MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Tigers are undefeated to start the season, thanks in part to their revived defense.
"You can sense that this defensive unit has a unique sense of pride," Memphis head football coach Ryan Silverfield said.
That pride developed in the offseason when linebacker Chandler Martin reflected on the 2023 season.
"Just seeing how many points the offense put up last year, like South Florida putting up 50 points last year, that's not cool," linebacker and Memphis football captain Chandler Martin said. "Defense wins championships."
Through three games, Memphis is proving they're championship worthy. They've averaged 9.67 points per game allowed, two touchdowns in three games and forced seven turnovers.
"[Chandler] told me this is a new Memphis defense and we're going to hold the rope," quarterback and fellow Memphis football captain Seth Henigan said. "Just to know that I have a great leader and a great captain in Chandler on the defensive side of the ball allows me to put a lot of faith in him and the team as a whole."
"It starts with me," Martin said. "I pride myself on being the quarterback of the defense, and if I'm not talking to the front guys or the back guys, nobody gets it. If I'm not doing it, how can I expect anyone else to?"
Martin is known for his ferocious tackles and can't stop, won't stop attitude. But this season, he's started to assert himself in another way.
"I'm not naturally vocal," Martin said. "I had to practice that. Just being able to speak up along with my teammates and earn their respect has been a big thing for me."
Practicing comes in the form of mock interviews with his mom, who doubles as his speaking coach.
"I have a lot to say," Martin said. "I'm very passionate about some things, and I just used to not know how to communicate it."
"His communication is a lot more next level," Defensive Coordinator Jordon Hankins said. "I can't tell the difference in how he talks to players and how he talks to coaches, and that's when you sort of figure out a player has arrived."
"I've never arrived," Martin said. "There's always something to be getting better, but I definitely feel like I've stepped into a bigger role for sure."
So far, that step is proving to be one of the biggest assets for the Memphis Tigers this season.
Martin and the rest of the Tigers will look to keep it rolling this weekend and move to 4-0 when they play at Navy at 2.30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.