Thirty-Three Student-Athletes to Graduate Saturday

Dec 17, 2010 | General

Dec. 17, 2010

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - Over the course of two different commencement ceremonies on Saturday at FedExForum, 33 University of Memphis student-athletes will graduate. Graduates in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Communication and Fine Arts, and University College will graduate in 10 a.m. ceremonies, while graduates in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics, the College of Education, the Herff College of Engineering, the Lowenberg School of Nursing and the School of Public Health will participate in a 2 p.m. ceremony at FedExForum. Parking for the ceremonies will be in FedExForum Garage for a $5.00 charge per vehicle. Heavy traffic is expected, so please allow ample time to find parking.

Christine Bach, Volleyball -- Bach, who is Tiger volleyball's first and only three-year graduate, adds to her impressive resume, becoming the first player in the program's history to complete her master's degree in five years. Bach graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in international business and a minor in French in May, 2009. She will receive her MBA degree. Bach quickly placed herself as one of the top back row players to ever don the Blue and Gray. Bach played in every match in her four-year career at Memphis. A Four-Time C-USA Libero of the Week honoree, Bach holds the program's top two backrow performances. She set the program record for digs in a single match when picked up 35 digs in a 3-1 win at SMU (Nov. 2, 2007) and then reset the mark with a 37-dig outing versus IUPUI on August 5, 2008). Bach is just the fourth Tiger to record 30 or more digs in a single match. A four-time C-USA All-Academic selection, Bach ended her Tiger career ranked second all-time at Memphis with 1,791 digs and ninth with 1,173 assists. She joins Clare Dirksen, Amie Hamilton and Heather Watts as the only four players in U of M volleyball history to rank in the program's top-10 in both digs and assists. However, she is in a class of her own as the only Tiger to ever amass 1,700 digs and 1,100 assists in a career. Bach holds three of the top four single-season digs efforts in Memphis history. She ranks second, third and fourth on Memphis' single-season digs list after making 528 digs in 2008, 493 digs in 2010 and 489 in 2007. Bach also led C-USA with 47 aces in 2008. She is a three-time ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District IV honoree and was named a First Team performer in 2008 and 2010...Dresden, Germany/Royal HS (Wis.).

Marcus Ball, Football - Appeared in 19 games during his two years with the Tigers, making 12 starts...Came to the U of M after transferring from Florida State, with a stop in between at Pearl River (Miss.) Community College, where he was a first-team All-American...Made 108 tackles as a safety for the Tigers, including 53 solo stops...Earned the inaugural Jeremy Williams Award as Spring's Most Valuable Player at the 2010 Blue-Gray Game...As a senior, finished third on the squad with 66 total tackles despite missing two games...Also tied for the team lead with two interceptions during his senior season, both of which came against UAB on Nov. 20...Posted two multiple-interception games in his career; with the other coming against UTEP. Atlanta, Georgia/Stephenson HS/Florida State/Pearl River Community College.

Winston Bowens, Football - Appeared in 43 games, earning 29 starts for the Tigers...Tallied 187 total tackles in four years, including 73 solo stops...A utility player who worked both at linebacker and with the defensive line...Garnered 35 total tackles in 2010, mostly on special teams...Tied for third on the team in 2010 with two pass break-ups...Prior to 2010, started 22 of 24 games during the 2008-09 seasons...Third on the team with 58 tackles in 2009, following a fifth-place team finish with 55 in 2008...Logged a career-high 12 tackles against East Carolina in 2009. College Park, Georgia/North Clayton High School.

Philip Breeding, Men's Golf - Hailing from Morristown, Tenn., Breeeding was a two-year letterman for the Tiger golf team under head coach Grant Robbins. Breeding, who took a redshirt during his freshman season, competed in six total events for Tigers, including three during the 2009-10 campaign with his career-low finish of 33rd came at the 2008 Memphis Intercollegiate. Breeding finished with a 78.3 scoring average in three seasons of action and will graduate with a degree in sport and leisure science with a minor in management....Morristown, Tenn./Morristown Hamblen West HS.

Brandon Bunn, Men's Golf -- A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Bunn traveled cross-state to play his collegiate golf for the Tigers under head coach Grant Robbins. Bunn, who appeared in 32 total tournaments during his four seasons donning the blue and gray, exits with a 74.8 scoring average and a posted six career top-20 performances. His low individual finish came at the 2007 Memphis Intercollegiate, where he turned in scores of 71-73 to lead Memphis to a team finish of third in the rain-shortened event...Graduating with a degree in marketing management...Knoxville, Tenn./Farragut High School.

Brittany Carter, Women's Basketball - A first-team All-Conference USA honoree, Carter was also the C-USA Newcomer of the Year after leading the league in scoring with 19.2 ppg...Carter ranked 19th in the country in scoring and set a Memphis single game scoring record with a 49 point game against Sacramento State in the University of Washington tournament...In 43 career games so far at Memphis with one more season of eligibility left, Carter has 783 career points heading in to a Friday night game at Saint Louis University...Carter will graduate with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in criminal justice...She will remain at Memphis and will either enter graduate school or work on a second bachelor's degree while completing her college eligibility this season and next....Covington, Ga./Newton County HS/University of Georgia.

Robert Douglas, Football -- A four-year letterwinner for the Tigers who played linebacker in 2001, 2002 and part of 2003...Made the move to fullback in the third game of the 2003 season...Played in 48 career games, starting in nine contests...Had a very productive senior campaign and was presented the Top Tiger Award at the 2004 team banquet...Rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in 2004...also caught seven passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns as a senior...Was listed on the rosters with the NFL's Houston Texans (2006) and New York Giants (2006 & 2007). St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran North HS

Stefan Erdedi, Men's Golf - A native of Helsingborg, Sweden, Erdedi was a two-year letterman for the golf team under head coach Grant Robbins. Erdedi earned letters each of his first two seasons donning the blue and gray, competing in seven tournaments. He competed in two tournaments as an individual during the 2009-10 campaign. Erdedi finished his career at Memphis with a 77.5 scoring average, a low round of 70, and two top-20 finishes....Erdedi is graduating with a degree in Management Information Systems...Helsingborg, Sweden.

D.A. Griffin, Football - Has played in 33 games for the Tigers, including 29 starts....Has 140 total tackles, including 81 solos in three years with the Tigers...Ranks second in school history in career kickoff returns with 59 and fourth in return yards with 1,162... Although only returning kicks in seven of 12 games, his 39 kickoff returns and his 748 return yards in 2010 ranks second in the school's season record books...Posted five 100-yard kickoff return games (Southern Miss-128, Houston-145, Marshall-100, UAB-118, UCF-100)....Led the team with six pass breakups and passes defended in '10...Ranked second on the team with 748 all purpose yards and averaged 62.3 yards per game (748 kr)...Was a 2008 honorable mention all-conference player, playing in all 13 games with 11 starts....Opened 2009 as a pre-season All-C-USA kick returner, playing in eight of 12 games...Missed the final four games of 2009 due to injury...Finished second on the team in pass break-ups, punt return yards, punt returns and punt return average and fourth on the team in special teams tackles... Transferred to Memphis after playing for coach Jeff Terrill at Itawamba Community College...Had his second JC season cut short when he broke his sternum in the second game of the season... Named an honorable mention All-American and was an all-state honoree at ICC... Millbrook, Ala./Stanhope Elmore HS/Itawamba CC.

Brittany Hance, Women's Soccer - Saw action in 55 games as a defender for the Lady Tiger soccer program...Her career cut short by a career-ending injury, she served as student assistant coach in the 2010 season that saw the program claim a fourth-straight Conference USA Championship...An integral part of the 2009 C-USA Champions as she was voted the team's Defensive Player of the Year...Her play on defense helped the team post a single-season school record 12 shutouts in 2009...In 2008, she helped the Memphis defense limit opponents to 17 goals in 20 matches...Member of the winningest class in school history with 63 wins in a four-year span...Graduating with a degree in biology...O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West HS.

Zach Helton, Baseball - A three-year letterwinner on the baseball diamond, Zach Helton will graduate with a degree in criminology and criminal justice. Helton, who saw time primarily as a reserve in his Tigers career, played in 22 games. He made two starts and scored two runs in 2008. A first cousin of Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, Zach was a 37th-round draft pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft...Knoxville, Tenn./Central HS.

Tyler Huelsing, Baseball - The only player in Memphis baseball history to hit a walk-off home run in the final at-bat of his career, Tyler Huelsing quietly put together one of the strongest careers in Memphis Baseball history. The Munford, Tenn., native solidified himself as a fixture in the Tiger's outfield from 2007-10. Huelsing hit .345 in 38 games to help Memphis earn an NCAA Regional berth as a freshman. He hit .300 or better in three of his four seasons at Memphis, including hitting .343 with a team-best 67 RBI and 12 home runs in an award-winning senior campaign in 2010. Huelsing highlighted his career season with a three-home run outing in a 21-13 win over Marshall on April 3, 2010. A four-year letterman for skipper Daron Schoenrock, Huelsing' ranks in Memphis's single-season top-10 with 242 at-bats, 139 total bases, 83 hits and 67 RBI in 2010. He finished his career ranked in the top-10 all-time at Memphis in games played (197), hits (211), runs scored (132), doubles (41), RBI (134) and walks (101). ...Munford, Tenn./ Munford HS.

Jamon Hughes, Football - Made 15 starts in 24 appearances after transferring to the U of M from Mississippi State...Registered 147 of his 316 career tackles as a senior, leading Conference USA and finishing third in the nation with 12.25 tackles per contest...Finished tied for 14th in the nation in solo tackles with 5.83 per outing...Was the Tigers' lone All-Conference USA First Team selection in 2010, and the first defensive player so named since Clinton McDonald in 2008...Was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week following his career-high 21-tackle performance against Southern Miss on Oct. 16, 2010...The 21 tackles in a game tied Hughes for second-highest mark in a single game in U of M history, marking the first time in over a decade a Tiger made 20 or more tackles in a contest...Had five or more tackles for loss for the third year in a row...Was named the team's MVP and Defensive Player of the Year at the team banquet...Transferred to Memphis in 2008 after appearing in 22 games and making 82 tackles for the Bulldogs in two seasons. Rolling Fork, Mississippi/Humphreys County High School/Mississippi State.

Jessica Jackson, Women's Basketball - Jackson transferred to Memphis from the University of Florida and played in 39 career games with the Tigers after sitting out the fall semester of 2007-08...With 15 career starts, Jackson scored 179 career points, adding 47 blocked shots and 25 steals...She shot 35.1 percent from the field and 76.1 percent from the free-throw line and had 144 career rebounds...The daughter of Sharon and Larry Jackson, she is graduating with a degree in communications and sociology...Memphis, Tenn./Craigmont HS/Univ. of Florida.

Kindly Jacques, Football - Appeared in 19 games, making four starts, during his Memphis career...Worked a career-high 63 offensive plays in his first career start against Tennessee on Nov. 6...Started the last four games of his college career - against Tennessee, Marshall, UAB and UCF...Began his college career at College of the Sequoias in 2006. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Stranahan High School/College of the Sequoias.

Deante Lamar, Football -- Played in 44 games, making 22 starts during his career...Totaled 110 tackles during his career at Memphis...Started all 12 games at cornerback in `09...Finished second on the team in tackles (73) and led the team in pass breakups (7) and passes defended (8)...Second on the team in solo tackles (41)...Logged at least five tackles in 11 career games, including a career-best 10 stops versus Houston in 2009...Received one of the True Tiger Awards at the 2009 Blue-Gray Game. Atlanta, Ga./Lithonia HS.

Laura Laufenberg, Women's Soccer - Tied for the school record for the most games played in a career with 88...A four-time Conference USA Champion, she posted nine goals and 14 assists in five seasons...Her senior season cut short due to season-ending knee injury, she returned in 2010 and scored two goals and added three assists as a redshirt-senior...Named the 2008 C-USA Tournament Offensive MVP...Member of the winningest class in program history with 63 wins in a four-year span...Graduating with degrees in international business as well as marketing management...Littleton, Colo./Columbine HS.

Lester Lawson, Football - Played 36 games in three seasons with the Tigers, including six starts...Notched 50 career tackles, including 23 solo stops, as an outside linebacker/defensive lineman hybrid...Local product from Germantown High School...Posted a career-high seven tackles and one sack against Marshall on Nov. 13. Monroe, Louisiana/Germantown (TN) High School.

Jeremy Longstreet, Football - A contributor on both sides of the ball during his college days, beginning at outside linebacker and ending at running back...In all, saw action in 41 games, starting 13 of those contests...For three and a half years, Longstreet played outside linebacker, notching 102 total tackles, including 80 in 2008, which was second-highest on a Tiger team that went to the St. Petersburg Bowl...Closed out his career at running back in the latter part of 2010, earning 15 carries in the season's final four games. Olive Branch, Mississippi/Olive Branch High School

Adam (Seth) Major, Men's Track & Field -- An eight-time all-conference performer, Seth is another in a long line of throwers to find major success under the tutelage of coach Kevin Robinson. After coming to Memphis from Rend Lake Community College, where he earned All-American honors, Major became a two-time NCAA Regional qualifier in the discus, setting a personal-best at the 2008 C-USA Outdoor Championships with a 53.92m throw. In addition to his exploits in the discus, Major also netted all-conference honors in the shot put, weight throw and hammer throw. The Decatur, Illinois, native will graduate with a degree in criminal justice. Decatur, Ill./Meridian High School.

Stevie Mathews, Football - Former local walk-on who earned a scholarship during fall camp this year...Showed value on special teams and in practice...Appeared in six games throughout his career, including lining up at receiver against UCF in 2009. Memphis, Tennessee/Melrose High School.

Ashley Murdock, Women's Tennis -- A native of Memphis, Tenn., Murdock was an All-Conference USA selection in each of her three seasons at the University of Memphis. In her final season, Murdock went 17-12 in dual matches at the No. 1 spot for the Lady Tigers. Murdock was the No. 1 player for the Lady Tigers in all or parts of each of her three seasons at Memphis, compiling an overall record of 35-23 in dual matches as the top-seeded Lady Tiger. Murdock compiled 14 or more total victories in each of her three seasons at the U of M. In 2010, Murdock became a giant-killer for Lee Taylor Walker's squad, dispatching 20th-ranked Stephanie Roy (Arkansas), 56th-ranked Ragini Acharya (William and Mary), and 87th-ranked Stephanie Kent from Yale in singles action. Murdock spent her freshman season at Louisiana State University before transferring back to her hometown school, going 12-10 in singles for LSU. Murdock is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. Memphis, Tennessee/St. Agnes Academy/LSU.

Brad Paul, Football - Anchored the offensive line during his two-year stint in Memphis, playing and starting at center 21 times...Worked 596 of Memphis' 604 snaps this season...Logged action on every offensive snap in nine games this season...Came to Memphis via Blinn Junior College, where he snapped to current Utah quarterback Terrence Cain...During Paul's first year at Memphis, was part of an offensive unit that enabled Curtis Steele to rush for over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns...Named Memphis' Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2009...Entered the 2010 season on the Watch List for the Rimington Award, given annually to the nation's best center. Seabrook, Texas/Clear Lake High School/Blinn JC.

Torenzo Quinn, Football -- Appeared in 17 games, including five starts, during his time with the U of M...Made 31 career tackles, with 27 coming during his senior season...In his first start of 2010, against East Carolina, Quinn was a destructive force against one of the nation's top offenses, making a career-high six tackles and breaking up a pass...Came to Memphis from Mississippi Delta Community College, where he allowed only one touchdown pass as a cornerback in two seasons. Ruleville, Mississippi/Ruleville High School/Mississippi Delta CC.

Malcom Rawls, Football - Local talent who came back to Memphis to enroll at the U of M after redshirting the 2005 season at Tennessee...Sat out the 2006 season as a transfer...Played in 30 career games with the Tigers and saw action on over 800 offensive plays during that three-year span...Part of an offensive line that led C-USA in sack denial in 2007 and paved the way for the Tiger offense to rank 13 nationally in passing offense...Logged a career-best 62 offensive plays versus Ole Miss in 2008. Memphis, Tenn./East HS/Univ. of Tennessee.

Parker Rush, Men's Golf - A native Memphian and son of Tiger golf alumnus Tim Rush, Parker transferred to the U of M after spending two seasons at Faulkner State Community College. While at Faulkner state, he turned in three top-10 individual finishes and was an individual qualifier for the 2007 and 2008 Junior College National Championships. After arriving at Memphis, Rush competed in three events, posting a low round of 74 at the 2009 Memphis Intercollegiate. Graduating with a degree in sport and leisure management....Memphis, Tenn./Faulkner State CC.

Gregory Ray, Football - Made the most of his chances as a senior, rushing for 676 yards on 157 carries as a senior, finishing 10th in Conference USA with a 56.3 yards per game average...Scored two of three career rushing touchdowns against MTSU on Sept. 18, 2010, on a 25-carry, 121-yard workload...Rushed for a career-best 176 yards on 23 carries against Houston on Oct. 30, 2010...Was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year at the 2010 team banquet...Came to Memphis from El Camino Community College in Torrance, California, where he was teammates with fellow graduate Justin Thompson. Los Angeles, California/Westchester High School (El Camino CC)

Lance Smith, Football - Joined the Tigers after transferring from the University of Wisconsin...Played in eight of 12 games at running back and on special teams in 2009... Finished the season ranked third on the team in rushing attempts (46)...Ranked fourth on the team in rushing yards (149), kick returns (9) and kick return yards (183)... Made his Memphis debut in the season opener against Ole Miss and rushed for 63 yards on 10 carries...Was not able to participate in games in 2008 due to NCAA transfer guidelines, but was able to practice with the team...Was presented with one of the Top Newcomer Awards at the 2009 Blue-Gray Game. Warren, Ohio/Howland HS/Wisconsin.

Marvin Stewart, Men's Track & Field -- A two-year member of the Memphis track and field family, Stewart came to the U of M from Barton Community College, which he helped to the NJCAA Indoor National Championships in 2005. While a Tiger, Stewart competed in a variety of events, ranging from dashes to hurdles to a stint as the Tigers primary competitor in the heptathlon. During the 2010 outdoor season, Stewart set five personal bests, including a 3,707-point outburst in the heptathlon at the C-USA Championships. Stewart, who hails from Arlington, Texas, will graduate with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Arlington, Texas/Arlington High School.

Justin Thompson, Football -- Saw action in 10 games, making one start for the Tigers...was primed for a major contribution in 2010 but injury limited him to two games...made 21 career tackles for the blue-and-gray, including a career-best five solo stops at UCF, Oct. 3, 2009...high school and El Camino Community College teammate of fellow U of M graduate Gregory Ray. Inglewood, California/Westchester High School (El Camino CC).

Eric Trujillo, Men's Soccer - A former walk-on who earned a spot on head coach Richie Grant's squad, Eric Trujillo was the first walk-on to make a Richie Grant-coached squad at the U of M and has been an integral part of the Memphis squad since 2007. "Rudy", as he has been known to his teammates, will graduate from Memphis with a degree in Business Finance. Overall, the Southaven, Mississippi native appeared in 13 matches, starting two, and netting one career goal. Southaven, Miss./DeSoto Central High School.

Steven Turner, Football -- Was one of five true freshmen to see action in 2006...Made his first collegiate start on the defensive line in the Marshall game that season...Was a utility player who could work various positions on the line...Was named the Defensive MVP of the 2008 Blue-Gray Game...Led the team in fumble recoveries in 2008 with three...Received one of the Glenn Jones Awards at the 2009 Blue-Gray Game...Played in all 12 games with three starts at defensive tackle in `09...Was presented one of the team's Black and Blue Awards given at the end of the season for "toughness on the field"...Posted career highs of six tackles against both Jacksonville State (`07) and USF (`08). Brownsville, Tenn./Haywood HS

Latricia Williams, Women's Track & Field -- A competitor from 1994-96, Williams has returned to the U of M to finish her degree in interdisciplinary studies. While competing for the Lady Tigers, Williams was a four-time All-Conference performer, first in the Great Midwest Conference and then in Conference USA, in the hurdles. She was also part of the 1994 shuttle hurdle relay team (an event since discontinued) that held the school-record 1:04.51 mark. Phoenix, Ariz./Ridgeway High School.