University of Memphis Athletics
Football Set to Honor 28 Seniors Friday Night
Nov 09, 2004 | Football
Nov. 9, 2004
MEMPHIS, Tenn.-- - Time marches on and Friday's game with Southern Mississippi marks the final home contest for 28 Tiger seniors. These players, under the direction of head coach Tommy West, have taken the Memphis football program to a level that has achieved national attention for the University.
Jared Bidne DS 6-0 225 Senoia, Georgia
Walk-on candidate who has worked with the Tiger special teams since the 2001 season...Has worked as the backup deep snapper for Rusty Clayton during the past two seasons...Made his first collegiate appearance in the 2002 win over Murray State, working with former Tiger punter James Gaither...Had two punt snaps and one placement snap during the Tiger victory...Is expected to graduate in May of 2005 with a degree in exercise and sport science.
Daniel Byram WR 5-9 178 Covington, Tennessee
Transfered to the University of Memphis from Lambuth College in the spring of 2003...Has worked as a reserve receiver for the Tiger offensive unit for the past two years....Has given outstanding effort during practice sessions in order to prepare the first defensive unit for upcoming opponents...Saw his first collegiate action earlier this season in a win over Chattanooga...Intends to graduate in August 2005 with a degree in English.
LaKendus Cole RB 5-9 190 Germantown, Tennessee
A reserve tailback who became a key component of the U of M late last season...A walk-on who was presented a scholarship at the opening of fall camp this year...Was presented the game ball from the New Orleans Bowl after rushing for 62 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown in the exciting win over North Texas... Saw action in 12 games in 2003, and ended the season with 226 yards on 70 carries and one score... Is expected to graduate in May 2005 with a degree in criminal justice.
Isaac Daniel TE 6-0 249 Millington, Tennessee
Spent two seasons as a walk-on with the defensive line before converting to tight end in 2003...Has seen limited action this season behind John Doucette...Has started this season in the two tight end set against Arkansas State and Tulane...Had his first career pass reception against Tennessee Tech in 2003...Is studying music recording technology, and plans to graduate in May 2006.
David Davis OT 6-4 282 Hamilton, Mississippi
Joined the Tigers as a junior college transfer from Itawamba Community College in January 2002...Became a starter at tackle after fellow senior Jason Johnson was injured last year...Started nine games in 2003, and played 604 of a total of 1,000 snaps...Started this season against Ole Miss and Chattanooga at right tackle...Has played 174 snaps in 2004...Received his degree in sport management in August 2004.
Tavarious Davis WR 6-1 198 Athens, Georgia
One of several senior receivers who have anchored the receiving corps this season...Has started six games this season...Has caught 12 passes this year for a total of 117 yards...Caught a touchdown pass against Chattanooga early in the season...Is averaging 9.8 yards per reception... Hauled in a 92-yard touchdown pass from Danny Wimprine last season to seal the upset victory over Ole Miss...Heads into the Southern Miss game with 549 career yards receiving...Graduated in December 2003 with a degree in communications.
Robert Douglas FB 6-3 235 St. Louis, Missouri
Lettered for two seasons and even worked in fall camp 2003 as a linebacker before he was moved to fullback during last year's game with USM...Had his first rushing yardage in the New Orleans Bowl...Has played in all eight games this season, and totals 48 yards on 10 carries...Recorded his first rushing touchdown against Tulane ...Also totals 114 yards on six receptions, and recorded touchdown catches against ASU and Louisville...Plans to graduate in May 2006 with a degree in computer engineering technology.
Cameron Essex CB 5-11 186 Atlanta, Georgia
Has been a letterman all four years for the Tigers...Saw action in 2001 as a true freshman and became a starter the following season...Was the co-recipient of the Rex Dockery Scholarship in 2001...Has started six of eight games this season...Totals 22 tackles in 2004, including 12 solo stops...Also has five pass breakups...Picked off a pass for a 10-yard return in the road win over Arkansas State...Has recorded 99 career tackles...Also picked off a pass against Houston in 2002...Will graduate this December with a degree in sport management.
Gene Frederic C 6-4 280 St. Louis, Missouri
A candidate for the Rimington Award who started 13 games last season, and all eight games so far in 2004...Received the Chris Faros Most Improved Player Award in the spring of 2003...Also received the Offensive Lineman of the Year Award for the Tigers in 2003...Honored by Conference USA as a third-team selection last year...Started his first two seasons as a Tiger at deep snapper...Is majoring in marketing management and expects to graduate in December 2005.
Tavares Gideon WR 6-4 210 Greenwood, Mississippi
One of several senior receivers who have made an impact for the Tigers this season...Returned to the field following a knee injury that sidelined him for the 2003 season...Has started six of the eight games this season, and totals 387 receiving yards on 30 catches...Is the only Tiger receiver to total multiple TD grabs with nine...Has scored in 12 of his 20 career games played...Totaled two touchdown catches against UAB, Arkansas State, Tulane and Louisville...Has tied the school record with 17 TD grabs...Is majoring in interdisciplinary studies, and should graduate in May 2005.
Kenyun Glover OG 6-3 307 Memphis, Tennessee
Another defensive player who made the jump to offense recently...Lettered three years and was moved from defensive tackle to offensive guard in the later stages of the 2003 season...Played in all 13 games last season, and played 40 snaps at offensive guard...Defensively, he totals 68 career tackles and three sacks for a loss of 25 yards...Started at left guard in the win over Ole Miss earlier this season...Is expected to graduate in December 2005 with a degree in computer engineering technology.
Shaka Hill FB 6-3 253 Nashville, Tennessee
Has seen limited action this season after making the move from linebacker to fullback following the 2003 season...Played in all 13 games last season at defensive end and logged 13 total tackles...Best season in a Tiger uniform was in 2002 when he started at inside linebacker for four of his 12 games played...Finished the year as the seventh-leading tackler despite only starting four games...Graduated this past May with a degree in sport management.
Ryan Ivey H/P 6-0 175 Mayfield, Kentucky
Is in his third year as the Tigers' starting holder...Teams with kicker Stephen Gostkowski, a candidate for the Lou Groza Award, who is ranked sixth in the nation in field goals and 12th in scoring...Has assisted in the Tigers making 15 of 17 field goal attempts and 33 of 33 PATs this season...Handled 29 field goals snaps and 44 PAT snaps as a junior without a miss...Had 28 PAT and field goal holds in 2002 and was able to gather two errant snaps to get the ball down for made field goals...Will graduate this December with a degree in sport management, and a minor in marketing.
Jason Johnson OT 6-3 284 St. Louis, Missouri
A veteran in the offensive line who was a starter at offensive tackle before suffering a knee injury in the fourth game last season... Finished the 2003 season having played 338 of a possible 1,000 plays...Has started the last seven straight games at left tackle...Has played 408 snaps this season...Actually lettered as a tight end in 2001...Is studying criminal justice and expects to graduate in December along with eight other teammates.
Chris Kelley WR 6-1 205 Corinth, Mississippi
Came to Memphis as one of the top junior college receivers in the nation after lettering for two years at Northeast Mississippi CC...Played in all 13 games last season, and caught 11 passes for 154 yards and two TDs...Receiving highlight of 2003 was the 65-yard touchdown pass he caught from Darron White against Cincinnati...Has started five games this season, and is fourth on the receiving corps with 12 catches for 164 yards...Caught a touchdown off a 27-yard pass from Danny Wimprine against Houston...Intends to graduate this December with a major in sport management.
Khalid Khowaja DB 5-11 183 Chicago, Illinois
Has been a part of the Tiger program since joining the squad in 2002 as a walk-on...A hard worker who showed tremendous effort as a practice player in 2003...Collegiate career was cut short after a knee injury sidelined him...Tore his ACL in the final week of spring drills and has spent the majority of this season rehabilitating his knee...Intends to graduate in December 2004 with a degree in criminal justice.
Jason Matthews OG 6-4 295 Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Has started the last 21 straight games after joining the Tigers from Northeast Mississippi CC...Has played 478 snaps this year...Missed most of spring 2004 workouts following a stress fracture in his foot...Finished the 2003 season having played 734 of a possible 1,000 plays...Is studying marketing management, and is expected to graduate in May 2005.
David McNair DE 6-3 235 Dunn, North Carolina
A three-year letterwinner who has started all eight games for the Tigers this season...Had a career-high nine tackles in the win over Houston...Totals 32 tackles this season, including 14 solo stops...Has also recorded a sack, a pass breakup and forced a fumble...Was named one of the winners of the Chris Faros Most Improved Player Awards in spring drills...Currently totals 56 career tackles and four sacks for a loss of 25 yards...Intends to graduate this December after majoring in independent studies at the U of M.
Albert Means NG 6-4 328 Memphis, Tennessee
A steady defensive threat for Memphis who totals 12 solo and 16 assisted tackles this season...Has started all eight games this season...Tallied a sack this year against Chattanooga, UAB, Tulane and Louisville to bring his career total to seven sacks for a loss of 35 yards...Currently totals 130 career tackles and 13.0 TFLs for a loss of 50 yards...Credited with an interception in 2001 against Chattanooga...In 2003, he was the recipient of the Glenn Jones 12th Man Award as well as the Top Tiger Award...Is studying interdisciplinary studies and expects to graduate in May 2005.
Lionel Pieh DB 5-10 191 Memphis, Tennessee
A four-year letterman who has played in 38 of 43 games during his career...Has had some injuries this season that has sidelined him for a couple of games...Totals just two tackles this year to bring his career mark to 26 tackles...Finished the 2003 season with 11 tackles, including six solo stops...Is majoring in marketing management and expects to graduate in May 2005.
Brandon Roberson P 6-0 183 Ripley, Mississippi
One of the many weapons in Memphis' punting scheme...A traditional punter who is called upon to mix it up with the Tigers' popular rugby punting game...Has punted 12 times this season and is averaging 36.9 yards per punt...Has pinned the opponent inside the 20 yard line four times this year...Booted a 52 yarder in the win over Houston...Punted four times against Cincinnati...Joined the Tigers last season as a junior college transfer from NE Mississippi JC...Intends to graduate in May 2005 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Bobby Robison QB 6-4 213 Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
A backup quarterback who joined the Tigers in 2003 after playing two years at Northwest Mississippi Community College...Was named the Paul Gingold MVP in the Blue-Gray scrimmage at the end of spring workouts...Has played in three games as a quarterback this year, and also booted six rugby-style punts...Threw his first career touchdown pass this year to Jamarcus Gaither late in the UTC game...Also tossed a TD pass to Tavares Gideon in the Tulane victory...Plans to graduate this December with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Jeremy Rone OT 6-3 272 Texarkana, Texas
A starter at right tackle in all 13 games last season...Became the starter this year in the Arkansas St. game...Has played 358 snaps this season...Was named to the Conference USA third-team in 2003...Played 8881 of a possible 1,000 snaps last year...Plans to graduate in May 2006 with a degree in mechanical engineering technology.
Tristan Thomas CB 6-1 180 Marietta, Georgia
A four-year letterman who has played in 43 games as a Tiger...Totaled a season-high six tackles in the UAB game...Has recorded 22 tackles in 2004, including 13 solo stops...Also totals two pass breakups and one forced fumble...Currently boasts 71 career tackles...Tallied his only interception in the win over Murray State in 2002...Is majoring in marketing management and plans to graduate this December.
Scott Vogel FS 6-1 190 Memphis, Tennessee
A four-year letterman who was the recipient of the Glen Jones 12th Man Award for his play in 2003...Was also a member of the C-USA third team...Was sidelined for two games this season because of a knee injury he suffered after a 21-yard fumble recovery against UAB...Also totaled a sack and his sixth career interception against Arkansas State...Currently totals 179 tackles, two sacks for a loss of 11 yards, and six TFLs for a loss of 21 yards...Is expected to graduate in August 2005 with a degree in marketing management.
Von Webb WR 6-0 184 Athens, Alabama
A dedicated receiver who has suffered through his share of injuries...Was sidelined by two ACL injuries--one that kept him out of spring 2002 workouts, and one that kept him out of the 2003 season...Has played in six of eight games this season, but has had the opportunity to only catch one pass because of the tremendous depth at that position...Totaled 10 receptions for 166 yards in 2002...Will graduate in August 2005 with a degree in sport management.
Darron White WR 6-0 205 Covington, Tennessee
One of Memphis' most vocal receivers...Totals 327 receiving yards off 21 catches this year...Recorded his third career game over 100 yards with 101 receiving yards against UAB...Needs 16 receptions to set a new school record in career receptions...Currently totals 1,617 receiving yards, and is fifth in the record books...Has also fielded two kick-offs for 13 yards and 24 punts for 305 yards this season...Ran a punt 60 yards for a score against Tulane...Named C-USA Player of the Week following the Tulane victory...Also totals 11 career touchdowns...Is majoring in interdisciplinary studies and expects to graduate in August 2005.
Danny Wimprine QB 6-1 222 River Ridge, Louisiana
A four-year letterman who has broken virtually every U of M passing and total offense record...Only QB in school history to throw for more than 9,000 yards...Has been on the Davey O'Brien and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm watch lists this season...Is ranked fourth among active QBs nationally with 74 touchdown passes...Has been named Conference USA Player of the Week twice in his career...Was the MVP of the 2003 New Orleans Bowl...Has started 38 games, and has thrown for more 200 yards in 27 games of his career...Career totals read 728 completions, 1338 attempts, 9,302 yards and 74 TDs...Has thrown a touchdown pass in nine of the last 10 games, including four against 14-ranked Louisville...Is expected to graduate this December with a major in interdisciplinary studies.
