MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Football are 5-1 on the season, in large part because of a much improved defense.
A key part to the Tigers revamped defense is linebacker Elijah Herring. Out of high school the Murfreesboro native had double digit offers from Division 1 schools, including Memphis but chose instead to take his talents to the school out in east Tennessee.
“It just wasn’t in my plan you know, I wanted to go to one of the SEC schools out of high school, that was really one of my dreams," Herring said.
As a true freshman with the Vols, Herring appeared in all 13 games and in his sophomore season he led the team in tackles but by seasons end he was ready to make a change.
“I felt like I really couldn’t get a chance over there for real so I betted on myself that I could go somewhere else and start," Herring said.
That somewhere else was Memphis, a team that was known for pretty much everything but their defense.
“I go back to last year and I don’t want to compare seasons but last year, let’s call it what it was, we were one of the worst defenses in all of college football," Memphis head football coach Ryan Silverfield said.
But the challenge that posed and staying close to home is exactly what enticed the now junior to join the Tigers.
“Just to be able to be a part of a program where you know that defense isn’t really looked upon so just be able to build that back up and get Memphis back to where it was," Herring said.
Despite missing two games this season due to injury, Herring is second on the team in sacks (3.5) and tackles for loss (5.5) and also ranks fourth in total tackles (25).
They're stats that surprise the first year Tiger but not his defensive coordinator Jordon Hankins.
“He’s just a football guy, he’s one of those guys that’s always around the ball, studies the game and does things at an extremely high level and he loves football and you can see why he plays, he loves ball," Hankins said.
Herring's love and dedication to the game have been key in propelling the Tigers from ranked 115th in total defense last year to No. 21 this season and they have no intentions of letting up anytime soon.
“We don’t want to give up nothing that’s the goal every game is zero," Herring said. "That’s like when we gave up that three points to South Florida we were mad about that, that upset us for real.”
The Tiger's defense and Herring will be put to the test on Saturday when Memphis host 5-1 North Texas at 6.30 p.m. at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.