Tigers’ White, Coxie develop connection

In the spring, while the Memphis quarterback race was still being decided, Brady White asked his receivers to spend some extra time going over routes and timing.

During the spring and summer, Damonte Coxie, Pop Williams, Mechane Slade and others worked on routes and catches to build chemistry with White just months after he transferred from Arizona State.

Heading into Friday’s game at Tulane, the seeds of those workouts have blossomed with White and Coxie finding more rhythm on the field and developing a potent connection.

“I think all that stuff helps,” White said. “The little details of that and the extra time you put in, it pays off over the long run.”

Of White’s 12 touchdown passes this year, four have gone to Coxie. Coxie leads the team in receptions (23) and receiving yards (353) after posting consecutive games with over 100 receiving yards.

White has found success spreading the ball around — he’s throwing touchdowns to nine different players — but his connection with Coxie has added a dynamic touch in the passing game given Coxie's size (6-foot-3, 200 pounds), large catch radius and alpha-dog mentality.

“He’s trusting me more out there and I’m trusting him that he’s going to make the throw,” Coxie said. “It just comes with every day at practice and

when we get to the game, it just translates.”

Such was the case in the win against South Alabama during White’s touchdown pass to Coxie. White showed off his footwork to avoid a pass rush and step up in the pocket to throw a perfect ball to Coxie, who leaped for the catch and dropped his left foot down before falling out of bounds.

It was a combination of White keeping the play alive, Coxie elevating for a well-placed throw and the work the two have done since the spring.

“It’s a route we run a lot. Me and Brady work on that route too after practice,” Coxie said.

White said that building trust with his receivers has helped him play more loose and free as he’s continuing to build confidence. Through four games, he’s thrown for 1,064 yards while completing 72.2 percent of his passes.

Part of that is running back Darrell Henderson getting off to a fast start leading the nation in rushing and an experienced offensive line doing its job. But White said it also comes from his receiving corps making plays and it helps to have Coxie leading the way.

With Coxie also making a return to Louisiana Friday and expecting to have family in attendance, White said he’s looking forward again to show how the two have progressed since they started post-practice workouts.

“When his number’s called or we have a play and that’s the read the defense predicted or it’s a primary read, I’m able to take a shot at him,” White said. “I love throwing (Coxie) the ball and he’s done a really good job possessing the catch and making things happen after.”