Memphis has its next football coach.
The Tigers will hire Southern Miss’ Charles Huff to replace Ryan Silverfield, sources confirmed to The Commercial Appeal on Dec. 6. Huff will take over a program that is positioned to compete at the top of the American Conference and will be a contender for the conference title next season.
Advertisement
Huff is 7-5 with the Golden Eagles this season. It was his first season with the program after he left Marshall, where he’d been since 2021. The Thundering Herd won the Sun Belt Conference title in 2024. Huff brought plenty of players and staffers from Marshall to Southern Miss, and it’s conceivable he’d look to do the same when he arrives in Memphis.
With that, here’s a look at who he could target — and who he’ll want to keep on the current Memphis roster.
Which Southern Miss all-conference players still have eligibility
Southern Miss had three players on the All-Sun Belt first team: defensive lineman J’Mond Tapp, linebacker Chris Jones and DB Josh Moten. Both Tapp and Jones have eligibility remaining. Jones was seventh in the country in tackles (first in the Sun Belt).
Advertisement
Both linebacker Michael Montgomery and defensive back Ian Foster made the third team and have eligibility remaining.
Southern Miss also signed nine players during the early signing period from Dec. 3-5. The highest-ranked signee is 6-foot-1, 180-pound Chauncey Davis from Suwanee, Georgia. He would be the highest-ranked player in Memphis’ signing day class. The Tigers signed 18 players even though they were operating without a full-time coach.
Which players Charles Huff will likely look to retain
Just as Memphis fans might be looking to Southern Miss’ roster for potential reinforcements, Arkansas fans are looking at Memphis’ roster and wondering if any Tigers’ players will join Silverfield in Fayetteville. Most players have been waiting to see who the next coach is before making transfer decisions, and the portal won’t open until Jan. 2 anyways.
Advertisement
Of Memphis’ all-conference players, running back Sutton Smith and kicker Gianni Spetic are the only ones with eligibility remaining. Smith will be a priority, as he’s flashed star potential during his time in Memphis but has not gotten the volume of touches to fully get there. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Other Memphis players who would command interest in the transfer portal include left guard Malachi Breland, safety Kamari Wilson, linebacker Everett Roussaw Jr. and safety Chris Bracy.
Memphis will have a new starting quarterback in 2026 because Brendon Lewis is out of eligibility. Redshirt freshman Arrington Maiden has already announced plans to enter the transfer portal, but he also said he’d meet with the new coaching staff first. All eyes will be on freshman A.J. Hill, who was Memphis highest-ranked quarterback recruit ever as part of the 2025 signing class. Hill only played in one game this season, appearing in relief of Lewis against UAB and nearly bringing the Tigers back for a comeback win.
Hill’s decision will be closely watched, but it’s likely Memphis will have to go into the portal for quarterback depth regardless. It’s worth noting that Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss’ starter in 2025 who was also with Huff at Marshall, is out of eligibility.
Advertisement
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Who Charles Huff might want to bring from Southern Miss, keep at Memphis
