Jason & John discussed the Memphis Tigers Football 2025 signing class and what the Tigers QB could look like in 2025. (AUDIO)
Tigers Sign 23 to 2025 Recruiting Class
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis head football coach Ryan Silverfield announced the addition of 23 student-athletes to the Tigers’ 2025 recruiting class on Wednesday.
The class includes 18 high school seniors, four junior college players and one Division I transfer. The group consists of 11 offensive players, 11 defensive players and one specialist. On3 has the Tigers’ 2025 class ranked atop The American and first among non-Power 4 programs.
In total, the class features 23 players from eight different states – eight from Georgia, five from Florida, three from Mississippi, two each from Tennessee and Texas, and one apiece from Iowa, Maryland and Michigan.
Among the signees are four defensive linemen, four offensive linemen, four defensive backs, three linebackers, three wide receivers, a pair of tight ends, one running back, one quarterback and a long snapper.
QB AJ Hill, WR Xavier Johnson, WR Rahim Hutchins Jr., WR Andrew Leslie, TE Bryce Anderson, TE Jonathan Harding, OL Chance Holloman, OL Sam Browder, OL Bryce Vaughn, OL Josiah Clemons, DL Jacari Gatling, DL Lamar Fairfax Jr., DL JaQuentin Madison, LB Kenyon Rivera, LB Wolf Walker, LB Martavis Blackmon, DB Xavier Thompson, DB Shannon Blair, DB Jaylen Lewis, DB Ian Williams, DL Pooda Walker, RB Amir Thomas and LS Luke Grant have all signed to play football at the University of Memphis.
DEC. 4 SIGNEES
AJ Hill (Antwann Hill Jr.)
QB | 6-4 | 215
Warner Robins, Ga. | Houston County HS
Consensus four-star recruit … Rated the No. 5 quarterback in the country and No. 61 player nationally by ESPN … Also rated as the No. 10 quarterback in the class of 2025 by 247 Sports … Has thrown for over 10,000 yards in four years starting at Houston County … Has thrown 129 career touchdowns … Currently averaging over 300 passing yards per game … Holds a career completion percentage of 65 percent … Broke the single-season school passing touchdowns record as a senior … Invited to Navy All-American Bowl … 2025 Polynesian Bowl All-Star … Chose Memphis over Florida, Georgia, Alabama and others.
Xavier Johnson
WR | 6-0 | 165
Richland, Texas | Richland HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated as the No. 66 wide receiver nationally and No. 66 player in the state of Texas by 247 Sports … Three-year varsity player who hauled in 58 receptions for 1,349 yards and 15 touchdowns his senior season at Richland High School … Was a nominee for Texas 5A Wide Receiver of the Year … Chose Memphis over SMU, TCU, Baylor and North Texas.
Rahim Hutchins Jr.
WR | 5-11 | 155
Houston, Texas | Shadow Creek HS
Ranked as a four-star recruit by ESPN … Ranked as the No. 36 wide receiver nationally and the 41st ranked player in the state of Texas by ESPN … Recorded 40 catches for 791 yards and seven touchdowns in his final two seasons at Shadow Creek … Helped lead the Sharks to a perfect 8-0 district record and a UIL Texas Football State Championship 6A-D2 birth … Chose Memphis over Boston College, Michigan State, Nebraska and others.
Andrew Leslie
WR | 5-11 | 195
Conyers, Ga. | Newton HS
Ranked as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports … Caught 40 passes for 678 yards and 14 receiving touchdowns as a senior at Newton … Was a Covington News Player of the Week … Was a First Team All-Region selection in Region 5-AAA in Georgia while at Cedar Grove HS … Chose Memphis over Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina and others.
Bryce Anderson
TE | 6-5 | 250
West Des Moines, Iowa | WDM Valley HS | Iowa Central CC
Ranked as the No. 42 JUCO player nationally and No. 2 JUCO tight end by 247 Sports … Had 27 catches for 295 yards and five touchdowns in ten games for the Tritons … Recorded six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown in a 49-45 victory over Garden City CC … Chose Memphis over Washington State.
Jonathan Harding
TE | 6-4 | 210
The Villages, Fla. | The Villages Charter School
Ranked as a consensus three-star prospect by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … Was originally a quarterback, totaling over 3,000 passing yards before transitioning to tight end … Tallied 77 catches for 873 yards and four receiving touchdowns as a tight end … Finished with a career total of nearly 5,000 yards when combining passing, rushing, receiving and return yardage … Chose Memphis over Appalachian State, South Florida, Western Kentucky and others.
Chance Holloman
OL | 6-4 | 275
Atlanta, Ga. | West Lake HS | Tuskegee College | Iowa Western CC
Consensus three-star recruit in the portal, ranked as the No. 61 player in the country, No. 6 offensive tackle nationally and No. 7 player in the state of Georgia by 247 Sports… Rated as No. 29 JUCO player nationally, No. 4 JUCO offensive tackle in the country and No. 3 JUCO player in the state of Georgia by 247 Sports… Played in eight games for Iowa Western in 2024.
Sam Browder
OL | 6-6 | 285
Kingsport, Tenn. | Christ School (N.C.)
Ranked as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports … Rated as the No. 129 interior offensive lineman in the country and No. 36 player in the state of North Carolina … Earned All-State honors as a junior … Chose Memphis over App State, Army, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Kent State, Old Dominion, South Florida and others.
Josiah Clemons
OL | 6-7 | 370
Clinton, Miss. | Madison Central HS
Ranked as the No. 27 prospect in Mississippi by 247 Sports … No. 94 offensive tackle in the 2025 class according to 247 Sports … Helped Madison Central reach the semifinals of the MHSAA 7A Playoffs … Chose Memphis over Mississippi State, Louisiana and others.
Bryce Vaughn
OL | 6-7 | 265
Nettleton, Miss. | Nettleton HS
Helped lead Nettleton to 3A Region 4 postseason appearance in 2023 … Chose Memphis over Louisiana, Arkansas State and others.
Jacari Gatling
DL | 6-3 | 265
Hyattsville, Md. | Riverdale Baptist HS
Consensus three-star recruit ranked as the No. 51 player in Maryland by ESPN … Helped Riverdale Baptist reach a perfect 9-0 record … Chose Memphis over Boston College, West Virginia and others.
Lamar Fairfax Jr.
DL | 6-1 | 250
Clinton Township, Mich. | Belleville HS
Ranked as the No. 33 player in the state of Michigan … A consensus three-star recruit by 247 Sports … Recorded 78 total tackles and four sacks as a junior and senior … Helped Belleville reach the quarterfinals of the MHSAA Div-1 playoffs … Chose Memphis over Michigan State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan and others.
JaQuentin Madison
DL | 6-2 | 245
Alpharetta, Ga. | Alpharetta HS
Rated as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports … Ranked as the No. 135 defensive lineman in the country in 247 Sports’ Composite Recruiting Rankings … Recorded 75 tackles (10 TFL), nine sacks, a forced fumble, 17 quarterback hurries, a pair of pass deflections and a pick-six during his junior season at Alpharetta High … Added 4.5 more sacks, 54 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and a pass deflection as a senior to earn First Team All-Region honors … Picked the Tigers over Mizzou, SMU, N.C. State, Kansas, Georgia Tech and others.
Kenyon Rivera
LB | 6-2 | 190
Buford, Ga. | Buford HS
Ranked as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports and the No. 129 player in Georgia … Was a captain for Buford during its 6A Championship run as a senior … Chose Memphis over Kansas, Tennessee, Texas and others.
Wolf Walker
LB | 6-0 | 215
Atlanta, Ga. | East Paulding HS
A consensus three-start recruit ranked as the No. 161 player in the state of Georgia … Was a First Team All-Region 5-5A selection … Recorded over 100 tackles with 29 tackles for loss and three interceptions … Helped lead East Paulding to a second-round appearance in the GHSA 5A Playoffs as a senior … Chose Memphis over Marshall, Western Kentucky, Western Michigan and others.
Martavis Blackmon
LB | 6-1 | 215
Oxford, Miss. | Oxford HS | East Mississippi CC
Appeared in ten games for EMCC … Registered 27 total tackles and one sack … Chose Memphis over Temple.
Xavier Thompson
DB | 6-1 | 175
Cantonment, Fla. | Pine Forest HS
A consensus three-star recruit, ranked as the No. 77 cornerback nationally according to 247 Sports … Registered 39 total tackles in 20 games as a junior and senior with three tackles for loss … Recorded one interception as a junior … Former teammate of current Tiger, DJ Bell … Chose Memphis over Kentucky, Miami, Michigan State and others.
Shannon Blair
DB | 5-11 | 185
Knoxville, Tenn. | Knoxville West HS | East Mississippi CC
Rated as a three-star JUCO transfer by 247 Sports … No. 2 JUCO cornerback in the country … Played in 21 games for the Lions … Recorded five interceptions and 42 tackles … Was originally committed to Tennessee out of high school … Two-time All-MACCC North Division First-Team selection … Chose Memphis over Arkansas, Michigan State, SMU and others.
Jaylen Lewis
DB | 6-0 | 170
Jacksonville, Fla. | Mandarin HS
Ranked as a consensus three-star recruit by 247 Sports … No. 142 cornerback in Florida … Was a FHSAA 2A state champion in the 200-meter dash as a junior … Placed 4th in the 400-meter dash at the FHSAA 4A state meet … Was an FACA All-District 5A defensive team selection as a senior … Chose Memphis over Florida Atlantic and South Florida.
Ian Williams
DB | 5-10 | 180
Cartersville, Ga. | Cass HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Ranked as the No. 74 safety in the country and No. 102 player in Georgia … Chose Memphis over Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and others.
Pooda Walker
DL | 6-1 | 305
Pensacola, Fla. | Pine Forest HS | West Florida | Kennesaw State
Ranked as the No. 1 transfer defensive lineman and No. 7 overall transfer player by On3 … Appeared in nine games for Kennesaw State … Recorded 27 total tackles … Recorded 39 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a freshman at West Florida … Was a First Team Gulf Shore Conference selection with the Argonauts.
Amir Thomas
RB | 5-4 | 160
Warner Robins, Ga. | Houston County HS
Ranked as a three-star recruit by Rivals … Recorded 843 all-purpose yards with nine touchdowns during his sophomore and junior campaigns … High school teammate of fellow 2025 signee, Antwann Hill Jr.
Luke Grant
LS | 6-0 | 190
Tallahassee, Fla. | Leon HS
Named to Hammer Kicking Academy Top 40 Long Snappers.
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