Coming off of one of the greatest seasons in school history, coach Justin Fuente and the University of Memphis football program is looking to carry that momentum into National Signing Day on Feb. 4.
Currently Memphis’ 2015 recruiting class is ranked no. 73 with 21 commitments so far, according to 247sports.com.
Headlining the 2015 class for the Tigers is four-star all-purpose back, Jae’lon Oglesby. The South Carolina native was originally part of the class of 2014, in which ESPN rated him as the 223rd best player in the nation.
Oglesby committed to Clemson early on his career at D.W. Daniel High School, but was never able to enroll there because of academic issues. To work on qualifying academically, Oglesby enrolled at Fork Union Military Academy, where he spent the fall semester of 2014.
As of now, Oglesby is enrolled at the U of M and adds another gifted weapon to the already stacked backfield of Doroland Dorceus and Jarvis Cooper.
The Memphis staff did not stop adding backfield talent there though.
The Tigers will also add three-star commitment Darrell Henderson. Henderson is a 5-9, 175 pound running back from South Panola high school in Mississippi. Henderson put up Monster numbers in his high school career, rushing for 5,801 yards and posted 78 total touchdowns. In his senior season alone, he rushed for 2,253 yards and 32 touchdowns, while averaging 150.2 rushing yards per game.
Another big addition to the Tiger’s 2015 class is Brady Davis. According to Maxpreps.com, the pro-style quarterback led his team to a 13-1 record, throwing for 3,197 yards and 39 touchdown passes in his final season at Starkville high school. 247sports.com lists Davis as a three-star prospect.
Though Memphis will bring back most of its offense from the 2014 squad that finished the season ranked no. 25 in the final AP poll, the defense is where Fuente and his staff will have to reload.
14 seniors on the defensive side of the football, including defensive end Martin Ifedi, cornerback Bobby McCain, and linebackers Tank Jakes and Charles Harris will graduate in May.
Memphis will look to fill that void with 11 defensive players expected to sign with the Tigers on Wednesday.
Jared Gentry, a 6-2 300 pound defensive lineman, committed to the Tigers over Cincinnati, Houston and Western Kentucky. The three-star prospect finished his career at Opelika high school (Alabama) with 165 total tackles, including 110 solo tackles and nine sacks according to Maxpreps.com.
Fuente was also able to snag three local commitments as well in: Peyton Jones, a 6-6, 236 pound Strong-side defensive end from MUS; Tony Pollard, a 5-11, 192 pound all-purpose back from Melrose high school; and John McDougle; a 6-3, 220 pound Strong-side defensive end out of Southwind high school.
All three players are considered three-star athletes by 247sports.com.
