University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Gentry/Kyser: Togetherness In The Trenches
Sep 05, 2017 | Football
Tigers duo playing football against, with each other since pee wee days.
NOTE: This story on Jared Gentry and Drew Kyser first appeared in the Aug. 31 Memphis Football GameDay Program vs. Louisiana Monroe.
The battle they stage on a daily basis during Memphis football practices has been fought since, well, shortly after the turn of the century.
Tigers offensive lineman Drew Kyser and defensive lineman Jared Gentry have butted helmets and shoulder pads from the moment they first were fitted for football equipment.
"How long have we known each other?" Kyser said. "I'd say probably since we were 5 or 6 years old."
Kyser and Gentry, entering their junior seasons, have followed a remarkably similar path, one that has taken them from small, dusty pee wee football fields in Alabama to the pristine artificial playing surface at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Both grew up in Opelika, Ala., about an hour northeast of Montgomery. Both played youth football together – although not on the same team. And both were key members of an Opelika High team that reached the second round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A state playoffs in 2014.
So those hand slaps to the helmet, jersey grabs and emphatic pushes – frequently exchanged while lined up against one another in practices – are familiar. Kyser, a center, and Gentry, a noseguard, have been trading "friendly" jabs, mixed with trash talk, for 15 years.
"I remember when we played in the Saturday morning (pee wee) football league," Kyser said. "Jared and I were the biggest ones out there. So we were always on opposing teams, going against one another.
"One time I blocked him really good – I may have knocked him down – and on the next play I was running down the field and he blindsided me. So, yeah, we've had a rivalry going on back and forth for a while."
Gentry said, "It seems like I've always been (lined up) over him. But I've loved it."
Kyser said he and Gentry played on different teams until reaching junior high. For the past decade, they've been wearing the same uniform and seeking the same team goals, even as tempers have flared, on occasion, in the heat of practice.
"Me and him started a big fight in practice in high school one time," Kyser said. "Coach (Brian Blackmon) made us carry each other on our backs. I was 300 pounds. He was 300 pounds. We had to carry each other 50 yards.
"Coach also made us hold hands and walk around the field another time. That was punishment for getting after it."
Gentry said through the years he and Kyser have learned one another's tendencies. There's rarely a move, or step, the other hasn't seen.
"He knows how to read me, how to read my chest," Gentry said. "And I know how to read him, how to read his hands, his chest and footwork."
With all that knowledge at his disposal, Kyser uses it, at times, to frustrate Gentry. Defensive line coach Paul Randolph usually gets tipped by Kyser, who will look to Randolph and wink before making his move.
"Drew is always razzing Jared," Randolph said. "He knows what buttons to push to get Gentry excited. It's fun for me to watch.
"Drew will have Jared so hot and the whole time Drew is laughing because he knows he's gotten under his skin. But he's making Jared better because the opponents may try to antagonize him during games."
Kyser, 6-5 and 300 pounds, has started 25 of the team's 26 games the past two seasons. In the lone game he did not start, he played 63 of 79 snaps against Kansas (2015). For the second-straight season, he has been named to the Rimington Watch List. The Rimington Award is given annually to the nation's top center.
"He is smart and tough," offensive line coach Ryan Silverfield said. "You can win a lot of games with a smart and tough center."
Gentry, 6-2 and 325 pounds, has played in 23 games. Although he missed the regular-season finale and the Boca Raton Bowl last year because of injury, he had a career-high six tackles against nationally-ranked Navy and a 40-yard fumble return at SMU that set up a first-quarter touchdown.
Their continued progress could play a role in the success of the U of M's second season under coach Mike Norvell.
"They know both positions are extremely tough and extremely physical," Randolph said. "They know how to push each other."
It is that non-stop competitive nature that impresses Silverfield most.
"In the spring, when we are going against each other all the time, they are matched up against one another almost on a daily basis, almost on an every-rep basis," Silverfield said. "Those guys are getting after it. They have a good understanding and respect for one another. They are great competitors and great young men."
At Opelika High as freshmen, Gentry said they were both placed on the offensive line in a goal-line package. Gentry said each time it resulted in a touchdown.
"I was right tackle, he was left tackle," Gentry said. "It was a lot of fun."
Kyser graduated early from Opelika High, leaving the two separated for several months. But Gentry signed with Memphis in February 2015, and the two soon were reunited.
"I was very excited when he texted me and told me he was coming up here," Kyser said. "Being away from home, it was nice having someone else up here from home.
"We're five-and-a-half hours from Opelika. He rides back with me home all the time. It gives me comfort knowing I have a piece of home away from home."
The battle they stage on a daily basis during Memphis football practices has been fought since, well, shortly after the turn of the century.
Tigers offensive lineman Drew Kyser and defensive lineman Jared Gentry have butted helmets and shoulder pads from the moment they first were fitted for football equipment.
"How long have we known each other?" Kyser said. "I'd say probably since we were 5 or 6 years old."
Kyser and Gentry, entering their junior seasons, have followed a remarkably similar path, one that has taken them from small, dusty pee wee football fields in Alabama to the pristine artificial playing surface at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Both grew up in Opelika, Ala., about an hour northeast of Montgomery. Both played youth football together – although not on the same team. And both were key members of an Opelika High team that reached the second round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A state playoffs in 2014.
So those hand slaps to the helmet, jersey grabs and emphatic pushes – frequently exchanged while lined up against one another in practices – are familiar. Kyser, a center, and Gentry, a noseguard, have been trading "friendly" jabs, mixed with trash talk, for 15 years.
"I remember when we played in the Saturday morning (pee wee) football league," Kyser said. "Jared and I were the biggest ones out there. So we were always on opposing teams, going against one another.
"One time I blocked him really good – I may have knocked him down – and on the next play I was running down the field and he blindsided me. So, yeah, we've had a rivalry going on back and forth for a while."
Gentry said, "It seems like I've always been (lined up) over him. But I've loved it."
Kyser said he and Gentry played on different teams until reaching junior high. For the past decade, they've been wearing the same uniform and seeking the same team goals, even as tempers have flared, on occasion, in the heat of practice.
"Me and him started a big fight in practice in high school one time," Kyser said. "Coach (Brian Blackmon) made us carry each other on our backs. I was 300 pounds. He was 300 pounds. We had to carry each other 50 yards.
"Coach also made us hold hands and walk around the field another time. That was punishment for getting after it."
Gentry said through the years he and Kyser have learned one another's tendencies. There's rarely a move, or step, the other hasn't seen.
"He knows how to read me, how to read my chest," Gentry said. "And I know how to read him, how to read his hands, his chest and footwork."
With all that knowledge at his disposal, Kyser uses it, at times, to frustrate Gentry. Defensive line coach Paul Randolph usually gets tipped by Kyser, who will look to Randolph and wink before making his move.
"Drew is always razzing Jared," Randolph said. "He knows what buttons to push to get Gentry excited. It's fun for me to watch.
"Drew will have Jared so hot and the whole time Drew is laughing because he knows he's gotten under his skin. But he's making Jared better because the opponents may try to antagonize him during games."
Kyser, 6-5 and 300 pounds, has started 25 of the team's 26 games the past two seasons. In the lone game he did not start, he played 63 of 79 snaps against Kansas (2015). For the second-straight season, he has been named to the Rimington Watch List. The Rimington Award is given annually to the nation's top center.
"He is smart and tough," offensive line coach Ryan Silverfield said. "You can win a lot of games with a smart and tough center."
Gentry, 6-2 and 325 pounds, has played in 23 games. Although he missed the regular-season finale and the Boca Raton Bowl last year because of injury, he had a career-high six tackles against nationally-ranked Navy and a 40-yard fumble return at SMU that set up a first-quarter touchdown.
Their continued progress could play a role in the success of the U of M's second season under coach Mike Norvell.
"They know both positions are extremely tough and extremely physical," Randolph said. "They know how to push each other."
It is that non-stop competitive nature that impresses Silverfield most.
"In the spring, when we are going against each other all the time, they are matched up against one another almost on a daily basis, almost on an every-rep basis," Silverfield said. "Those guys are getting after it. They have a good understanding and respect for one another. They are great competitors and great young men."
At Opelika High as freshmen, Gentry said they were both placed on the offensive line in a goal-line package. Gentry said each time it resulted in a touchdown.
"I was right tackle, he was left tackle," Gentry said. "It was a lot of fun."
Kyser graduated early from Opelika High, leaving the two separated for several months. But Gentry signed with Memphis in February 2015, and the two soon were reunited.
"I was very excited when he texted me and told me he was coming up here," Kyser said. "Being away from home, it was nice having someone else up here from home.
"We're five-and-a-half hours from Opelika. He rides back with me home all the time. It gives me comfort knowing I have a piece of home away from home."
Players Mentioned
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