Ryan Silverfield met with the media on Monday ahead of the Memphis football team’s biggest game of the year against Arkansas at home on Saturday after the Tigers improved to 3-0 over the weekend.
The Tigers are coming off a 28-7 victory at Troy, a game that Memphis dominated defensively after Troy’s starting quarterback Goose Crowder left the game due to injury, holding the Trojans to just 112 yards for the game. Now, the Tigers have made it to the game many had circled before the season undefeated and will battle the Razorbacks at home in front of a national audience on ABC.
“It’s going to be a tremendous opportunity on a national stage to continue to showcase who we are and what we’re all about,” said Silverfield.
This will be Memphis’ first home game against a Power Four opponent since defeating Mississippi State 31-29 in 2021. It is also the final Power Four home game Memphis has scheduled, as with conference realignment and the creation of super conferences, Power Four schools are now playing more conference games and are less incentivized to play a quality non-power opponent such as the Tigers.
Arkansas is coming off a heartbreaking 41-35 loss at No. 13 Ole Miss, a shootout where the Razorbacks allowed 353 passing yards to the Rebels backup quarterback. Despite the Razorbacks explosive offense, their defense has been vulnerable to the passing attack.
At the same time, Memphis is starting to see separation in its receiving room, with Cortez Branham Jr. and Jamari Hawkins asserting themselves as the top two options over the past two weeks. Against Troy, Branham had four receptions for 69 yards, while Hawkins had three receptions for 55 yards.
“Cortez was here probably about 10 days before our first game and has really bought into the way we do things. He’s bought into understanding this offense and its scheme,” said Silverfield, estimating that in a month of being here, Branham has nailed down 95% of the playbook
Hawkins, a four-year player at Memphis, “easily could have said ‘This isn’t going my way, I’m going to transfer. I’m going to go somewhere else,’” Silverfield said. “He’s having success by showing patience and really developing within the program.”
Defensively, Memphis is going to have their hands full, as Arkansas is averaging 570 yards per game, led by dual-threat quarterback Taylen Green who Silverfield described as a Heisman candidate and someone who has been putting up “video-game numbers.”
“He’s smart, he’s intelligent. You see teams that have tried to change up the defense on him, he’s been able to pick them apart with his arm or his legs,” said Silverfield.
Memphis will face Arkansas at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
