University of Memphis Athletics
Coach Tommy West Announces 2003 Signing Class
Feb 05, 2003 | Football
Feb. 5, 2003
MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis head coach Tommy West continued his strong recruiting efforts of the past two years and landed yet another outstanding class on National Signing Day. The Tigers received scholarships back from 16 high school players and seven junior college transfers.
"We set out recruiting with some very specific goals in mind and I believe that we filled them all," said West. "We were thin in the offensive line and at linebacker and we were able to take care of our needs with some excellant players."
The Tigers signed five offensive linemen, four wide receivers, three defensive linemen, three defensive backs, four linebackers, two running backs, a quarterback and a punter.
Junior college transfers Bobby Garafolo and Jason Matthews joined the Tigers as offensive linemen in January and will participate in spring practice. They will be joined by Martin (TN) Westview's Aaron Grimes, Fayetteville, Georgia's Andy Smith and Abraham Holloway of Prentiss, Mississippi, in the fall. Defensive linemen included Tyus Jackson of Northeast Mississippi C.C., Lane Garcia from Baton Rouge (LA) Catholic High and Aaron Bentley from Trumann, Arkansas.
Memphis will gain in depth among the receiver corps with the addition of junior college wide out Chris Kelley, Mario Pratcher of Memphis Trezevant High, Ryan Scott of Jackson (TN) Central-Merry and Bobby Good from Tampa, FL. Kelley, a native of Corinth, MS, arrived in January and will practice with the Tigers this spring, while Pratcher, who signed with Memphis last year, will be available in the fall along with Good and Scott.
Three of the premier linebackers in the Southeast signed scholarships with Memphis on Wednesday. Quintin McCrary, of Columbus, MS, Quniton Williams of Memphis East High and Mike Snyder of John Curtis High in New Orleans, LA. All were ranked as top prospects from their respective states and McCrary and Williams were rated among the top 100 players in the southeast.
The secondary will have three new faces in junior college transfer Lee Hayes, Jamaal Rufus of Memphis Frayser High School and Javar Pollard from South Panola High in Batesville, Mississippi. Hayes and Pollard are expected to work as corners while Rufus is listed as a safety.
The offensive backfield should benefit from the signing of the nation's number one junior college prospect, quarterback Bobby Robison of Northwest Mississippi Junior College. The 6'4 Florida native threw for over 2,200 yards and 23 touchdowns last season and is listed by most publications as the number junior college quarterback in the country.
Additional candidates for positions in the backfield include running backs Taz Knockum of Baton Rouge (LA) Catholic High and Memphis Frayser tailback Jamarcus Gaither. Gaither was ranked second in the Memphis area in rushing in 2002 with over 1,800 yards, while Knockum had over 1,100 yards for Catholic.
Brandon Roberson, a junior college punter who had committed to Arkansas, signed with the Tigers and will take over the position for the 2003 season. He averaged over 42 yards per punt last fall at NE Mississippi CC.
2003 MEMPHIS FOOTBALL SIGNEES
| Name | Pos | Ht | Wt | Cl | Hometown/HS of JC |
| Aaron Bentley | DL | 6-3 | 260 | Fr | Trumann, AR/Trumann HS |
| Jamarcus Gaither | RB | 5-10 | 175 | Fr | Memphis, TN/Frayser HS |
| Bobby Garafolo | OL | 6-3 | 305 | Jr | Los Angeles, CA/Mt. San Antonio JC |
| Lane Garcia | DL | 6-3 | 255 | Fr | Baton Rouge, LA/Catholic HS |
| Bobby Good | WR | 6-0 | 175 | Fr | Orlando, FL/Lake Highland Prep |
| Aaron Grimes | OL | 6-3 | 295 | Fr | Martin, TN/Westview HS |
| Abraham Holloway | OL | 6-4 | 320 | Fr | Prentiss, MS/Prentiss HS |
| Jarren Humphrey | LB | 6-2 | 205 | Fr | Huntsville, AL/Grissom HS |
| Tyus Jackson | DE | 6-3 | 250 | Jr | Birmingham, AL/NE Mississippi CC |
| Lee Hayes | DB | 5-11 | 175 | Jr | Hopkinsville, KY/NE Mississippi CC |
| Chris Kelley | WR | 6-1 | 190 | Jr | Corinth, MS/NE Mississippi CC |
| Taz Knockum | RB | 6-2 | 205 | Fr | Baton Rouge, LA/Catholic HS |
| Jason Matthews | OL | 6-4 | 300 | Jr | Muscle Shoals, AL/NE Mississippi CC |
| Quinton McCrary | LB | 6-2 | 210 | Fr | Columbus, MS/Columbus HS |
| Javar Pollard | DB | 6-0 | 200 | Fr | Batesville, MS/South Panola HS |
| Mario Pratcher | WR | 6-4 | 200 | So | Memphis, TN/Trezevant HS |
| Brandon Roberson | P | 6-1 | 180 | Jr | Ripley, MS/NE MIssissippi CC |
| Bobby Robison | QB | 6-3 | 205 | Jr | Ft. Walton Beach, FL/NW Mississippi CC |
| Jamaal Rufus | DB | 6-3 | 210 | Fr | Memphis, TN/Frayser HS |
| Ryan Scott | WR | 6-4 | 205 | Fr | Jackson, TN/Central-Merry HS |
| Andy Smith | OL | 6-4 | 270 | Fr | Fayetteville, GA/Starr's Mill HS |
| Mike Snyder | LB | 6-2 | 220 | Fr | New Orleans, LA/John Curtis HS |
| Quintin Williams | LB | 6-2 | 225 | Fr | Memphis, TN/East HS |
2003 Player Biographies
Aaron Bentley - DL, 6-3, 260, Fr., Trumann, AR/Trumann HS Was an All-Conference selection during the 2001 and 2002 seasons ... Was named to the Channel 8 News-Little Rock All-Star Team in 2002 ...Led his team in tackles as a senior ... Was credited with 130 career tackles ... Lettered in football, basketball and track ... Coached by Ricky Timbs.
Jamarcus Gaither - RB, 5-10, 175, Fr., Memphis, TN/Frayser High School Lettered as a running back for the Frayser High Rams ... Gained 1,813 yards during the 2002 season and scored 13 touchdowns ... Averaged 164.8 yards per game rushing as a senior which ranked as second best in Shelby-Metro ... Averaged 168.8 yards per game rushing ... All-District in 2002 and 2001 ... Was ranked second in Shelby-Metro in all-purpose yards averaging 198.3 per game ... Led Region 8-3A in rushing in 2002 ... Was named to the Associated Press All-State Team in 2002 as well as the All Shelby-Metro Squad ... Was named to The Commercial Appeal's Best of the Preps and was selected to the All-Region 8-3A team... Was named All-Elite 2002 and was tabbed on the 4A All-State 2002 ... Was a second team All-Shelby Metro selection in 2001 with 1,162 yards rushing ... Averaged 8.2 yards per carry in 2001 and scored 10 rushing touchdowns ... Was ranked 22nd in Shelby-Metro in total offense with and average of 105.6 yards per game ... Was named to the All-Region 8-3A team in 2001 and was ranked second in kickoff returns, third in rushing, third in all-purpose yards and fifth in total offense. ....Holds Frayser school record for career rushing yards ... Awarded Memphis Touchdown Club Player of the Week in 2002 ...All-Academic City 2000 and 2001 ... Lettered in football and track ... Coached by Terry Ryan.
Bobby Garafolo - OL, 6-3, 300, Jr., Los Angeles, CA/Mt. San Antonio JC Lettered for two years in the offensive line at Mt. San Antonio JC ... Worked as both a tackle and guard during his junior college career ... Was an all-conference selection during his second season of junior college play and was a first team Academic All-America ... Named the team's MVP Lineman of the Year in 2002 ... Won the Ralph Craig Award for the Outstanding Lineman ... Played prep football for St. Francis High School in Los Angeles ... Lettered for two years in football and track ... Helped his team to a 10-3 record in 2000 ... Was a first team all-league, all-area, All-CIF and all-region selection in football as a senior ... Threw the shot put and discus for the track team ... Was a member of the honor roll all four years of high school ... Played for coach Bill Ridell and Jim Bond in high school and Bill Fisk at Mt. San Antonio.
Lane Garcia - OL, 6-3, 255, Fr., Baton Rouge, LA/Catholic HS Was named to the All-District team in 2002 ... Was an All-Metro (Baton Rouge) selection as an offensive lineman in 2002 ... Selected to play in the Louisiana High School All-Star Game in 2002 ... Is ranked as Dandy Don's number 38 prep prospect in the state of Louisiana ... Leader of an offensive line that produced 2,846 rushing yards in 2002 ... Coached by Dale Wiener.
Bobby Good - WR, 6-0, 170, Fr., Orlando, FL/Lake Highland Prep Lettered as both a wide receiver and defensive back at Lake Highland Prep in Orlando ... Was a first team 2-A All-State selection as a defensive back in 2002 ... Was picked to the all-Orange County team as a wide receiver ... Was selected to play in the Georgia-Florida All-Star Game ... Also played in the All-Central Florida All-Star Game ... Was the 2A District 6 Player of the Year in 2002 ... Had 15 pass receptions for touchdowns, one fumble return for a score, and a punt return for another touchdown as a senior ... Registered eight pass interceptions as a safety and returned two for touchdowns in 2002 to led the Tampa area ... Was named to the All-Central Florida second team as a defensive back ... Caught 41 passes for 715 yards as a senior ... Averaged 17.4 yards per catch as a senior ... Was the second leading tackler for Lake Highland with 104 tackles ... Registered six fumble recoveries and two blocked punts ... Returned 14 kickoffs for 214 yards and averaged 15.3 per return ... Had 20 punt returns for 374 yards and averaged 18.7 per return ... Recorded five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown in the round of 16 Florida 2A playoff game ... Won the "Golden Helmet Award" for being named the Orange County Defensive Player of the Year ... Played for Coach Tim Borcky, who is a former Memphis Tiger. football letterman.
Aaron Grimes - OL, 6-3, 295, Fr., Martin, TN/Westview HS Lettered as both an offensive and defensive lineman at Martin Westview High School ... Was named to the All-West Tennessee Team and received honorable mention All-State honors ... Was the number nine ranked player in the state of Tennessee according to SuperPrep Magazine ... Helped his team to a 13-2 record and a berth in the state championship game in 2001 ... Has bench pressed 425 pounds and squats 525 ... Has been timed in 5.2 in the forty ... Played for Coach Don Coady.
Lee Hayes - DB, 5-11, 185, Jr., Hopkinsville, KY/Northeast Mississippi CC Lettered for two years at cornerback for the Northeast Mississippi CC ... Was selected to the 2002 Mississippi North All-State second team ... Is listed by JCFootball.com as the number 10 ranked cornerback in the nation in 2003 ... Ranked by Max Emfinger Blue Chip Magazine as the number 11 ranked defensive back in the nation ... Is ranked by Insider.com as the number nine prospect in the Southeast ... SuperPrep Juco has him ranked overall as the 97 prospect in nation ... Coach by Bobby Hall.
Abraham Holloway - OL, 6-4, 320, Fr., Prentiss, MS/Prentiss HS Lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track at Prentiss High School ... Was the District MVP in 2002 ... Was named to the WWDM-TV All-Area Team in 2002 ... Worked as both an offensive and defensive tackle at PHS ... Is a member of the basketball team ... Coach by Artis Mark, Jr. at Prentiss High.
Jarren Humphrey - LB, 6-2, 205, Fr., Huntsville, AL/Grissom HS Was an All-Metro selection in 2002.... Also named to the All-Region team in 2002.... Was selected to the All-State Team as honorable mention in 2002 ... Led his team in quarterback sacks with 13 ....48 tackles in 2002 ... Three year starter at Grissom HS ... Named Team MVP 2001 and 2001 ... Lettered in Football and Basketball ... Coached by Ron Massie at Grissom High.
Tyus Jackson - DE, 6-3, 250, Jr., Northeast Mississippi C.C. Lettered for two years at defensive end at Northeast Mississippi CC ... Selected to the Mississippi North All-State second team ... Was voted the Defensive MVP in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star game in 2002 ... Played for coach Bobby Hall at NE Mississippi CC.
Chris Kelley - WR, 6-1, 190, Jr., Corinth, MS/Northeast Mississippi CC Lettered for two years at wide receiver at Northeast Mississippi CC ... Helped lead his team to the Division championship in 2002 ... Was named to the 2002 Mississippi North All-State team ... Played in the All-Star game and was voted the game's overall Most Valuable Player ... Had 21 pass receptions for 511 yards and five touchdowns in 2002 ... Averaged 45.7 yards per game receiving ... Totaled over 1,000 yards receiving with 11 touchdowns during his two years at NEMCC ... Played for coach Bobby Hall at NE Mississippi CC... Played prep football at Kossuth High School in Corinth, MS ... Lettered for two years at wide receiver ... Was an all-district selection in football and basketball ... Gained over 1,500 yards rushing and receiving during prep career ... Set the school record with a 99-yard touchdown reception ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Played for coach Charlie Dampeer.
Taz Knockum - RB, 6-2, 205, Fr., Baton Rouge, LA/Catholic HS Was a three year football and track letter winner at Baton Rouge Catholic High School ... Was the All-District MVP in football in 2002 ... Named to the All-Metro (Baton Rouge) Team in 2002 ... Selected to the 5A All-State Team as honorable mention in 2002 ... Selected to play in the Capital City All-Star Game ... Rushed for 1143 yards and nine touchdowns in 2002 ... Caught 29 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns in 2002 ... Is rated by Rivals.com as the number 24 all-purpose back in the nation for 2003 ... Was named a finalist for the Baton Rouge Advocate Athlete of the Year in 2002 ... Is ranked as Dandy Don's number 42 prep prospect in the state of Louisiana ... Is the defending 5A State Champion in 110m Hurdles ... Has posted the fastest time in the state of Louisiana in the 55 yard indoor hurdles this winter ... Ran a 7.88 at the LSU Indoor Meet ... Qualified for the state championships in the 4X200, 4X400 and 4X100 relays and the 110-meter hurdles as a freshman ... Placed sixth in the hurdles as a freshman ... Lettered in football, track and basketball ....Coached by Dale Wiener.
Jason Matthews - OL, 6-4, 300, Jr., Northeast Mississippi CC Comes to the University of Memphis as a junior college transfer in January of 2003 ... Was a starting guard for Northeast Mississippi Junior College in the fall of 2002 ... Helped lead his team to a 7-2 record in '02 and the Northern Division Championship of the Mississippi Junior College system ... Was named to the Mississippi Junior College North All-State team in 2002 ... Also lettered for NEMCC during the 2001 season ... Was named to the Dean's List at Northeast Mississippi CC ... Prep: Played prep football at Muscle Shoals High School in Alabama where he worked as an offensive tackle ... Lettered for three seasons in football and three years in baseball ... Helped his team to a 7-3 record in 2000 ... Was named to the Times Daily All-Area team as a senior, as well as the All-Region 16 Team ... Was tabbed as honorable mention all-state in 2000. Played for coach Bobby Hall at NE Mississippi CC.
Quinton McCrary - OLB, 6-2, 210, Fr., Columbus, MS/Columbus HS Listed as the number seven prep prospect in the state of Mississippi by Rivals.com ... Was considered a Top 50 Prospect as a junior ... Listed as the seventh best outside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com in 2002 ... Was credited with 170 tackles, eight quarterback sacks and two pass interceptions in 2002 ... Has been timed in 4.5 in the forty ... Rated as the number 78 prospect in the Southeast ... Ranked as the 11th best prospect overall in Mississippi by BorderWars.com ... Coach by Roy McCrory.
Javar Pollard - DB, 6-0, 200, Fr., Batesville, MS/South Panola HS Lettered in football and track at South Panola High School ... Played tailback and defensive back at SPHS ... Had 104 rushes for 578 yards in 2002 ... Credited with 89 tackles as a defensive back and logged three quarterback sacks ... Has been timed at 4.4 in the forty and has posted a 10.41 100-meter dash ... Also recruited by West Virginia and Mississippi State ... Played for Coach Ed Stanley.
Mario Pratcher - WR, 6-4, 200, Memphis, TN/Trezevant HS Was a two year starter at wide receiver at Trezevant High School in Memphis ... Was named to the Associated Press All-State team as a receiver in 2001 ... Helped Trezevant to a 6-4 record in 2001 and a second place tie in Region 8-3A ... Caught 23 passes for 585 yards and nine touchdowns in 2001 ... His nine touchdown receptions led Region 8-3A ... Averaged 25.4 yards per reception in 2001 and 7.8 yards per return as the punt returner ... Totaled 791 yards of all-purpose yardage in 2001 ... As a defensive back had two pass interceptions in 2001 which he returned for 86 yards ... Was an All-Region 8-4A selection in 2000 as a receiver ... Had 29 catches for 418 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior ... Averaged 14.4 yards per catch in 2000 ... Was ranked 14th in Region 8-4A in scoring with 48 points as a junior ... Helped Trezevant to a 6-5 record in 2000 ... Set the Trezevant records for most career touchdowns with 25, most receiving yards in a game with 165 and most career receptions with 74 ... Also lettered in basketball and baseball ... Is the son of Marvin Jones and Vearlie Pratcher ... Played for Coach Larry Franklin at Trezevant High.
Brandon Roberson - P, 6-1, 181, Jr., Ripley, MS/NE Mississippi CC Lettered for two years as a punter for the Northeast Mississippi CC ... Was named to the 2002 Mississippi North All-State team ... Was selected as the Mississippi Junior College Special Teams Player of the Week for play in the second game of the 2002 season ... Appeared in all nine games for NE Mississippi CC in 2002 and punted 55 times ... Totaled 2,356 yards for an average of 42.8 yards per punt ... Had a season long punt of 60 yards ... Coached by Bobby Hall.
Bobby Robison - QB, 6-3, 205, Jr., Ft. Walton Beach, FL/NW Mississippi CC Lettered for two years at quarterback for the Northwest Mississippi CC Rangers ... Was named to the 2002 NJCAA and Gridwire Junior College All-America Teams ... Was selected to the 2002 Mississippi North All-State team ... Selected to play in the 2002 Mississippi Junior College All-Star game ... Led his North team to a 31-24 victory and received the Hubert Tucker Award as the MVP of the North All-Star team ... Threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the all-star game ... Completed the 2002 regular season ranked 10th in the nation in passing and in total offense ... Completed 118-of-245 pass attempts for 1,737 yards and 23 touchdowns ... Averaged 192.4 yards per game in total offense ... Was named the NJCAA Region XXIII Player of the Year Award ... Was named first-team MACJC All-State in 2002 ... Top performance of 2002 came against East Mississippi CC when he completed 24-of-40 pass attempts for 408 yards and six touchdowns ... Completed 154-of-311 pass attempts for 2,285 yards and 20 touchdowns as a freshman ... Ranked 4th in the nation in passing and 2nd in total offense in 2001 ... Averaged 253.8 yards passing per game and 151.1 yards per game in total offense ... Best game in 2001 was against East Mississippi CC when he hit on 23-of-48 attempts for 401 yards and four touchdowns ... Ranked as the nation's number one junior college quarterback prospect by JCFootball.com ... Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Magazine has Robison tied as number one junior college quarterback in nation for 2003 ... Is rated as number one junior college quarterback in southeast by Insiders.com ... SuperPrep Juco rates him as the number 15 prospect in the nation overall ... Prepped at Ft. Walton Beach High School where he threw for over 1,100 yards as a senior ... Coach Joey Rankin at Ft. Walton Beach High..
Jamaal Rufus - DB, 6-3, 205, Fr., Memphis, TN/Frayser High School Considered the top prep prospect in the Memphis area in 2003 ... Was the number ten ranked player in the state of Tennessee according to SuperPrep Magazine ... Played quarterback and defensive back at Frayser High ... Threw for 1,075 yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2002 season ... Completed 49-of-112 pass attempts for his 1,075 yards in 2002 ... Was ranked seventh in Shelby-Metro in total offense in 2002 with 210 plays for 1,544 yards and 23 touchdowns ... Was named to the All-Region 8-3A Team in 2002 and was picked on The Commercial Appeal's Best of the Preps team ... Played linebacker for the Rams in 2002 ... Was named to the 2001 All Shelby-Metro second team defense ... Completed 65-of-151 pass attempts for 701 yards and three touchdowns in 2001 ... Ranked sixth in Region 8-3A in passing in 2001 ... Was named to the All Region 8-3A team on defensive... All-District in 2001 and 2002 .... Was named All-Elite in 2002.... Picked to the 4A All-State team in 2002 ... Holds Frayser school record for career tackles ... Awarded Memphis Touchdown Club Player of the Week ... All-Academic City 2000 and 2001 ... Lettered in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track ... Coached by Terry Ryan.
Ryan Scott - WR, 6-4, 205, Fr., Jackson, TN/Central Merry High School Was a football letterman at Central-Merry High School ... Played wide receiver and defensive back ... Caught 53 passes for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2002 ... Averaged 17.7 yards per reception in 2002 ... Was named to the Tennessee Sportswriters All-State team in 2002 ... Was picked as the Associated Press Class 5A Player of the Week in November of 2002 ... Was named to the 2002 All-West Tennessee Team for Classes 3A-5A ... Caught 45 passes for 753 yards during the 2001 season ... Averaged 16.7 yards per catch as a junior ... Was named first team all-region in 2001 and received honorable mention on the Associated Press All-State team ... Has been timed at 4.6 in the forty yard dash. Coached Jim Hardegree
Andy Smith - OL, 6-4, 270, Fr., Fayetteville, GA/Starrs Mill HS Lettered as both an offensive and defensive lineman at Starrs Mill High School ... Graded in blocking at 95% as a junior ... Had 35 "pancake blocks" ... Had a season high 18 tackles in a single game as a senior ... Has been timed at 5.28 in the forty ... Helped his team to a 9-3 record in 2001 ... Listed by BorderWars.com as one of the top offensive tackles in Georgia in 2002 ... Played for Coach Mike Earwood.
Mike Snyder - LB, 6-2, 220, Fr., New Orleans, LA/John Curtis HS Lettered for three years at linebacker for John T. Curtis High School ... Was credited with 77 solo tackles, 39 assisted stops, 13 tackles for lost yardage, two quarterback sacks, two fumble recoveries and one pass interception in 2002 ... Was named to the Louisiana All-State team as well as the All-East Bank Team, the All-Metro Team and the All-District squad ... Helped his team to the state 4-A title ... Was a high school teammate of Tiger quarterback Danny Wimprine ... Is ranked as Dandy Don's number 28 prep prospect in the state of Louisiana ... Played for Coach John Curtis.
Quintin Williams - LB, 6-2, 223, Fr., Memphis, TN/East HS Lettered for three years at linebacker for the East High School Mustangs ... Was considered one of the top prep prospects in the Shelby-Metro area ... Rated by Rivals.com as the nation's 18th best inside linebacker prospect ... Listed as the number six prep prospect in the state of Tennessee by Rivals.com ..Ranked as the 44th best linebacker in the nation by Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Magazine ... Was credited with 90 tackles and six quarterback sacks as a senior despite missing playing time due to injury ... Registered 120 tackles and 18 quarterback sacks as a junior ... Coached by Wayne Randell at East High.
