Memphis has its next football coach.
On Dec. 6, sources confirmed to The Commercial Appeal that the Tigers will hire Southern Miss’ Charles Huff to replace Ryan Silverfield. Huff will take over a program designed to compete at the top level of the American League and will be a serious contender for the conference title next season.
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Huff is 7-5 for the Golden Eagles this season. This is his first season with the program since leaving Marshall, where he has been since 2021. The Thunder won the Sun Belt Conference championship in 2024. Huff brought a lot of players and staff from Marshall to Southern Mississippi, and you could imagine he’ll do the same when he gets to Memphis.
With that, let’s take a look at who he’s targeting — and who he hopes to keep on Memphis’ current roster.
Which Southern Miss all-conference players are still eligible
Southern Mississippi had three players named first-team All-Sun Belt: defensive lineman J’Mond Tapp, linebacker Chris Jones and linebacker Josh Moten. Tapp and Jones are both still eligible. Jones ranks seventh nationally in tackles (first in the Sun Belt).
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Linebacker Michael Montgomery and defensive back Ian Foster were both named to the third team and remain eligible.
Southern Miss also signed nine players during the early signing period, Dec. 3-5. The highest-ranked signee is 6-foot-1, 180-pound Chauncey Davis from Suwanee, Georgia. He will be the highest-ranked player in Memphis’ signing day class. Despite not having a full-time coach, the Tigers signed 18 players.
Which players Charles Huff might want to keep
Just as Memphis fans may be looking at the Southern Miss roster for potential reinforcements, Arkansas fans are looking at Memphis’ roster to see if any Tigers players will join the Silverfield team in Fayetteville. Most players have been waiting to see who their next coach will be before making a transfer decision, and in any case, the portal won’t open until January 2.
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Of Memphis’ all-league players, running back Sutton Smith and kicker Gianni Spectik are the only ones still eligible. Smith will be a priority because he’s shown flashes of star potential during his time in Memphis but hasn’t quite reached the volume of touches that makes him a full target. He still has one year of eligibility left.
Other Memphis players interested in transferring include left guard Malachi Breland, safety Kamari Wilson, linebacker Everett Russo Jr. and safety Chris Bracey.
Memphis will have a new starting quarterback in 2026 as Brendon Lewis is no longer eligible. Redshirt freshman Arlington Maiden has announced plans to enter the transfer portal, but he also said he will meet with the new coaching staff first. All eyes will be on freshman AJ Hill, the highest-ranked quarterback ever in Memphis’ 2025 signing class. Hill played in just one game this season, replacing Lewis against UAB and nearly led the Tigers to a comeback victory.
Hill’s decision will be closely watched, but Memphis will likely have to move into quarterback depth regardless. Notably, 2025 Southern Mississippi starter Braylon Braxton, who also played with Huff at Marshall, is also ineligible.
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Contact sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared in Memphis Business Appeal: Who Charles Huff might want to bring from Mississippi South to stay in Memphis