University of Memphis Athletics
Tigers Ink New Faces to 2026 Recruiting Class
Dec 03, 2025 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis football program has announced the signing of the following student-athletes to the Tigers' 2026 recruiting class.
*This is a live release and will be updated throughout the week*
EARLY SIGNEES
Gavin Owens
QB | 6-5 | 200
Greenville, S.C. | Rabun Gap-Nacoochee HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 76 quarterback in the country by ESPN…Has thrown over 12,000 yards in his career to go along with 109 touchdown passes…Chose Memphis over Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Arkansas State, Charlotte, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and Boston College.
Garrett Essner
TE | 6-6 | 245
Columbia, Mo. | Rock Bridge HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 28 tight end in the country and No. 20 best player in the state of Missouri by ESPN… Tallied 64 catches and nine receiving touchdowns during his time at Rock Bridge…Named an All-Conference Tight End…Chose Memphis over South Florida, UNLV, Middle Tennessee, Kent State and Miami (OH).
Jaylin Taylor
WR | 5-11 | 180
Oxford, Ala. | Oxford HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 44 best player in Alabama by 247sports…Caught 163 passes for 2,578 yards and 26 touchdowns…Finished his prep career with 3,336 all-purpose yards…Chose Memphis over Cincinnati, Liberty, Marshall, Troy, Western Kentucky, Miami (OH), South Alabama, Jacksonville State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Marshall and Southern Mississippi.
Marshall Smith Jr.
DL | 6-3 | 240
Collierville, Tenn. | Collierville HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 33 player in Tennessee by ESPN… Recorded 72 tackles – 16 for loss – with five sacks and seven quarterback hurries at Collierville…Named an AutoZone Liberty Bowl All-Star…Chose Memphis over Mississippi State, UNLV, Middle Tennessee, Florida Atlantic, Southern Mississippi, Western Michigan and Georgia State.
Eddie Alford
OL | 6-4 | 305
Douglasville, Ga. | Douglas County HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Named First Team All-Conference Offense Region 2-6A…Chose Memphis over Duke, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern and Georgia State.
Desmond Cox
LB | 6-0 | 210
Red Oak, Texas | Red Oak HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Recorded 190 tackles with 17 tackles for loss while adding in four sacks and four interceptions at Red Oak…Chose Memphis over North Texas, Texas State, Tulsa, UTEP, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico, San Diego State and New Mexico State.
Trey Moody
DB | 6-2 | 180
Birmingham, Ala. | Parker HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 42 player in Alabama and No. 96 cornerback by ESPN…Registered over 30 tackles while picking off four passes – one returned for a touchdown – with six pass breakups, one forced fumble and one recovery in his senior season at Parker…Named an Alabama North/South All-Star…Chose Memphis over Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Troy, Appalachian State, Southern Mississippi and UAB.
Evan Harvey
DL | 6-2 | 245
Tyrone, Ga. | Sandy Creek HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 92 best edge in the country by 247sports…Recorded 120 tackles with 36 tackles for loss…Totaled 18.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, 43 quarterback hurries and one interception in his career at Sandy Creek…Named to the Georgia Region 2-3A First Team Defense…Chose Memphis over Louisville, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Miami, Penn State, Wisconsin, Tennessee, UCF, Kansas, Indiana, Duke, Georgia Tech, South Florida, Oregon State, Maryland, Kentucky, Kansas, Georgia Southern, Pittsburgh and Georgia State.
Kaden Spratling
LB | 6-1 | 235
Carrollton, Ga. | Carrollton HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 54 inside linebacker in the country by ESPN…Made 180 tackles – 11 for loss – with 19 sacks, 32 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles…Recorded five turnovers (two fumble recoveries, three interceptions) in career at Carrollton…Georgia Region 2-6A Champion…Named Region 2-6A First Team Defense…Chose Memphis over Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Liberty, Kennesaw State, UConn, Jacksonville State, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern.
Jake Snyder
P | 6-1 | 185
Cumming, Ga. | Denmark HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 9 punter in the country by 247sports…Tallied 16 field goal attempts with 12 makes…Downed 23 punts inside the 20-yard line with a best of 75 yards…Went 25-for-26 on points after attempt and 43 touchbacks on kickoffs at Denmark
JT Barlow
DB | 6-0 | 180
Evergreen, Ala. | Hillcrest HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 51 player in Alabama by ESPN…Made 146 total tackles with 12interceptions and 21 passes defended in prep career…Chose Memphis over Tulane, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Wake Forest, Louisville, UAB, Arkansas State, Troy, Jacksonville State and South Alabama.
Nick Burden
DB | 6-1 | 190
Douglasville, Ga. | Douglas County HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Registered 49 total tackles with six passes defended in senior campaign at Douglas County…Named to Georgia Region 2-6A Second Team Defense…Chose Memphis over Virginia Tech, SMU, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Liberty, West Virginia, South Florida, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Charlotte, East Carolina, Appalachian State, Buffalo, Miami (OH), Toledo and Georgia Southern.
Zechariah Jenkins
WR | 6-0 | 195
Laurel, Miss. | Laurel HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 37 best player in the state of Mississippi by ESPN… Made 128 catches for 2,012 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air in high school career…Named to the MS/AL All-Star Game…Chose Memphis over Arkansas, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oregon State, Pittsburgh, Tulane, UNLV, Arkansas State, Liberty, Louisiana, South Alabama, Troy, Louisiana Tech, Southern Mississippi and Toledo.
Eric Perry
RB | 5-11 | 200
Southaven, Miss. | Desoto Central HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 22 player in Mississippi and No. 43 running back in the country by ESPN…Recorded 2,978 all-purpose yards with 43 touchdowns during prep career at Desoto Central…Chose Memphis over Auburn, Utah State, Arkansas State and Sacramento State.
Josiah Brown
DB | 5-11 | 180
Pensacola, Fla. | Booker T. Washington HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Made 153 tackles with two tackles for loss…Recorded five interceptions and had 28 passes defended…Named First Team FACA All-Senior Team, First Team FACA All-District and First Team FACA All-State…Chose Memphis over Missouri, South Florida and Arkansas State.
Tim Sims
DB | 6-0 | 195
Hampton, Ga. | Lovejoy HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Made 82 total tackles with 40 of them being tackles for loss…Recorded one interception and seven pass breakups at Lovejoy…Chose Memphis over Tulane, Cincinnati, South Florida, Kansas, Purdue, Georgia Tech, Appalachian State, Miami (OH) and Georgia Southern.
Elijah Fernandez
LB | 6-1 | 220
Franklin, Tenn. | Battle Ground Academy
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 27 player in Tennessee by ESPN and No. 48 by 247sports…Recorded over 275 tackles with 32 tackles for loss…Added in seven sacks and four quarterback hurries during career at Battle Ground Academy…Chose Memphis over Navy, Liberty and Princeton.
Carey Clayton
OL | 6-3 | 265
Southlake, Texas | Southlake Carroll HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 9 center in the country by ESPN… Helped lead Southlake Carroll to that Texas State Championship and an undefeated regular season…Chose Memphis over UNLV, Air Force, Florida Atlantic, UAB, UTEP and Arkansas State.
*This is a live release and will be updated throughout the week*
EARLY SIGNEES
Gavin Owens
QB | 6-5 | 200
Greenville, S.C. | Rabun Gap-Nacoochee HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 76 quarterback in the country by ESPN…Has thrown over 12,000 yards in his career to go along with 109 touchdown passes…Chose Memphis over Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Arkansas State, Charlotte, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and Boston College.
Garrett Essner
TE | 6-6 | 245
Columbia, Mo. | Rock Bridge HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 28 tight end in the country and No. 20 best player in the state of Missouri by ESPN… Tallied 64 catches and nine receiving touchdowns during his time at Rock Bridge…Named an All-Conference Tight End…Chose Memphis over South Florida, UNLV, Middle Tennessee, Kent State and Miami (OH).
Jaylin Taylor
WR | 5-11 | 180
Oxford, Ala. | Oxford HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 44 best player in Alabama by 247sports…Caught 163 passes for 2,578 yards and 26 touchdowns…Finished his prep career with 3,336 all-purpose yards…Chose Memphis over Cincinnati, Liberty, Marshall, Troy, Western Kentucky, Miami (OH), South Alabama, Jacksonville State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Marshall and Southern Mississippi.
Marshall Smith Jr.
DL | 6-3 | 240
Collierville, Tenn. | Collierville HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 33 player in Tennessee by ESPN… Recorded 72 tackles – 16 for loss – with five sacks and seven quarterback hurries at Collierville…Named an AutoZone Liberty Bowl All-Star…Chose Memphis over Mississippi State, UNLV, Middle Tennessee, Florida Atlantic, Southern Mississippi, Western Michigan and Georgia State.
Eddie Alford
OL | 6-4 | 305
Douglasville, Ga. | Douglas County HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Named First Team All-Conference Offense Region 2-6A…Chose Memphis over Duke, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern and Georgia State.
Desmond Cox
LB | 6-0 | 210
Red Oak, Texas | Red Oak HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Recorded 190 tackles with 17 tackles for loss while adding in four sacks and four interceptions at Red Oak…Chose Memphis over North Texas, Texas State, Tulsa, UTEP, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico, San Diego State and New Mexico State.
Trey Moody
DB | 6-2 | 180
Birmingham, Ala. | Parker HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 42 player in Alabama and No. 96 cornerback by ESPN…Registered over 30 tackles while picking off four passes – one returned for a touchdown – with six pass breakups, one forced fumble and one recovery in his senior season at Parker…Named an Alabama North/South All-Star…Chose Memphis over Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Troy, Appalachian State, Southern Mississippi and UAB.
Evan Harvey
DL | 6-2 | 245
Tyrone, Ga. | Sandy Creek HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 92 best edge in the country by 247sports…Recorded 120 tackles with 36 tackles for loss…Totaled 18.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, 43 quarterback hurries and one interception in his career at Sandy Creek…Named to the Georgia Region 2-3A First Team Defense…Chose Memphis over Louisville, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Miami, Penn State, Wisconsin, Tennessee, UCF, Kansas, Indiana, Duke, Georgia Tech, South Florida, Oregon State, Maryland, Kentucky, Kansas, Georgia Southern, Pittsburgh and Georgia State.
Kaden Spratling
LB | 6-1 | 235
Carrollton, Ga. | Carrollton HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 54 inside linebacker in the country by ESPN…Made 180 tackles – 11 for loss – with 19 sacks, 32 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles…Recorded five turnovers (two fumble recoveries, three interceptions) in career at Carrollton…Georgia Region 2-6A Champion…Named Region 2-6A First Team Defense…Chose Memphis over Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Liberty, Kennesaw State, UConn, Jacksonville State, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern.
Jake Snyder
P | 6-1 | 185
Cumming, Ga. | Denmark HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 9 punter in the country by 247sports…Tallied 16 field goal attempts with 12 makes…Downed 23 punts inside the 20-yard line with a best of 75 yards…Went 25-for-26 on points after attempt and 43 touchbacks on kickoffs at Denmark
JT Barlow
DB | 6-0 | 180
Evergreen, Ala. | Hillcrest HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 51 player in Alabama by ESPN…Made 146 total tackles with 12interceptions and 21 passes defended in prep career…Chose Memphis over Tulane, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Wake Forest, Louisville, UAB, Arkansas State, Troy, Jacksonville State and South Alabama.
Nick Burden
DB | 6-1 | 190
Douglasville, Ga. | Douglas County HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Registered 49 total tackles with six passes defended in senior campaign at Douglas County…Named to Georgia Region 2-6A Second Team Defense…Chose Memphis over Virginia Tech, SMU, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Liberty, West Virginia, South Florida, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Charlotte, East Carolina, Appalachian State, Buffalo, Miami (OH), Toledo and Georgia Southern.
Zechariah Jenkins
WR | 6-0 | 195
Laurel, Miss. | Laurel HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 37 best player in the state of Mississippi by ESPN… Made 128 catches for 2,012 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air in high school career…Named to the MS/AL All-Star Game…Chose Memphis over Arkansas, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oregon State, Pittsburgh, Tulane, UNLV, Arkansas State, Liberty, Louisiana, South Alabama, Troy, Louisiana Tech, Southern Mississippi and Toledo.
Eric Perry
RB | 5-11 | 200
Southaven, Miss. | Desoto Central HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 22 player in Mississippi and No. 43 running back in the country by ESPN…Recorded 2,978 all-purpose yards with 43 touchdowns during prep career at Desoto Central…Chose Memphis over Auburn, Utah State, Arkansas State and Sacramento State.
Josiah Brown
DB | 5-11 | 180
Pensacola, Fla. | Booker T. Washington HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Made 153 tackles with two tackles for loss…Recorded five interceptions and had 28 passes defended…Named First Team FACA All-Senior Team, First Team FACA All-District and First Team FACA All-State…Chose Memphis over Missouri, South Florida and Arkansas State.
Tim Sims
DB | 6-0 | 195
Hampton, Ga. | Lovejoy HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Made 82 total tackles with 40 of them being tackles for loss…Recorded one interception and seven pass breakups at Lovejoy…Chose Memphis over Tulane, Cincinnati, South Florida, Kansas, Purdue, Georgia Tech, Appalachian State, Miami (OH) and Georgia Southern.
Elijah Fernandez
LB | 6-1 | 220
Franklin, Tenn. | Battle Ground Academy
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 27 player in Tennessee by ESPN and No. 48 by 247sports…Recorded over 275 tackles with 32 tackles for loss…Added in seven sacks and four quarterback hurries during career at Battle Ground Academy…Chose Memphis over Navy, Liberty and Princeton.
Carey Clayton
OL | 6-3 | 265
Southlake, Texas | Southlake Carroll HS
Consensus three-star recruit … Rated the No. 9 center in the country by ESPN… Helped lead Southlake Carroll to that Texas State Championship and an undefeated regular season…Chose Memphis over UNLV, Air Force, Florida Atlantic, UAB, UTEP and Arkansas State.
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