If you want to stop the Memphis Tigers’ run game, you’ll need to account for several star players.
Memphis’ one-two punch at running back is one of the best in the country, and that claim is solidified
by the Doak Walker Award which recognizes one premier running back each week of the season. In Week 4, the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week has handed to Sutton Smith, and in Week 5, teammate Greg Desrosiers Jr. was handed the baton. Two different Memphis running backs claimed the prestigious honor in consecutive weeks, demonstrating both the depth and potency of the Tigers’ rushing attack.
In Week 4, Smith guided an 18-point comeback vs. Arkansas — the largest comeback in college football this season. The running back, fresh off a 2024 campaign marred by an ACL tear, showcased his recovery effort by exploding for 147 rushing yards on 12 carries against the Razorbacks. With 4:51 remaining in the contest, Smith broke free for a 64-yard scamper to hand the Tigers a 32-31 lead which would not be relinquished.
In Week 5, Desrosiers ran rampant for 204 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the road at Florida Atlantic. Memphis found itself trailing in the waning minutes of the second quarters, but Desrosiers guided a 75-yard drive to hand his team a 17-16 halftime lead. After halftime, the running back continued to push the envelope, breaking free for a 90-yard end zone escape in the third quarter — the first 90+ yard rush by a Tiger since 1966. Desrosiers’ 204 yards stood as the most by a Memphis ball-carrier since 2021 and the most against FBS competition since 2019.
With the Desrosiers and Smith tandem leading the charge, Memphis currently ranks 11th in the FBS in rushing yards per game at 247.2. The masterful running extends beyond the tailbacks as Brendon Lewis is frequently involved, generating 353 rushing yards to rank sixth nationally among quarterbacks. Smith ranks first on the roster with 420 yards, checking in at 16th in the country and third in the American Conference in production. Meanwhile, Desrosiers averages 8.2 yards per carry which is fifth among FBS rushers with at least 30 attempts.
Memphis experienced an offseason with massive turnover as its senior-heavy 2024 roster largely graduated. The Tigers returned just two offensive starters — both on the o-line — but the team is off to its first 5-0 start since its 2019 conference championship season. Desrosiers and Smith have been instrumental in Memphis’ stellar September, and now both running backs sport a Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week on their résumé. The tandem aims to continue its rampage through 2025 when Tulsa strolls into town Saturday, Oct. 4.
