Know the Foe: UAB

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After two weeks away from Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis returns home to host UAB for the Battle of the Bones. Both teams are coming off wins, and the Tigers will be looking for revenge after the Blazers won the game last season in Birmingham.

UAB started the season losing two of its first three games, including losses against Illinois and Louisiana, but they have won back-to-back games over Navy and Samford at home. Alex Mortensen’s  team has played only two games on the road this season, losing both by seven or more points.

Last season’s Battle of the Bones had a ton of noise around it. The Blazers were coming off three straight losses, including a 53-33 loss to FAU, and made the decision to fire head coach Trent Dilfer and promote Mortensen, who was the team’s offensive coordinator. 

On the other side, the Tigers were 6-0 to start the season and ranked No. 22 in the AP poll. In the game, Memphis got out to a slow start before starter Brendon Lewis suffered an injury.

The Tigers turned to freshman AJ Hill, who threw for 175 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Memphis made the game close, but it couldn’t slow down quarterback Ryder Burton or the UAB run-game.

Burton is back this season, and he has completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 791 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. The quarterback threw an interception in the first four games of the season before a clean outing against Samford, going 8-for-18 for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Former Tiger CJ Smith is tied with senior Ty Mims as the team’s leading receiver, and they both have 223 yards and a touchdown on the season.

The Blazers have two running backs who have ran for more than 250 yards, and Georgia transfer Rod Robinson II leads the teams with 338 yards on 74 carries. UL-Monroe transfer Bam McReynolds has 260 rushing yards and four touchdowns through the first five games of the season.

UAB’s defense allows 23.4 points per game and 301.4 yards of total offense. While they’ve done a nice job in coverage and defending the pass-game, opposing teams average 183 rushing yards against the Blazers.

In UAB’s first two road games, its opponents have ran for 150 yards or more, and Louisiana finished with 225 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Senior linebacker Muaaz Byard leads the team with 48 tackles and a pass deflection, while junior linebacker Ike Esonwune has recorded 37 tackles and two interceptions. As a team, the Blazers have recorded four interceptions, 12 sacks and 29 tackles for loss.

The game is scheduled for Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

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