J&J Show: Memphis Tigers FB expectations & preseason look

Phil Steele has several pre-season all AAC Tiger players listed and Athlon lists six teams that could win the AAC
Quarterback Arrington Maiden (7) calls out a play during a Memphis Tigers football spring game between the blue and gray team on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Simmons Liberty Bank Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. Photo credit USA Today

Jason & John discussed Athlon's list of six teams that could win the American Athletic Conference in football this upcoming season.

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Seven Tigers Earn Preseason All-AAC Honors from Phil Steele

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Seven University of Memphis football student-athletes earned preseason All-AAC honors from Phil Steele, the publication announced this week. Of the seven honorees, three Tigers earned first team designations: OL Chris Adams, DL William Whitlow Jr. and DB Omarion Cooper.

Whitlow Jr. was a 2024 First Team All-AAC selection after helping the Tigers to an 11-2 record and Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl championship over West Virginia a season ago. The Millbrook, Alabama, native totaled 24 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, three quarterback hurries and one forced fumble while starting 12 games and playing in all 13.

Adams was a key member of last year’s offensive line that paved the way for seven 200-yard rushing performances and over 2,250 yards on the ground. The redshirt senior helped the Tiger offense rank No. 12 nationally in scoring offense (35.7), No. 16 in total offense (444.5) and No. 36 in fewest sacks allowed (19).

Cooper, a redshirt-senior defensive back transfer from Florida State, appeared in four games for the Seminoles a season ago and started eight games the season prior at Colorado where he recorded 37 tackles, including 32 solo stops with two tackles for loss, a sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and five pass breakups for the Buffaloes.

In addition to the trio of First Team Preseason All-AAC selections, OL Travis Burke and K Gianni Spetic were named Second Team Preseason All-AAC while linebackers Everett Roussaw Jr. and Sam Brumfield earned Third Team Preseason All-AAC honors.

Following an undefeated home football season in 2024 where the Tigers went a perfect 7-0, ticket prices will remain the same in 2025 as fans will witness steady progress on the stadium renovation throughout the season. Season tickets for the 2025 season are available for renewal and purchase now at GoTigersGo.com.

It will be an exciting football season in 2025 as the Tigers host SEC neighbor Arkansas (Sept. 20) and AAC rivals South Florida (Oct. 25), Tulane (Nov. 7) and Navy on Thanksgiving Day. Memphis looks to continue its home winning streak in 2025 as the Tigers have amassed the fourth-most home wins (64) in the country since 2014 trailing only Alabama (71), Clemson (70) and Ohio State (68). Memphis has posted an impressive 53-9 (.855) record at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium since head coach Ryan Silverfield took over the program.

Full coverage of the Memphis Tigers on 92.9 FM ESPN, Memphis' Sports Station.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: USA Today