, I don’t know when that’s going to be.”
White led two scoring drives, including a touchdown pass to Damonte Coxie where he shook off two tacklers before racing away.
Moore shook off an interception to Tamaurice Smith on his first series and later led the first unit on a scoring drive capped by a touchdown run by Tim Taylor. Twice, Moore drove his team into field goal range, but Riley Patterson missed both attempts, including one
blocked by Jacoby Hill.
White started with the first unit, but he and Moore split first-team reps as they did in the previous scrimmage.
“I’m not worried about it. It’s out of my control,” White said, “Whether the coaches say it today, tomorrow. I don’t care, I’m here to help this team win whatever that role is.”
White’s second scoring drive ended with a touchdown run by Marquavius Weaver.
All of the quarterbacks led at least one scoring drive with Connor Adair ending the scrimmage with a touchdown pass to Calvin Austin. Brady McBride had a touchdown pass to Brennan Lewis.
White added that he felt more comfortable than he did last week and attributed that to doing his job instead of trying to force too many decisions.
“The biggest thing is to make sure that you’re obviously getting the plays, knowing the situation and putting your team in the best position to succeed, owning the ball and not turning it over,” White said.
Moore echoed those sentiments earlier this week. For him, winning the job means applying what he sees on film and slowing the game down to make
Scrimmage notes
Freshman Brennan Lewis had touchdown catches from McBride and Adair. ... Junior Bryce Huff had two sacks against the first-team offense, and sophomore Thomas Pickens had a strip sack that was recovered by Braylon Brown . .... Among players not participating were Darrell Henderson, Tony Pollard, Patrick Taylor, Sean Dykes and Jackson Dillon.