Editor’s note: This is the third installment in The Dispatch’s 2021 Scouting the Schedule series. The second installment was published in Sunday’s edition. The series continues Tuesday with a look at Mississippi State’s fourth game of the season.
Mississippi State and Memphis played every year from 1974 to 2003.
But the Bulldogs and Tigers won’t have matched up in more than a decade by the time they meet at 3 p.m. Sept. 18 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Here’s what Mississippi State can expect from its first road opponent of the 2021 season.
Memphis quick facts
2020 record: 8-3
Coach: Ryan Silverfield, second year
ESPN Football Power Index: 53
All-time series: 27-10, MSU
Last meeting: Sept. 1, 2011
History
The Bulldogs have mostly dominated the all-time series, winning 27 of 37 matchups all time against the Tigers. MSU won by 42 and 45 points, respectively, in its prior two games against Memphis in 2010 and 2011.
But those Tigers teams went 1-11 and 2-10 on the season, and they’ve come a long way since. Memphis won 10 games in 2014 and 2017 and went 12-2 in 2019.
Still, the Bulldogs have won 12 straight against the Tigers and will look to make it a baker’s dozen in mid-September.
2020 season
The Tigers posted an 8-3 record in 2020 in their first year under Silverfield after Mike Norvell left for Florida State.
Memphis picked up wins over UCF, South Florida and Houston but lost to SMU, Cincinnati and Tulane during the regular season. The Tigers beat Florida Atlantic 25-10 in the Montgomery Bowl.
Graduate transfer Brady White, who threw for 3,380 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2020, won’t be back for the Tigers. Arizona transfer Grant Gunnell, LSU transfer Peter Parrish, Keilon Brown and Drake Day will be competing for the starting job.
Running back Rodrigues Clark — a Starkville High School product — had 561 yards on 136 carries in 2020, while Kylan Watkins had 433 yards on just 81 attempts. They picked up the slack after star back and Yazoo County native Kenneth Gainwell opted out of the season due to COVID-19, and both Clark and Watkins will return in 2021 as Gainwell begins his NFL career.
Leading receiver Calvin Austin III, who pulled in 63 passes for 1,053 yards last season, is returning for Memphis. Tahj Washington (743 yards) transferred to USC, but tight end Sean Dykes (581 yards) is back.
Defensive back Quindell Johnson, who led Memphis in tackles at 81 and grabbed three interceptions, returns for his redshirt sophomore season. With seven sacks a season ago, defensive lineman Morris Joseph will be back in full force for the Tigers.
Key additions
Memphis is bringing in 21 three-star recruits this season, but it’s in the transfer portal where the Tigers have strengthened their team.
Former four-star offensive tackle Austin Myers is coming in from TCU with one season of eligibility remaining.
Wide receiver Shamar Nash, currently a three-star prospect, is transferring in from Arkansas. Cornerback Julian Barnett and tackle Devontae Dobbs both come in from Michigan State.
The Tigers’ signing class, ranked No. 47 in the nation by 247 Sports, includes a pair of top-500 prospects in Roc Taylor (Oxford, Alabama) and linebacker Andrew Jones (Marrero, Louisiana.)
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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