Memphis football 2025 QB candidates from transfer Brendon Lewis to freshman Antwann Hill Jr

Posted by Admin January 9, 2025 Football

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Brace yourselves — a Memphis football quarterback competition is coming.

For the first time since 2021, coach Ryan Silverfield heads into an offseason with questions about who will be under center when the Tigers kick off their season. Seth Henigan broke nearly all the Memphis passing records during his four-year career, but he exhausted his eligibility after the Frisco Bowl.

It means there will be plenty for Silverfield and offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey to work out, both as they try to figure out who will replace Henigan and as they try to develop the playbook around a new quarterback. The competition will begin in the spring and will likely carry over into the summer.

Redshirt sophomore Harris Boyd was Henigan’s backup in 2024, but Cramsey said redshirt freshman Arrington Maiden had the most talent in that quarterback room. Maiden will be a part of the competition alongside four-star freshman Antwann Hill Jr. and Nevada transfer Brendon Lewis.

Here’s an early primer for the competition that will dominate preseason talk about the Tigers.

Senior Brendon Lewis

Lewis has an obvious edge over everyone else because he’s actually played college football. He started his career at Colorado before transferring to Nevada and has made 35 career starts, including 22 over the last two seasons for the Wolf Pack.

He’s totaled 5,330 yards in his career and threw for 2,290 in 2024. He’s also a threat in the running game, with over 1,500 career rushing yards.

While Nevada struggled during Lewis’ two seasons, the Tigers have a stronger roster. If Lewis wins the job, it’ll be because of his experience and ability to step in right away for a team that wants to compete for an AAC title and a spot in the College Football Playoff in 2025.

Freshman Antwann Hill Jr.

Memphis fans already know all about Hill, who became one of the highest-rated recruits in program history when he committed to the Tigers in July and then signed in December. He chose Memphis over Florida and had offers from essentially everywhere, ranking as the No. 10 QB in the 247Sports Composite. That puts him ahead of Tennessee signee George McIntyre and other notable names across the country.

Hill won’t turn 18 until the summer, but he plans to enroll early for spring practices. His 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame and elite arm strength make him a tantalizing prospect for the future, but will he start right away?

There’s certainly precedent for it. Henigan started as a freshman and held the job for four years.

Redshirt freshman Arrington Maiden

A three-star recruit from College Station, Texas, Maiden has had a year to learn from Henigan and get to know Cramsey’s playbook.

“I think he’s mature enough now to know he doesn’t have to put this unneeded or unwanted pressure on himself,” said his high school offensive coordinator, Matt DeBerry. “I told him, ‘You’ve just got to go get first downs and move the ball down the field.’”

DeBerry saw Maiden recently and was struck by his maturity and the growth he’s had since he got to Memphis last January. Though he only played one snap in 2024, Maiden traveled to all the road games and has the advantage of having been around the program on a consistent basis while Lewis and Hill are coming in to a new situation.

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.