The University of Memphis football team returned to campus yesterday after a top-25 finish to end the 2017 season. The Tigers added three new members to the team at the start of the 2018 spring semester: graduate transfer quarterback Brady White, junior college transfer wide receiver Antonio Gibson and freshman tight end Jared Edwards.
The current Memphis head coach, Mike Norvell, originally recruited White to Arizona State when he was the Sun Devils’ offensive coordinator. Norvell alluded to this in December, saying he was open to adding a graduate transfer to boost competition to replace Riley Ferguson.
White completed his undergraduate degree at Arizona State in three years and decided to extend his college career by joining Memphis as a graduate transfer. The Newhall, California native played for Hart High School and was the fourth-ranked Pro-style quarterback and the 68th- ranked player in the country, according the 247Sports rankings. White passed for over 10,000 yards with 101 touchdown passes and 19 rushing touchdowns. His senior year, he threw for 3,725 yards and recorded 45 touchdowns in 12 games. White served as the starting quarterback for the West squad in the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Bowl and signed to Arizona State as a four-star recruit.
White elected to redshirt his freshman year at Arizona State and did not see playing time until 2016. White appeared in three games in 2016, completing 25-of-49 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. He made his first collegiate start against UCLA in 2016, passing for 179 yards and one touchdown before picking up an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the 2016 season.
Gibson signed with Memphis during the early signing period before graduating from East Central Community College. He was a MACJC first-team honoree at ECCC, posting 21 catches for 308 yards and four touchdowns in 2017. In prep school, Gibson accumulated 1,545 all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns.
Edwards was a part of Memphis’ 2017 signing class and spent time with the team this fall before joining the team in January. The 6-foot-4 Rhea County High School graduate was mainly used as a blocking tight end in high school. He recorded 23 catches for 416 yards and five touchdowns over the course of his high school career. He helped his Golden Eagles team to three district titles, three TSSAA playoff berths and an overall record of 32-8.
Memphis head coach, Mike Norvell stands with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl trophy. This is the first time in program history the Tigers received a bid to the bowl.
