As Tommy West scanned the list of his 31 newest Tigers, he was quick to point out the theme - speed.
West called his 2005 recruiting class the fastest group he has signed in his tenure at The University of Memphis.
"This class was all about speed," said West. "We weren't a slow team (last year), but we really overdid it to get speed in this class."
The group is comprised of players from six states including Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Six of the 31 signees are junior college transfers.
If there is one player in particular that has West excited, chances are it's running back T.J. Pitts.
West likened the Gainesville, Ga.-native to two-time Conference USA Player of the Year DeAngelo Williams.
"T.J. is a 195- or 200-pound back that is a 330-pound power clean and close to a 400-pound bench presser right now as a senior in high school," West said. "He's also got great speed. He's got a great chance to win the state in the 100-meters this year. He just really reminds you of DeAngelo when he came out."
Pitts rushed for 2,422 years and 29 touchdowns, averaging 11.5 yards per carry as a senior at North Hall H.S.
"We recruited him pretty much the same way we recruited DeAngelo because I told (Williams) that he would be a back-up his freshman year," West said. "That's what we told T.J., that 'you'll come in here and you'll learn from one of the best backs in the country and when he leaves you've got a chance to take it over.'"
The U of M also signed several defensive backs in an effort to shore up the Tigers streaky secondary.
"We started off by signing six defensive backs where we felt like we needed help," West said. "I expect all (six) of the corners to come in here and compete."
Deante' Lamar, 5-10, 183-pounds from Atlanta, and Brandon McDonald, 5-11, 180-pounds, headline the list of defensive backs.
Lamar had 52 tackles, 10 pass breakups and seven interceptions as a senior at McNair H.S., the same school that produced Tiger receiver Maurice Avery. McDonald is a transfer from Jones Community College in Collins, Miss., where he led collected eight interceptions and led the JCCC in punt return average.
The Tigers, who lost five of their top six receivers to graduation last year, signed several receivers they hope to see compete right away.The commit with the largest upside might be receiver Carlos Singleton from Haywood H.S. in Brownsville, Tenn.
The 6-8, 195-pounder is a player that West thinks can play a similar role that Tavares Gideon did last year.
"The guy that's the most intriguing guy of this class to me is Carlos Singleton," West said. "I've never had (this) kind of guy. Gideon scored 140 points for us, and this guy can do as much or more than (him)."
Singleton had 26 catches, 11 touchdowns and averaged 22.3 yards per reception as a senior. He is a four-sport athlete that also played in the Tennessee-Kentucky All-Star football game.
One stat West pointed out was the number of players that turned down offers from BCS schools to play at Memphis. In 2002 he said the number was five, in 2003 it was seven, in 2004, six and this year, West said, the Tigers signed 11 players who had offers from BCS schools.
Television exposure played a large role in recruiting this year for West and company. He said the four nationally televised games towards the end of last season gave the program a chance to reach players they hadn't in the past.
"They all watched us on TV," West said. "We had the great game against Louisville that everybody watched and everywhere I went in recruiting from Kansas to Georgia knew about that game and talked about that game.
"The impact of playing on national TV certainly helped."
