University of Memphis Athletics
NOTES: Memphis Faces Hawai’i in 2021 EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl
Dec 20, 2021 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis Tigers will face Hawai'i in the 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl on Friday, Dec. 24. The game is scheduled for an 7:00 p.m. CT kick and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. The contest can also be heard on the radio on 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS.
SETTING THE SCENE
• Memphis' appearance in the 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl will mark the eighth-straight season that the Tigers have made a bowl game.
• The eight-straight bowl game streak is the 12th-best in the nation and is the best among all non-Power 5 programs.
• The Tigers ended the regular season with a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium to become bowl eligible.
• True freshman quarterback Seth Henigan was outstanding once again, completing 27-of-42 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns, while linebacker JJ Russell had a game-high 10 tackles for Memphis and defensive back Quindell Johnson had nine stops, an interception and a pass breakup.
SCOUTING HAWAI'I
• Hawai'i ended the regular season with an overall record of 6-7 and a mark of 3-5 in Mountain West play. After starting the season 1-3, the Rainbow Warriors went 5-4 in the team's final nine games to become bowl eligible, including two-straight wins in the last two weeks.
• The most impressive win for Hawai'i this season came on Homecoming to Fresno State, 27-24, on Oct. 2. The Bulldogs earned a berth to the New Mexico Bowl to face UTEP.
• Hawai'i demolished Wyoming in the final game of the season, 38-14, in Laramie. The Cowboys earned a bid to the 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
• Nine student-athletes from Hawai'i were named to All-Mountain West teams following the season. Linebacker Darius Muasau and defensive back Khoury Bethley were named to the first team while wide receiver Calvin Turner, Jr., and cornerback Cortez Davis were picked to the second team. Offensive linemen Kohl Levao, Ilm Manning, and Micah Vanterpool, wide receiver Nick Mardner and defensive lineman Jonah Laulu were named honorable mention.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• The 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl will be the first meeting between Memphis and Hawai'i.
• The EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl will mark the ninth time in program history that the Tigers faced a program for the first time in a bowl game.
• The EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl will mark the second bowl game Memphis has faced a current Mountain West opponent. The Tigers beat San Jose State, 28-9, in the 1971 Pasdena Bowl on Dec. 18, 1971.
• All-time against teams currently in the Mountain West, Memphis is 6-4.
EIGHT-STRAIGHT BOWLS
• Memphis' appearance in the 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl will mark the eighth-straight season that the Tigers have made a bowl game.
• The eight-straight bowl game streak is the 12th-best in the nation and is the best among all non-Power 5 programs.
BOWL HISTORY
• The 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl will be the 15th bowl game in Memphis Football history.
• Overall, the Tigers are 6-8 in bowl games.
• The 25-10 victory over FAU in the 2020 Montgomery Bowl under head coach Ryan Silverfield marked Memphis' first win in a bowl game since a 55-48 win over BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl in 2014.
• Memphis is looking to win bowl games in back-to-back season for the first time in program history.
ONE OF THE ELITE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION
• Memphis has posted 71 victories since 2014, giving the Tigers the 10th-most wins in the nation during that stretch along with Oklahoma State and San Diego State.
• The 71 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that stretch.
• The Tigers also rank 15th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 71-32 (.689) mark.
SIX TIGERS EARN ALL-AAC HONORS
• Six Tigers earned All-AAC honors following the completion of the regular season.
• Wide receiver Calvin Austin III was unanimously chosen by the AAC coaches to the first team, one of just three players to be unanimously selected.
• Joining Austin III on the All-AAC First Team are tight end Sean Dykes, offensive lineman Dylan Parham and linebacker JJ Russell.
• The four first-team honorees are the most for Memphis since the program had six in 2017.
• Earning second-team all-conference accolades for the Tigers are defensive lineman John Tate IV and defensive back Quindell Johnson.
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE
• Including the EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl, the Tigers will have faced eight teams who earned bowl bids this season.
• Memphis is 2-5 in those contests this year, with victories over Mississippi State and SMU. The Tigers' losses have come against UTSA, Tulsa, UCF, East Carolina and Houston.
DYNAMIC DYKES
• Fifth-year Sean Dykes is making his case as one of the best tight ends in the country this season, earning All-AAC first team honors.
• Dykes led all AAC tight ends with 48 receptions, 657 yards and seven touchdowns.
• Dykes is the most prolific tight end in program history with his 1,826 receiving yards.
• Prior to this season, he was named to the Mackey Award Watch List and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List.
• In 2020, Dykes earned Honorable-Mention All-American Athletic Conference honors after reeling in 47 receptions for 581 yards and seven touchdowns.
• He averaged 12.4 yards per catch and totaled two games with over 100 yards receiving, including a standout performance in the victory over USF, going for 147 yards and two scores on seven catches.
ELITE LINEMAN
• Offensive lineman Dylan Parham established himself as one of the best offensive linemen not only in the AAC, but in the nation in 2021, earning All-AAC first-team accolades.
• He started all 12 games for the Tigers at right guard, not allowing a single sack in 545 pass protection snaps.
• In total, Parham only allowed two quarterback hits on the year.
RUSSELL TACKLES IT ALL
• Linebacker JJ Russell ranks fourth in the NCAA in solo tackles (6.5) and ninth in total tackles (10.2).
• Russell led the AAC with 123 total tackles, 78 solo tackles and 10.3 tackles per game to earn first-team all-conference honors.
• Russell also led the Tigers with eight quarterback hurries on the year to go with 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble.
• Russell is the first Memphis linebacker to earn first-team honors since Genard Avery in 2017.
JOHNSON, TATE IV EARN SECOND-TEAM ALL-AAC HONORS
• Defensive back Quindell Johnson and defensive lineman John Tate IV both earned Second-Team All-AAC honors this season for the Tigers.
• Johnson was named second-team All-AAC for the second-straight season after ranking second in the conference in total tackles (104) and solo tackles (66). He also ranked third in the league in tackles per game (8.7) and sixth in pass breakups (11).
• On the season, Tate IV totaled 36 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.
NON-SATURDAY SUCCESS
• Since the start of 2014, Memphis is 22-5 (.815) in non-Saturday games.
• Memphis is 14-3 (.824) in games on Friday since 2014.
• The Tigers are 6-0 in Thursday night games and 10-0 at the Liberty Bowl in non-Saturday games.
TRUE FRESHMAN HENIGAN CONTINUES TO SHINE
• True freshman Seth Henigan has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation this season.
• Henigan ranks 10th in the NCAA in passing yards per game (302.0), 13th in total offense (315.4), 14th in passing yards per completion (14.14), 16th in passing yards (3,322) and 18th in passing touchdowns (25).
• Henigan is the highest-ranked true freshman in each of the categories.
• With his 3,322 passing yards on the season, Henigan broke Paxton Lynch's program record of 2,056 passing yards as a freshman, set during Lynch's redshirt year in 2013.
• Henigan's 463 passing yards at Tulsa were the fourth-most passing yards in Memphis history.
• After his 22-of-33 for 417 yards and five touchdown performance at Arkansas State on Sept. 11, Henigan was named to the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 and to the midseason Davey O'Brien Award Watch List.
• Against Nicholls on Sept. 4, Henigan became the first true freshman QB to start a season opener in Memphis football history.
YOUTH IS SERVED
• Memphis has played a total of 27 redshirt or true freshmen this season. Of that total, 12 are true freshmen.
• Of the true freshmen who have played, quarterback Seth Henigan and defensive back Greg Rubin have each started 11 of 12 games.
IMPRESSIVE OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
• The Tigers have been lighting up the scoreboard this year, establishing the unit as one of the best in the AAC.
• The Tigers rank 17th in the NCAA in passing offense (298.8) and 37th in the nation in total offense (434.9).
TIGERS INK 15 ON EARLY SIGNING DAY
• The class includes 10 high school seniors, as well as five transfers. The group includes six offensive players and nine on the defensive side of the ball.
• "The Memphis Football program just got a lot better today," said head coach Ryan Silverfield. "We are excited about the addition of these great student-athletes. These young men will have bright futures on the football field, in the classroom and in our community. The future here is very bright".
• The 2021 early period signing class features three student-athletes from Tennessee, three from Alabama, two from Georgia and Mississippi and one each from Arkansas, California, Florida, Kansas and South Carolina.
• Among the signees are three defensive backs, three defensive linemen, three linebackers, three offensive linemen, one running back, one tight end and one quarterback.
TICKET CENTRAL
To cheer on the Tigers in Hawaii, purchase tickets by visiting GoTigersGo.com. Fans wanting to support the Tigers but cannot travel to the game are able to donate in lieu of purchasing tickets at the link mentioned. Please note that all bowl ticketing revenue is used to support Memphis Athletics.
All attendees (exception, children under the age of 5), must provide proof of full vaccination OR a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours (two-days) prior to entry. The negative COVID-19 test result must be from an FDA approved, or FDA EUA approved, molecular or antigen test (home kits not allowed). All attendees must download the LumiSight UH app where they will upload their vaccination card and complete the daily health check-in. Anyone entering the state of Hawai'i must adhere to the state's Safe Travels program. Click here for more information about Safe Travels Hawai'i.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Football, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
SETTING THE SCENE
• Memphis' appearance in the 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl will mark the eighth-straight season that the Tigers have made a bowl game.
• The eight-straight bowl game streak is the 12th-best in the nation and is the best among all non-Power 5 programs.
• The Tigers ended the regular season with a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium to become bowl eligible.
• True freshman quarterback Seth Henigan was outstanding once again, completing 27-of-42 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns, while linebacker JJ Russell had a game-high 10 tackles for Memphis and defensive back Quindell Johnson had nine stops, an interception and a pass breakup.
SCOUTING HAWAI'I
• Hawai'i ended the regular season with an overall record of 6-7 and a mark of 3-5 in Mountain West play. After starting the season 1-3, the Rainbow Warriors went 5-4 in the team's final nine games to become bowl eligible, including two-straight wins in the last two weeks.
• The most impressive win for Hawai'i this season came on Homecoming to Fresno State, 27-24, on Oct. 2. The Bulldogs earned a berth to the New Mexico Bowl to face UTEP.
• Hawai'i demolished Wyoming in the final game of the season, 38-14, in Laramie. The Cowboys earned a bid to the 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
• Nine student-athletes from Hawai'i were named to All-Mountain West teams following the season. Linebacker Darius Muasau and defensive back Khoury Bethley were named to the first team while wide receiver Calvin Turner, Jr., and cornerback Cortez Davis were picked to the second team. Offensive linemen Kohl Levao, Ilm Manning, and Micah Vanterpool, wide receiver Nick Mardner and defensive lineman Jonah Laulu were named honorable mention.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• The 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl will be the first meeting between Memphis and Hawai'i.
• The EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl will mark the ninth time in program history that the Tigers faced a program for the first time in a bowl game.
• The EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl will mark the second bowl game Memphis has faced a current Mountain West opponent. The Tigers beat San Jose State, 28-9, in the 1971 Pasdena Bowl on Dec. 18, 1971.
• All-time against teams currently in the Mountain West, Memphis is 6-4.
EIGHT-STRAIGHT BOWLS
• Memphis' appearance in the 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl will mark the eighth-straight season that the Tigers have made a bowl game.
• The eight-straight bowl game streak is the 12th-best in the nation and is the best among all non-Power 5 programs.
BOWL HISTORY
• The 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl will be the 15th bowl game in Memphis Football history.
• Overall, the Tigers are 6-8 in bowl games.
• The 25-10 victory over FAU in the 2020 Montgomery Bowl under head coach Ryan Silverfield marked Memphis' first win in a bowl game since a 55-48 win over BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl in 2014.
• Memphis is looking to win bowl games in back-to-back season for the first time in program history.
ONE OF THE ELITE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION
• Memphis has posted 71 victories since 2014, giving the Tigers the 10th-most wins in the nation during that stretch along with Oklahoma State and San Diego State.
• The 71 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that stretch.
• The Tigers also rank 15th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 71-32 (.689) mark.
SIX TIGERS EARN ALL-AAC HONORS
• Six Tigers earned All-AAC honors following the completion of the regular season.
• Wide receiver Calvin Austin III was unanimously chosen by the AAC coaches to the first team, one of just three players to be unanimously selected.
• Joining Austin III on the All-AAC First Team are tight end Sean Dykes, offensive lineman Dylan Parham and linebacker JJ Russell.
• The four first-team honorees are the most for Memphis since the program had six in 2017.
• Earning second-team all-conference accolades for the Tigers are defensive lineman John Tate IV and defensive back Quindell Johnson.
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE
• Including the EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl, the Tigers will have faced eight teams who earned bowl bids this season.
• Memphis is 2-5 in those contests this year, with victories over Mississippi State and SMU. The Tigers' losses have come against UTSA, Tulsa, UCF, East Carolina and Houston.
DYNAMIC DYKES
• Fifth-year Sean Dykes is making his case as one of the best tight ends in the country this season, earning All-AAC first team honors.
• Dykes led all AAC tight ends with 48 receptions, 657 yards and seven touchdowns.
• Dykes is the most prolific tight end in program history with his 1,826 receiving yards.
• Prior to this season, he was named to the Mackey Award Watch List and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List.
• In 2020, Dykes earned Honorable-Mention All-American Athletic Conference honors after reeling in 47 receptions for 581 yards and seven touchdowns.
• He averaged 12.4 yards per catch and totaled two games with over 100 yards receiving, including a standout performance in the victory over USF, going for 147 yards and two scores on seven catches.
ELITE LINEMAN
• Offensive lineman Dylan Parham established himself as one of the best offensive linemen not only in the AAC, but in the nation in 2021, earning All-AAC first-team accolades.
• He started all 12 games for the Tigers at right guard, not allowing a single sack in 545 pass protection snaps.
• In total, Parham only allowed two quarterback hits on the year.
RUSSELL TACKLES IT ALL
• Linebacker JJ Russell ranks fourth in the NCAA in solo tackles (6.5) and ninth in total tackles (10.2).
• Russell led the AAC with 123 total tackles, 78 solo tackles and 10.3 tackles per game to earn first-team all-conference honors.
• Russell also led the Tigers with eight quarterback hurries on the year to go with 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble.
• Russell is the first Memphis linebacker to earn first-team honors since Genard Avery in 2017.
JOHNSON, TATE IV EARN SECOND-TEAM ALL-AAC HONORS
• Defensive back Quindell Johnson and defensive lineman John Tate IV both earned Second-Team All-AAC honors this season for the Tigers.
• Johnson was named second-team All-AAC for the second-straight season after ranking second in the conference in total tackles (104) and solo tackles (66). He also ranked third in the league in tackles per game (8.7) and sixth in pass breakups (11).
• On the season, Tate IV totaled 36 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.
NON-SATURDAY SUCCESS
• Since the start of 2014, Memphis is 22-5 (.815) in non-Saturday games.
• Memphis is 14-3 (.824) in games on Friday since 2014.
• The Tigers are 6-0 in Thursday night games and 10-0 at the Liberty Bowl in non-Saturday games.
TRUE FRESHMAN HENIGAN CONTINUES TO SHINE
• True freshman Seth Henigan has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation this season.
• Henigan ranks 10th in the NCAA in passing yards per game (302.0), 13th in total offense (315.4), 14th in passing yards per completion (14.14), 16th in passing yards (3,322) and 18th in passing touchdowns (25).
• Henigan is the highest-ranked true freshman in each of the categories.
• With his 3,322 passing yards on the season, Henigan broke Paxton Lynch's program record of 2,056 passing yards as a freshman, set during Lynch's redshirt year in 2013.
• Henigan's 463 passing yards at Tulsa were the fourth-most passing yards in Memphis history.
• After his 22-of-33 for 417 yards and five touchdown performance at Arkansas State on Sept. 11, Henigan was named to the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 and to the midseason Davey O'Brien Award Watch List.
• Against Nicholls on Sept. 4, Henigan became the first true freshman QB to start a season opener in Memphis football history.
YOUTH IS SERVED
• Memphis has played a total of 27 redshirt or true freshmen this season. Of that total, 12 are true freshmen.
• Of the true freshmen who have played, quarterback Seth Henigan and defensive back Greg Rubin have each started 11 of 12 games.
IMPRESSIVE OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
• The Tigers have been lighting up the scoreboard this year, establishing the unit as one of the best in the AAC.
• The Tigers rank 17th in the NCAA in passing offense (298.8) and 37th in the nation in total offense (434.9).
TIGERS INK 15 ON EARLY SIGNING DAY
• The class includes 10 high school seniors, as well as five transfers. The group includes six offensive players and nine on the defensive side of the ball.
• "The Memphis Football program just got a lot better today," said head coach Ryan Silverfield. "We are excited about the addition of these great student-athletes. These young men will have bright futures on the football field, in the classroom and in our community. The future here is very bright".
• The 2021 early period signing class features three student-athletes from Tennessee, three from Alabama, two from Georgia and Mississippi and one each from Arkansas, California, Florida, Kansas and South Carolina.
• Among the signees are three defensive backs, three defensive linemen, three linebackers, three offensive linemen, one running back, one tight end and one quarterback.
TICKET CENTRAL
To cheer on the Tigers in Hawaii, purchase tickets by visiting GoTigersGo.com. Fans wanting to support the Tigers but cannot travel to the game are able to donate in lieu of purchasing tickets at the link mentioned. Please note that all bowl ticketing revenue is used to support Memphis Athletics.
All attendees (exception, children under the age of 5), must provide proof of full vaccination OR a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours (two-days) prior to entry. The negative COVID-19 test result must be from an FDA approved, or FDA EUA approved, molecular or antigen test (home kits not allowed). All attendees must download the LumiSight UH app where they will upload their vaccination card and complete the daily health check-in. Anyone entering the state of Hawai'i must adhere to the state's Safe Travels program. Click here for more information about Safe Travels Hawai'i.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Football, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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