Memphis Will put UAB Defense to the Test In Battle For The Bones
By Steve Irvine
October 9, 2026 - BIRMINGHAM, AL
UAB (3-2 OVERALL, 1-0 AMERICAN) AT MEMPHIS (4-1 OVERALL, 1-0 AMERICAN)
SIMMONS BANK LIBERTY STADIUM
SATURDAY, 6 P.M. CST, ESPN2
When Memphis has the ball: Balance is part of Memphis offensive coordinator Kevin Decker’s offense but quarterback Marcus Stokes has been the engine for success thus far. The former four-star recruit could very well be the best quarterback in the American Conference. The 6-foot-2, 209-pound redshirt junior was 90-of-123 for 1,371 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions over the first five games. He threw for nine touchdown in the past two games and his 73.2 percent completion percentage is ninth best in the country. It’s been an explosive passing attack thus far for the Tigers. Hunter Tipton, a 6-foot-5, 241-pound tight end, is thunder and lightning in the same package. He has 19 catches for 367 yards, which is 19.3 yards per catch, with a national tight end best five touchdowns, including an 87-yard touchdown reception. Speedy Jermane Hayes, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound sophomore, has a team-best 22 catches for 242 yards with two touchdowns, including a 93-yard catch-and-run score. Memphis has nine receivers averaging double digit per reception. What can UAB do to slow down the explosive production? This is the steepest challenge of the season, by far, but UAB’s defense has been outstanding against the pass thus far. The Blazers are second in the country in passing yards allowed per game (118.4). But UAB hasn’t faced a passing offense like they will see on Saturday. The projected rainy weather could be helpful but the pass rush could be the biggest key to slowing things down. Memphis has allowed just five sacks thus far. UAB needs to find ways to make Stokes uncomfortable even if the Blazers don’t get a sack. Memphis also has the ability to run the football with success, which could be a problem for the Blazers. Memphis averages 250.4 yards per game on the ground, which is 10th best in the country. Jaylin Carter, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound sophomore, who followed Memphis head coach from Southern Miss, is third in the American Conference with 513 yards and six rushing touchdowns. UAB allows 183 rushing yards per game, which is 116th in the country.
When UAB has the ball: Ryder Burton introduced himself to the college football world in last season’s unexpected win over Memphis. Now can he have his breakout game against the Tigers in his first season as a fulltime starter? To be fair, UAB enters Saturday’s game with the Blazers averaging 340 yards and 24 points per game. That might not be good enough on Saturday against the dynamic Memphis offense. UAB needs to be better on offense, beginning with Burton. Now, the offensive struggles are not entirely quarterback driven but the improvement begins with Burton. The junior quarterback is 62-of-110, which is a completion rate of 56.4 percent, for 791 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions. The Blazers need to find some passing game consistency against a Memphis defense that gives up a lot of yards but has the ability to disrupt a quarterback. Memphis has 12 sacks thus far and is credited on PFF with 37 quarterback hurries and 16 quarterback hits. Edge rushers Elijah Kinsler and J’Mond Tapp have a combined 17 quarterback hurries and five quarterback hits, according to PFF, with Kinsler having 3.5 sacks and Tapp having 2.5 sacks. Burton has been pressured 63 times, according to PFF, and has been sacked 13 times. One thing that Burton has done well is scramble away from pressure and make positive yards with his legs, which could slow the rush down. Ty Mims, EJ Reid and CJ Smith have stepped to the front of the wide receiver group thus far. Smith, who played at Memphis last season, got behind the Samford defense twice last week, one resulting in a 31-yard scoring play, and dropped what might have been a second touchdown. With all that said, though, establishing the run will once again e key for a UAB offense that averages 179.6 rushing yards per game. Roderick Robinson II, Braylon McReynolds and Ja’Vin Simpkins combine for 141.2 yards on 31 carries per game. The Blazers are facing a Memphis defense that allows 176.2 rushing yards per game, which is 112th in the country. That number is skewed a bit by the 357 yards that Boise State gained against Memphis. Charlotte had 132 yards on 24 carries last week but 75 of those yards came on one play in the 59-8 Memphis win. Winning the running game for UAB could also come with winning time of possession and total plays.
Special teams: Ty Mims has flirted with a punt return touchdown on three different occasions this season, including in last week’s win over Samford. Mims has eight returns for 135 yards, which is an average of 16.9 yards per return, on the season. He is currently 12th in the country in punt return average and his 16.9 yard per return average would put him third in UAB history in single season average if he maintains that number through the season. Kam Shanks leads the list with 20.56 yards per return in 2024 and Rodregis Brooks averaged 17.5 yards per return in 1999. Boise State’s Cam Bates had a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown against Memphis earlier this season.
Trend to follow: Memphis had less penalties than its opponent in each of the first five games. Overall, the Tigers are 16th in the country in penalties per game (4.8) and 22nd in penalty yards per game (44.8). UAB is coming off its first game this season when the opponent had more penalties than the Blazers. UAB is 77th in penalties per game (6.8) and 81st in penalty yards per game (59.80). Memphis has been the most penalized team in the Battle for the Bones rivalry in each of the past three games but the Tigers won two of those games.
Hello my name is: Payton Kirkland. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound left tackle saw his first action last week since suffering a lower body injury and leaving the field on a cart in the season opener at Illinois. Kirkland played 30 snaps in the win over Samford and was graded by PFF as the team’s top overall blocker (71.6) and pass blocker (78.5). Keyon Cox played well as the starter in his absence and was still working with first team at left tackle this weeking during media viewing period at practice. Having both available strengthens the offensive line.
How Memphis wins: At this point it would be hard for UAB to win a high-scoring game, so continuing to click offensively is a key for the Tigers. Making UAB throw the ball, particularly in the rain, would be big for Memphis.
How UAB wins: Once again it begins with playing a relatively clean game and winning the running game. If the Battle for the Bones version of Ryder Burton shows up that will enhance UAB’s chances to win.
Coach’s corner: UAB head coach Alex Mortensen and Memphis head coach Charles Huff spent two years together as part of Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama in 2019 and 2020.
One more thing: UAB’s starting lineup on defense includes eight players who have started every game this season. The starters in all five games are defensive tackle Cam Cunningham, linebackers Ike Esonwune and Muaaz Byard, defensive end Marlin Dean, nickel Anta’Veon McKenzie, cornerbacks Darrell Sweeting and Delvon Gulley and free safety Jeremiah Jordan. Strong safety Jo’Tavion Pierce started the past four games after Diezel Wilkinson got the start in the opener. Only five offensive players – linemen Adam Lepkowski, Calib Perez, Donovan Lawrence and Barrett Maddox and quarterback Ryder Burton – have started each of the first five games. Tight end Antonio Ferguson started the first four games but missed the Samford game with an injury and is expected to be out this week.