University of Memphis Athletics
Six Tigers Join NFL Teams Following 2026 NFL Draft
May 04, 2026 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis football team had six players (RB Greg Desrosiers Jr., WR Cortez Braham Jr., LB Sam Brumfield, LB Jayden Flaker, QB Brendon Lewis, CB Omarion Cooper) sign with NFL organizations following the 2026 NFL Draft.
They join offensive tackle Travis Burke, who was drafted with the 17th pick (117th overall) in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Chargers, creating a grand total of five Tigers in the class with a chance to play at the next level.
Running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. will join Burke in Los Angeles after earning a deal with the Chargers. In 2025, Desrosiers Jr. showed versatility out of the backfield with career highs in rushing yards (563) and receiving yards (228), including a career day against Florida Atlantic with 204 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in a 55-26 thrashing of the Owls.
Desrosiers Jr. made Memphis his third and final stop at the collegiate level after time at Louisville and UMass, finishing his time at the college level with 3,220 all-purpose yards and 23 total touchdowns. Desrosiers. Jr's career accolades include being named the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week (Sept. 30) and being named to the Phil Steele All-Independent Teams as a kick returner twice and the College Football Network's All-Independent First Teams as a kick returner and offensive flex.
After a lengthy collegiate career with stops at four programs, Baltimore, Maryland, native Cortez Braham Jr. will join his hometown team after signing with the Baltimore Ravens. In his lone season at Memphis in 2025, Braham Jr. logged 63 catches for 889 yards and eight touchdowns en route to being named a first-team wide receiver by the American Conference.
In Braham Jr.'s collegiate career, all 12 of his receiving touchdowns at the Division I level came on throws from Brendon Lewis, and his eight touchdown receptions this past season were the most by a Tiger since Calvin Austin III also had eight in 2021.
Sam Brumfield inked a contract with the New Orleans Saints after spending his final collegiate season at Memphis and garnering recognition as a first-team All-American Conference linebacker. His 8.7 tackles per game were good for 33th at the FBS level in 2025, and his 113 total tackles were tied for 25th in the NCAA. During the season, Brumfield strung together a streak of five-straight games with double-digit tackles, highlighted by a career-high 17 against Navy (Nov. 27).
The Pearl, Mississippi, native finished his career with 254 combined tackles at the Division I level after seasons at Middle Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Memphis. Earlier in Brumfield's career, he was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team and All-Academic Team as a member of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.
Jayden Flaker is rewarded for showing consistency all throughout his college career with a deal to join the Buffalo Bills. Flaker never missed a game in his career, playing in all 50 competitions between two years at North Carolina Central and two years at Memphis and having a .760 winning percentage as a collegiate player.
Flaker was a key part of Memphis' special teams units during his time as a Tiger, an attribute that will add value as an undrafted rookie coming into the league. Over his career, Flaker amassed 110 career tackles, 4.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and an interception.
Brendon Lewis finished his collegiate career with a strong showing, passing for 2,673 yards and 16 touchdowns, while adding 665 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns, earning a contract with the Carolina Panthers. During the season, Lewis was a three-time American Conference weekly honorable mention, while also being named to the Maxwell Award Midseason Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Preseason Watch Lists.
Lewis also garnered attention in his lone season with the Tigers as a two-time Allstate Sugar Bowl Manning Star of the Week, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Player of the Week (Sept. 30) as well as an honoree on the Davey O'Brien Great 8 (Sept. 29).
Omarion Cooper will join the Washington Commanders after garnering American Conference All-Second Team honors in his redshirt senior campaign. Cooper finished his final collegiate season with an interception, seven pass breakups and 39 total tackles.
Cooper's collegiate career spans five seasons at three schools, spending time at Florida State and Colorado before coming to Memphis. In those five seasons, Coooper logged 108 career tackles four interceptions, 17 pass breakups and three forced fumbles over 45 games played.
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.
They join offensive tackle Travis Burke, who was drafted with the 17th pick (117th overall) in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Chargers, creating a grand total of five Tigers in the class with a chance to play at the next level.
Running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. will join Burke in Los Angeles after earning a deal with the Chargers. In 2025, Desrosiers Jr. showed versatility out of the backfield with career highs in rushing yards (563) and receiving yards (228), including a career day against Florida Atlantic with 204 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in a 55-26 thrashing of the Owls.
Desrosiers Jr. made Memphis his third and final stop at the collegiate level after time at Louisville and UMass, finishing his time at the college level with 3,220 all-purpose yards and 23 total touchdowns. Desrosiers. Jr's career accolades include being named the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week (Sept. 30) and being named to the Phil Steele All-Independent Teams as a kick returner twice and the College Football Network's All-Independent First Teams as a kick returner and offensive flex.
After a lengthy collegiate career with stops at four programs, Baltimore, Maryland, native Cortez Braham Jr. will join his hometown team after signing with the Baltimore Ravens. In his lone season at Memphis in 2025, Braham Jr. logged 63 catches for 889 yards and eight touchdowns en route to being named a first-team wide receiver by the American Conference.
In Braham Jr.'s collegiate career, all 12 of his receiving touchdowns at the Division I level came on throws from Brendon Lewis, and his eight touchdown receptions this past season were the most by a Tiger since Calvin Austin III also had eight in 2021.
Sam Brumfield inked a contract with the New Orleans Saints after spending his final collegiate season at Memphis and garnering recognition as a first-team All-American Conference linebacker. His 8.7 tackles per game were good for 33th at the FBS level in 2025, and his 113 total tackles were tied for 25th in the NCAA. During the season, Brumfield strung together a streak of five-straight games with double-digit tackles, highlighted by a career-high 17 against Navy (Nov. 27).
The Pearl, Mississippi, native finished his career with 254 combined tackles at the Division I level after seasons at Middle Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Memphis. Earlier in Brumfield's career, he was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team and All-Academic Team as a member of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.
Jayden Flaker is rewarded for showing consistency all throughout his college career with a deal to join the Buffalo Bills. Flaker never missed a game in his career, playing in all 50 competitions between two years at North Carolina Central and two years at Memphis and having a .760 winning percentage as a collegiate player.
Flaker was a key part of Memphis' special teams units during his time as a Tiger, an attribute that will add value as an undrafted rookie coming into the league. Over his career, Flaker amassed 110 career tackles, 4.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and an interception.
Brendon Lewis finished his collegiate career with a strong showing, passing for 2,673 yards and 16 touchdowns, while adding 665 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns, earning a contract with the Carolina Panthers. During the season, Lewis was a three-time American Conference weekly honorable mention, while also being named to the Maxwell Award Midseason Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Preseason Watch Lists.
Lewis also garnered attention in his lone season with the Tigers as a two-time Allstate Sugar Bowl Manning Star of the Week, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Player of the Week (Sept. 30) as well as an honoree on the Davey O'Brien Great 8 (Sept. 29).
Omarion Cooper will join the Washington Commanders after garnering American Conference All-Second Team honors in his redshirt senior campaign. Cooper finished his final collegiate season with an interception, seven pass breakups and 39 total tackles.
Cooper's collegiate career spans five seasons at three schools, spending time at Florida State and Colorado before coming to Memphis. In those five seasons, Coooper logged 108 career tackles four interceptions, 17 pass breakups and three forced fumbles over 45 games played.
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.
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