Memphis football beat UNLV 27-21 in the season opener on Aug. 29, but quarterback Marcus Stokes believes his team can play a lot better.
"We're not pleased all the way with how we played," Stokes said on Sept. 1, as the Tigers (1-0) prepare for the Sept. 5 home opener against Arkansas State (0-0). "We know that we left stuff out there on the field. And so I'm just going to keep coming back to that. We believe that we can be much better."
Stokes went 15 of 26 for 223 yards and two touchdowns in his Memphis debut. He also rushed seven times for 52 yards.
The West Florida transfer admitted that he had some jitters going into the game. It was his first game at the FBS level after starting his career with the Division II level Argonauts (who have since
moved up to FCS), and he missed a few throws in the first half.
"I know I can make those throws," Stokes said. "I make those throws in practice. Yeah, there was a little bit of nerves. But it was like, exciting nervous. It wasn't like panicking or anything like that. But at the end of the day, when it comes down to those big moments in those big games, I've just got to stay true, do my 1/11th and stick to my basics."
Stokes said he also noticed a difference in the speed of the game after jumping from Division II to FBS.
The ceiling remains high for Stokes in coordinator Kevin Decker's offense. He beat out South Carolina transfer Air Noland for the starting job and looks like an ideal fit for the fast-paced system. Stokes did not turn the ball over and was effective moving in and out of the pocket throughout the game.
Still, Memphis ultimately won because of its defense. Elijah Kinsler and the rest of the defensive line took control in the fourth quarter, and that made the difference.
Now, Stokes can prepare for Arkansas State (6 p.m. CT, ESPN+) without having the weight of playing for an FBS team for the first time.
"It was crazy," he said. "It was definitely a memorable moment. I'll always remember that first D1 game against UNLV. But it's every week now. We've just got to take it to the next week and kind of keep those emotions with us but control them."
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Marcus Stokes graded his debut as Memphis football quarterback
