Without Ryan Silverfield, what Memphis football might expect on early signing day
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It’s almost time for early signing day — and there are way more questions than answers for Memphis football.
Ryan Silverfield’s departure to become Arkansas‘ coach just three days before signing day has thrown everything into flux. While he is focused on putting together a strong class for the Razorbacks, Memphis does not yet have a full-time coach to do the same for the Tigers.
Silverfield had put together one of the top recruiting classes in the Group of Five. But that class took a hit when its highest-rated commit, receiver Jude Hall, decommitted from the Tigers on Dec. 1. He posted later in the day on social media that he had received an offer from Arkansas.
It’s possible and even likely that the entirety of Memphis’ recruiting class won’t sign on Dec. 3, the first day of the early signing period for college athletics.
Here’s a quick primer on what to expect for the Tigers.
Memphis football likely will still have signees on Dec. 3
While the Tigers might not have a full recruiting class, they’re still expecting to sign some players on Dec. 3. Interim coach Reggie Howard and the rest of the Memphis staff have been continuing to recruit since Silverfield departed on Nov. 30.
DeSoto Central athlete Eric Perry is among those expected to sign with the Tigers.
Edge rusher Evan Harvey, defensive lineman Marshall Smith Jr. (Collierville) and receiver Zechariah Jenkins are currently the top-three rated recruits in Memphis’ class, according to 247Sports.
What happens when Memphis hires a new coach?
Anyone who signs with Memphis during the signing period theoretically could enter the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2, so there’s no guarantee that anyone who signs this week will be on the team next season. That’s also the case for other programs, and it means recruiting will continue after the early signing period.
There are plenty of high school recruits who won’t sign during the early period and will instead sign during the regular period in February. A lot of high school players have been affected by the rash of coaching changes the past week. In the American Conference alone, Memphis, Tulane, USF and North Texas are all without full-time coaches heading into signing day.
While Silverfield and former USF coach Alex Golesh (Auburn) already have left for their new jobs, Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and North Texas’ Eric Morris are still coaching their current teams in the American Conference title game on Dec. 5 before they depart for Florida and Oklahoma State, respectively. The winner of that game will go to the College Football Playoff, and that coach is expected to continue on with the program throughout the playoff run.
That could benefit those programs on signing day. Sumrall said Dec. 1 that he encouraged Tulane commits to sign with the Green Wave on Dec. 3.
Where Memphis’ signing day class ranks
As of Dec. 1, Memphis has the No. 66 ranked recruiting class, according to 247Sports.
That is No. 6 in the Group of Five (including Washington State) and No. 2 in the American Conference, behind USF.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What to expect for Memphis football on early signing day
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