BREAKING DOWN THE TIGERS: QBs
JC transfer Ferguson, coming off strong spring, poised to start at QB
Another University of Memphis football season is quickly approaching, with players scheduled to report Aug. 3 and open the season a month later against Southeast Missouri State. So for the next nine days, we’ll be breaking down the 2016 Tigers, position by position, with projected starters, newcomers to know and other summer tidbits. Let’s start with the quarterbacks.
Projected Starter: Riley Ferguson (Jr.)
Returners: Paxton Lynch is now in Denver competing for the Broncos’ starting job, but his two backups from a year ago — Brady Davis and Jason Stewart — are both back for another season. Davis, who was highly-regarded by the previous coaching staff, redshirted in 2015 and showed glimpses of talent during spring ball. He figures to be in the mix for several years to come. Stewart, meanwhile, is the veteran of the group, having played for two junior colleges before joining Memphis in 2014.
Newcomers: Ferguson, a junior-college transfer, has emerged as Lynch’s apparent heir at quarterback after an excellent showing in the spring. The former four-star recruit and Tennessee quarterback completed 67.8 percent of his passes and threw for 35 touchdowns at Coffeyville Community College last year and was an NJCAA All-America honorable mention selection. True freshman David Moore, a three-star recruit who flipped from SMU late in the recruiting process, has also joined the fold, as has DeSoto Central product Cameron Bowman.
The Skinny: Coach Mike Norvell has yet to name a starting quarterback, but the choice, at this point, is clear. Ferguson stood out in spring ball — Norvell has said he was slightly ahead of the others — and the junior has continued to impress this summer, too. He has been able to add and retain weight, thanks to strength and conditioning coach Josh Storms’ summer program and an improved diet, sometimes with five or six meals a day. Barring injury or a dramatic change, he should start Sept. 3. And much of Memphis’ showing this year may ultimately rest on his shoulders.