University of Memphis Athletics
NOTES: Memphis Faces Utah State in SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Dec 26, 2022 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of -Memphis football team will face Utah State in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 2:15 p.m. in Dallas, Texas. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Fans can purchase tickets for the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at GoTigersGo.com. By purchasing through Memphis, fans are guaranteed to be sitting with other Tiger fans and the tickets purchased help support the athletic department.
SETTING THE SCENE
• The bowl marks the ninth-straight year that the Tigers have been bowl eligible, which ranks ninth amongst all NCAA teams and is the best stretch of any non-Power 5 team.
• Memphis is 6-8 all-time in bowl games, with the 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl being canceled due to COVID issues in the Hawai'i program last year.
• Ryan Silverfield has led the program to bowl games in all three seasons as head coach and has been on staff for the past seven years, with Memphis earning bowl berths each season.
• The Tigers had six players earn All-American Athletic Conference accolades following the season, led by defensive back Quindell Johnson and kicker Chris Howard earning first-team honors.
• Tight end Caden Prieskorn and linebacker Xavier "Zay" Cullens earned second-team All-AAC accolades, while defensive lineman Jaylon Allen and defensive back Davion Ross were named Honorable-Mention All-AAC.
• The Tigers have forced at least one turnover in 14 of their last 17 games, piling up 31 takeaways over that span.
SCOUTING UTAH STATE
• Utah State comes in to the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl with an overall record of 6-6 on the season and a mark of 5-3 in Mountain West play.
• The Aggies defeated three bowl teams during the year - Air Force, San Jose State and UConn.
• Utah State has earned a bowl berth in five of the last six seasons and 10 out of the last 12 years.
• The Aggies had nine players earn All-MWC honors, led by first-team selection OL Alfred Edwards who was named First-Team.
• Utah State ranks 25th in passing yards allowed (198.4), 31st in tackles for loss (6.7), 43rd in passes intercepted (11).
• DB Ike Larson leads the nation with three blocked kicks and is 17th in nation with four interceptions.
• RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is 31st in the nation with 1,043 rushing yards.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl will mark the eighth all-time meeting between Memphis and Utah State. The Tigers hold a 4-3 advantage over the Aggies in the series.
• The teams first met on the field in 1965 and played seven times from then until the 1977 season.
• The two programs have never met in a bowl game before.
ONE OF THE ELITE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION
• Memphis has posted 77 victories since 2014, tying for 15th-most in the nation during that stretch.
• The 77 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that span.
• The Tigers also rank 19th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 77-38 (.670) mark.
BOWL STREAK
• The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl marks the ninth-straight year that the Tigers have been bowl eligible, which ranks ninth amongst all NCAA teams and is the best stretch of any non-Power 5 team.
• Memphis is 6-8 all-time in bowl games, with the 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl being canceled due to COVID issues in the Hawai'i program last year.
• Ryan Silverfield has led the program to bowl games in all three seasons as head coach and has been on staff for the past seven years, with Memphis earning bowl berths each season.
JOHNSON, HOWARD HEADLINE ALL-AAC HONOREES
• The Tigers had six players earn All-American Athletic Conference accolades following the season, led by defensive back Quindell Johnson and kicker Chris Howard earning first-team honors.
• Tight end Caden Prieskorn and linebacker Xavier "Zay" Cullens earned second-team All-AAC accolades, while defensive lineman Jaylon Allen and defensive back Davion Ross were named Honorable-Mention All-AAC.
• Memphis has had 17 student-athletes earn All-AAC honors under head coach Ryan Silverfield.
SILVERFIELD SECURES ANOTHER TOP-5 RECRUITING CLASS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
• For the third-straight year, head coach Ryan Silverfield has recruited one of the top-5 classes in program
history.
• The 2023 class, which includes 22 student-athletes, is ranked No. 61 by Rivals, making it the fifth-best
class in program history. It ranks as the second-best class among Group of Five programs.
• The 2022 class was the best class in program history (No. 47), while the 2021 class is the second-best
in school history (No. 49).
• Both classes were ranked No. 2 in the AAC those seasons behind only Cincinnati.
• Prior to Silverfield, Memphis has never had a top-50 recruiting class in Rivals rankings.
DISCIPLINED TEAM
• Memphis is ranked fifth in the nation in both total penalties (48) and in fewest penalties per game (4.00).
• The team is also ranked ninth in the country in both fewest penalty yards (424) and fewest penalty yards per game (35.33).
• The Tigers did not have any penalties at No. 25/25 Tulane on Oct. 22, marking the first time since 2020 against Houston the team accomplished that feat.
FORCING TURNOVERS
• Dating back to the 2021 season, Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 14 of the last 17 games.
• Over that stretch, the Tigers have totaled 21 interceptions and 10 fumbles.
• Memphis has forced multiple turnovers in 10 of the last 17 contests.
DEFENSE SHINES IN SHUTOUT WIN OVER NORTH ALABAMA
• The 59-0 shutout win over North Alabama on Nov. 19 was the first for Memphis since 2015 against SMU (63-0) and was the largest margin of victory (59) since the Tigers beat Bowling Green 77-13 in 2016 (64).
• The Tiger defense did not allow the Lions to cross midfield for the entire game. The furthest UNA moved the ball was to its own 44-yard line.
• The Memphis defense allowed just 24 yards passing – the fewest since allowing 20 against Navy in 2017.
HENIGAN IN THE RECORD BOOKS
• In just 23 career games, quarterback Seth Henigan has moved into the Memphis record books.
• The sophomore ranks fifth all-time at Memphis in attempts (809), completions (500), yards (6,597) and touchdown passes (44). Additionally, Henigan's numbers for attempts (416), completions (275) and passing yards (3,275) rank ninth, fourth and seventh, respectively, for a single season at Memphis.
RUSHERS SHOW OUT AGAINST NORTH ALABMA
• The Tigers rushed for a season-high 246 yards in a 59-0 win over North Alabama on Nov. 19.
• Memphis ran for five scores on the day, with both Asa Martin and Jevyon Ducker rushing for two and true freshman Sutton Smith getting the fifth.
• Running back An'Darius Coffey had his best game as a Tiger, rushing for a game-high 83 yards on 14 carries. Smith ended the contest with a career-high 55 yards to go with his score, while Ducker racked up 54 yards on 10 carries.
SPREADING THE BALL AROUND
• A total of 14 players have at least one catch this season for the Tigers.
• Seven players have at least one touchdown reception and nine players have at least 11 receptions.
• Memphis has had three games this year that at least 10 players had at least one reception - Temple (11), No. 25/25 East Carolina (10) and Tulane (10).
TIGER PLAYERS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
• Tight end Caden Prieskorn is tied for seventh in the nation amongst all tight ends with six receiving touchdowns.
• Linebacker Xavier "Zay" Cullens ranks second in the country with his four fumble recoveries.
• Defensive back Quindell Johnson ranks 17th in the NCAA in interceptions with four.
• Kicker Chris Howard ranks ninth in the country in field goals per game (1.67), 22nd in field goal percentage (.870), and 17th in total points scored (105).
• Punter Joe Doyle ranks fifth in the NCAA in punting (46.7) and is tied for the AAC lead.
MEMPHIS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
• Entering bowl season, the Tigers rank in the top-25 nationally in 11 statistical categories.
• Memphis ranks fifth in fewest penalties (48) and fewest penalties per game (4.0), ninth in fewest penalty yards (424) and fewest penalty yards per game (35.33), tenth in defensive touchdowns (3), 12th in kickoff-return average (23.11), 20th in passes intercepted (13) and 22nd in scoring offense (35.1) and passing yards per game (278.8).
• The Tigers, along with most of the country, are tied for first in blocked kicks allowed (0) and blocked punts allowed (0).
• Memphis leads the AAC in kickoff-return average (23.11) and passes intercepted (13). Additionally, the Tigers rank second in the AAC in defensive touchdowns (3) and turnovers gained (19).
TOUGH SCHEDULE
• Four of the Tigers' losses this season came to teams that were either ranked at the time or were ranked during the season.
• Houston (as high as No. 24/25), Mississippi State (No. 22 currently), Tulane (currently No. 16 currently) and UCF (as high as No. 17/18) were those teams.
• Four of Memphis' six losses on the year also came by seven points or less this season.
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.
Fans can purchase tickets for the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at GoTigersGo.com. By purchasing through Memphis, fans are guaranteed to be sitting with other Tiger fans and the tickets purchased help support the athletic department.
SETTING THE SCENE
• The bowl marks the ninth-straight year that the Tigers have been bowl eligible, which ranks ninth amongst all NCAA teams and is the best stretch of any non-Power 5 team.
• Memphis is 6-8 all-time in bowl games, with the 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl being canceled due to COVID issues in the Hawai'i program last year.
• Ryan Silverfield has led the program to bowl games in all three seasons as head coach and has been on staff for the past seven years, with Memphis earning bowl berths each season.
• The Tigers had six players earn All-American Athletic Conference accolades following the season, led by defensive back Quindell Johnson and kicker Chris Howard earning first-team honors.
• Tight end Caden Prieskorn and linebacker Xavier "Zay" Cullens earned second-team All-AAC accolades, while defensive lineman Jaylon Allen and defensive back Davion Ross were named Honorable-Mention All-AAC.
• The Tigers have forced at least one turnover in 14 of their last 17 games, piling up 31 takeaways over that span.
SCOUTING UTAH STATE
• Utah State comes in to the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl with an overall record of 6-6 on the season and a mark of 5-3 in Mountain West play.
• The Aggies defeated three bowl teams during the year - Air Force, San Jose State and UConn.
• Utah State has earned a bowl berth in five of the last six seasons and 10 out of the last 12 years.
• The Aggies had nine players earn All-MWC honors, led by first-team selection OL Alfred Edwards who was named First-Team.
• Utah State ranks 25th in passing yards allowed (198.4), 31st in tackles for loss (6.7), 43rd in passes intercepted (11).
• DB Ike Larson leads the nation with three blocked kicks and is 17th in nation with four interceptions.
• RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is 31st in the nation with 1,043 rushing yards.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl will mark the eighth all-time meeting between Memphis and Utah State. The Tigers hold a 4-3 advantage over the Aggies in the series.
• The teams first met on the field in 1965 and played seven times from then until the 1977 season.
• The two programs have never met in a bowl game before.
ONE OF THE ELITE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION
• Memphis has posted 77 victories since 2014, tying for 15th-most in the nation during that stretch.
• The 77 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that span.
• The Tigers also rank 19th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 77-38 (.670) mark.
BOWL STREAK
• The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl marks the ninth-straight year that the Tigers have been bowl eligible, which ranks ninth amongst all NCAA teams and is the best stretch of any non-Power 5 team.
• Memphis is 6-8 all-time in bowl games, with the 2021 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl being canceled due to COVID issues in the Hawai'i program last year.
• Ryan Silverfield has led the program to bowl games in all three seasons as head coach and has been on staff for the past seven years, with Memphis earning bowl berths each season.
JOHNSON, HOWARD HEADLINE ALL-AAC HONOREES
• The Tigers had six players earn All-American Athletic Conference accolades following the season, led by defensive back Quindell Johnson and kicker Chris Howard earning first-team honors.
• Tight end Caden Prieskorn and linebacker Xavier "Zay" Cullens earned second-team All-AAC accolades, while defensive lineman Jaylon Allen and defensive back Davion Ross were named Honorable-Mention All-AAC.
• Memphis has had 17 student-athletes earn All-AAC honors under head coach Ryan Silverfield.
SILVERFIELD SECURES ANOTHER TOP-5 RECRUITING CLASS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
• For the third-straight year, head coach Ryan Silverfield has recruited one of the top-5 classes in program
history.
• The 2023 class, which includes 22 student-athletes, is ranked No. 61 by Rivals, making it the fifth-best
class in program history. It ranks as the second-best class among Group of Five programs.
• The 2022 class was the best class in program history (No. 47), while the 2021 class is the second-best
in school history (No. 49).
• Both classes were ranked No. 2 in the AAC those seasons behind only Cincinnati.
• Prior to Silverfield, Memphis has never had a top-50 recruiting class in Rivals rankings.
DISCIPLINED TEAM
• Memphis is ranked fifth in the nation in both total penalties (48) and in fewest penalties per game (4.00).
• The team is also ranked ninth in the country in both fewest penalty yards (424) and fewest penalty yards per game (35.33).
• The Tigers did not have any penalties at No. 25/25 Tulane on Oct. 22, marking the first time since 2020 against Houston the team accomplished that feat.
FORCING TURNOVERS
• Dating back to the 2021 season, Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 14 of the last 17 games.
• Over that stretch, the Tigers have totaled 21 interceptions and 10 fumbles.
• Memphis has forced multiple turnovers in 10 of the last 17 contests.
DEFENSE SHINES IN SHUTOUT WIN OVER NORTH ALABAMA
• The 59-0 shutout win over North Alabama on Nov. 19 was the first for Memphis since 2015 against SMU (63-0) and was the largest margin of victory (59) since the Tigers beat Bowling Green 77-13 in 2016 (64).
• The Tiger defense did not allow the Lions to cross midfield for the entire game. The furthest UNA moved the ball was to its own 44-yard line.
• The Memphis defense allowed just 24 yards passing – the fewest since allowing 20 against Navy in 2017.
HENIGAN IN THE RECORD BOOKS
• In just 23 career games, quarterback Seth Henigan has moved into the Memphis record books.
• The sophomore ranks fifth all-time at Memphis in attempts (809), completions (500), yards (6,597) and touchdown passes (44). Additionally, Henigan's numbers for attempts (416), completions (275) and passing yards (3,275) rank ninth, fourth and seventh, respectively, for a single season at Memphis.
RUSHERS SHOW OUT AGAINST NORTH ALABMA
• The Tigers rushed for a season-high 246 yards in a 59-0 win over North Alabama on Nov. 19.
• Memphis ran for five scores on the day, with both Asa Martin and Jevyon Ducker rushing for two and true freshman Sutton Smith getting the fifth.
• Running back An'Darius Coffey had his best game as a Tiger, rushing for a game-high 83 yards on 14 carries. Smith ended the contest with a career-high 55 yards to go with his score, while Ducker racked up 54 yards on 10 carries.
SPREADING THE BALL AROUND
• A total of 14 players have at least one catch this season for the Tigers.
• Seven players have at least one touchdown reception and nine players have at least 11 receptions.
• Memphis has had three games this year that at least 10 players had at least one reception - Temple (11), No. 25/25 East Carolina (10) and Tulane (10).
TIGER PLAYERS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
• Tight end Caden Prieskorn is tied for seventh in the nation amongst all tight ends with six receiving touchdowns.
• Linebacker Xavier "Zay" Cullens ranks second in the country with his four fumble recoveries.
• Defensive back Quindell Johnson ranks 17th in the NCAA in interceptions with four.
• Kicker Chris Howard ranks ninth in the country in field goals per game (1.67), 22nd in field goal percentage (.870), and 17th in total points scored (105).
• Punter Joe Doyle ranks fifth in the NCAA in punting (46.7) and is tied for the AAC lead.
MEMPHIS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
• Entering bowl season, the Tigers rank in the top-25 nationally in 11 statistical categories.
• Memphis ranks fifth in fewest penalties (48) and fewest penalties per game (4.0), ninth in fewest penalty yards (424) and fewest penalty yards per game (35.33), tenth in defensive touchdowns (3), 12th in kickoff-return average (23.11), 20th in passes intercepted (13) and 22nd in scoring offense (35.1) and passing yards per game (278.8).
• The Tigers, along with most of the country, are tied for first in blocked kicks allowed (0) and blocked punts allowed (0).
• Memphis leads the AAC in kickoff-return average (23.11) and passes intercepted (13). Additionally, the Tigers rank second in the AAC in defensive touchdowns (3) and turnovers gained (19).
TOUGH SCHEDULE
• Four of the Tigers' losses this season came to teams that were either ranked at the time or were ranked during the season.
• Houston (as high as No. 24/25), Mississippi State (No. 22 currently), Tulane (currently No. 16 currently) and UCF (as high as No. 17/18) were those teams.
• Four of Memphis' six losses on the year also came by seven points or less this season.
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
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
K
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballFootball: Jordon Hankins Press Conference-October 22, 2025
Wednesday, October 22
Football: Tim Cramsey Press Conference - October 21, 2025
Tuesday, October 21
Football: Ryan Silverfield Press Conference-October 20, 2025
Monday, October 20
Football: Greg Desrosiers Jr. Press Conference - October 18, 2025
Sunday, October 19