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Who stood out for Memphis against Chattanooga? Why a pair of redshirt freshmen made our list
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- Who stood out for Memphis against Chattanooga? Why a pair of redshirt freshmen made our list
Memphis football is off and running in the 2025 season — and there are plenty of new names to know.
The Tigers took the field Aug. 30 against Chattanooga with only two full-time returning starters from 2024. While the result — Memphis cruised past the Mocs for a 45-10 win — wasn't exactly surprising, it was the first chance to see what the Tigers' new roster looked like in an actual game setting.
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Coach Ryan Silverfield had touted Memphis' depth all preseason, and fans got to see that against Chattanooga. Ten players caught passes, and 19 Tigers made tackles.
"I can't sit here and say, 'Hey, the top of our roster's the most talented we've ever had,'" Silverfield said postgame. "But we've got depth. And we're going to need that depth to show up."
Here's who impressed us against Chattanooga.
Defense: Chris Bracy , DeMarco Ward, Chauncey Logan
Memphis ' two leading tacklers were both UAB transfers − safety Chris Bracy and linebacker Everett Roussaw Jr. Bracy led the Tigers with 10 and was all over the field throughout the afternoon.
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"Just coming in Day 1, trying to live up to the standard, live up to the expectations," Bracy said about his mentality. "It's a very high standard here."
The Tigers rotated through plenty of players on defense, including at linebacker. Defensive coordinator Jordon Hankins said earlier in the week that he expected to play more than three linebackers, and Florida State transfer DeMarco Ward made that look like a genius decision in the second half.
Ward intercepted a Camden Orth pass and basically walked into the end zone for a touchdown. That was Memphis' second takeaway of the game: James Madison transfer cornerback Chauncey Logan Jr. made a diving interception earlier in the third quarter.
The starting linebacker trio was Roussaw, Virginia Tech transfer Sam Brumfield and Nevada transfer Drue Watts.
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North Carolina transfer Crews Law also stood out, making five tackles on only 14 snaps. Law — a Nashville native and former Mr. Football winner in Tennessee — is a redshirt freshman and could be a key piece for Memphis in the future.
Offense: Cortez Braham, Frank Peasant, Bryce Dorsey
Cortez Braham wasn't added to the roster until Aug. 18, but there were no noticeable growing pains in his Memphis debut. The Nevada transfer — who caught passes from Memphis quarterback Brendon Lewis last season with the Wolf Pack — had three receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown.
MORE: Who is new Memphis football QB Brendon Lewis? 'I'm low-key a perfectionist'
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Starting running back Greg Desrosiers exited with an injury in the first quarter, so Memphis had to lean on its depth. That led to an impressive debut from Middle Tennessee transfer Frank Peasant, who had six carries for 61 yards and a touchdown. Peasant impressed with his hard-nosed running style and would be in line for a bigger role if Desrosiers has to miss time.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Bryce Dorsey was Memphis' lowest-rated offensive player on Pro Football Focus and blatanly dropped what would've been a long play and maybe a touchdown early in the game. So why does he make this list? Dorsey led the Tigers with six targets, a surprise given the logjam at receiver and all the transfers who joined the Tigers this offseason.
Dorsey did not play in 2024 while other true freshman receivers like Brady Kluse and Keonde Henry saw game action. But he was heavily involved against Chattanooga (team-high four receptions, 16 yards), and figures to be a key part of the Tigers' offense moving forward. If he can avoid more drops, he's someone Memphis fans will be seeing plenty of the rest of the season.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Who impressed us in Memphis football's season-opening win vs Chattanooga
