Memphis News: Memphis Tigers Ahead of the Curve: 6 Named Preseason All-AAC, QB Battle Heating Up Three Weeks Out

Direct Answer: Six Memphis Tigers were named to Pro Football Network’s Preseason All-American Conference teams, and Memphis received nine votes in the US LBM Preseason Coaches Poll. At the same time, the quarterback competition between Air Noland and Marcus Stokes remains unsettled with the season opener at UNLV only three weeks away.

By Dr. Layne McDonald, Founder of Memphis News with a Purpose

The news points to a Memphis football program entering the 2026 season with legitimate talent, growing national notice, and plenty still to prove. Preseason recognition has placed six Tigers among the American Conference’s players to watch, while Fan Fest gave supporters an early look at a close quarterback battle under first-year head coach Charles Huff.

Memphis opens the season at UNLV on August 29 at 9 p.m. Central in Las Vegas. The Tigers’ schedule also includes road games at Boise State, Tulane, South Florida, Navy, and Charlotte, making early preparation especially important.

Six Tigers Earn Preseason Conference Recognition

Pro Football Network named six Memphis players to its Preseason All-American Conference teams. The recognition is significant because it reflects expectations across several position groups rather than depending on one star or one side of the ball.

The honorees are:

• J’Mond Tapp, defensive lineman : First Team

• Ian Foster, safety : First Team

• Manny Covey, running back and punt returner : First Team

• Riley McGehee, offensive lineman : Second Team

• Anthony Richard Jr., cornerback : Second Team

• Ahmere Foster, safety : Third Team

Tapp has now collected his fourth first-team preseason all-conference honor. According to the University of Memphis announcement, he is coming off a 2025 season with 70 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks.

Ian Foster also brings extensive preseason recognition into the new campaign. He has earned five total preseason all-conference honors, including four first-team selections and another recognition as a kick returner.

Covey gives Memphis added versatility. The Cincinnati transfer produced 436 all-purpose yards in 2025, including rushing, receiving, and punt-return contributions. That type of flexibility could become valuable as the Tigers manage a demanding road schedule.

McGehee’s second-team selection highlights the importance of the offensive line. Richard’s recognition is his first preseason all-conference honor, while Ahmere Foster enters his senior season after anchoring Memphis’ defensive backfield and contributing on special teams.

The larger point is simple: Memphis has been recognized for depth.

Preseason praise is a starting line, not a finish line.

What the Coaches Poll Says About Memphis

The Tigers received nine votes in the US LBM Preseason Coaches Poll, placing Memphis among the teams receiving consideration outside the national Top 25.

That is not the same as being ranked. It is also not meaningless.

The coaches’ poll indicates that Memphis is on the national radar, but the Tigers have not yet earned broad consensus as one of the country’s top 25 teams. The nine votes reflect cautious optimism: respected talent, a new coaching direction, and a schedule that will provide opportunities to make a statement.

Memphis was reportedly one of the more prominent Group of Six programs receiving votes. However, several opponents also drew attention. Boise State received 24 votes, while UNLV received 17. Navy received three.

That context matters. Memphis will face UNLV in the opener and Boise State in Week Three, so the Tigers will have early opportunities to compare themselves directly against teams already receiving more national consideration.

Readers can review the Memphis football preseason poll coverage and follow the complete 2026 Memphis football schedule.

The Quarterback Battle Remains the Main Question

The most visible unresolved question is at quarterback, where Air Noland and Marcus Stokes continue competing for the starting job.

Both quarterbacks received meaningful opportunities during Memphis Football Fan Fest at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. They rotated through seven-on-seven and red-zone work, and each connected on a touchdown pass during the open practice portion of the event.

Noland connected with Brady Kluse on a red-zone touchdown. Stokes threw a touchdown to Stonka Burnside while playing through a defensive holding call.

Those practice moments should not be treated like game statistics, but they did provide fans with an important takeaway: the competition is active, and neither quarterback has clearly separated himself in public view.

Air Noland’s Case

Noland brings experience from Ohio State and South Carolina and is viewed as a quarterback with considerable physical ability and upside. His challenge will be translating that potential into consistent command of the offense, decision-making, and production in live competition.

A quarterback does not win a job solely with arm strength. The coaching staff must also evaluate leadership, accuracy, mobility, preparation, communication, and the ability to respond after a mistake.

Marcus Stokes’ Case

Stokes arrives at Memphis after playing at West Florida. His path gives him a different type of experience, including meaningful snaps and the opportunity to develop through game action.

Stokes has also spoken positively about the competition within the quarterback room. Noland described the relationship in a similar spirit, saying, “He brings the best out of me, and I bring the best out of him,” while referencing the biblical principle that “iron sharpens iron.”

That mindset is important. Quarterback competitions can divide a team when they become personal. They can strengthen a team when both players remain committed to preparation and the team’s larger mission.

What Fan Fest Revealed: and What It Did Not

Fan Fest gave Memphis supporters their first extended public look at the 2026 team and the renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. It also showed that both quarterbacks are receiving opportunities to lead different groups and operate in pressure situations.

But Fan Fest did not determine the starter.

Open practices are valuable, yet they are not the same as a road game against UNLV. The final decision will likely depend on how each quarterback performs in closed practices, scrimmage situations, film review, and game-plan installation.

There are reasonable arguments for both sides:

• Supporters of Noland may point to his high-level recruiting background, arm talent, and potential for explosive plays.

• Supporters of Stokes may point to his game experience, maturity, and ability to manage an offense under pressure.

• The coaching staff’s perspective must remain broader than public excitement. The best choice will be the quarterback who gives Memphis the strongest chance to execute consistently and win.

That is the balanced view. The competition is compelling, but it should not become a reason for fans to attack either player.

The Road to UNLV

The Memphis schedule lists UNLV as the Tigers’ August 29 opener in Las Vegas. The kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. Central.

The matchup creates an immediate test for Huff’s first Memphis team. UNLV is also receiving votes in the preseason coaches poll, and the game will be played on the road in a nationally visible setting.

Memphis then hosts Arkansas State and UT Martin before traveling to Boise State on September 12. The Tigers will need more than individual talent to navigate that opening stretch. They will need communication, conditioning, discipline, and a dependable identity on both sides of the ball.

The six preseason honorees can help establish that identity, but awards do not make tackles, block defenders, protect the football, or convert third downs. Those honors create expectations. The team must now answer them.

Christian Takeaway

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

That verse does not promise a perfect season or guarantee a particular quarterback will win the job. It does offer a standard for how athletes, coaches, fans, and leaders can approach their responsibilities.

The six Tigers honored by Pro Football Network have been recognized for preparation and potential. The quarterbacks are being tested through competition. The coaching staff is responsible for making a difficult decision. Fans are responsible for supporting the team without losing perspective.

Excellence is not the same as perfection. Faithfulness means bringing discipline, humility, and effort to the work in front of us, even when the final outcome is uncertain.

How to Pray and Engage

For more local faith-and-community coverage, visit the Memphis News with a Purpose blog. Readers may also revisit our earlier coverage of Charles Huff’s first Memphis fall camp.

Peacemaker’s Perspective

Memphis sports can bring people together, but passionate competition can also produce unnecessary hostility. The quarterback battle should be a lesson in how to disagree without becoming divisive.

Fans may prefer Noland. Others may prefer Stokes. Both opinions can be expressed with evidence, humility, and respect.

The Christian peacemaker does not avoid competition. Instead, the peacemaker refuses to make competition an excuse for contempt. The Tigers need players who sharpen one another, coaches who lead with wisdom, and supporters who understand that one game: or one position decision: does not define a person’s worth.

Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Who were Memphis’ six preseason All-American Conference honorees?

J’Mond Tapp, Ian Foster, Manny Covey, Riley McGehee, Anthony Richard Jr., and Ahmere Foster were named to Pro Football Network’s Preseason All-American Conference teams.

How many votes did Memphis receive in the US LBM Preseason Coaches Poll?

Memphis received nine votes and appeared among the teams receiving votes outside the national Top 25.

Who is competing to be Memphis’ starting quarterback?

Air Noland and Marcus Stokes are competing for the starting quarterback position.

When does Memphis open the 2026 football season?

The Tigers open at UNLV on August 29, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m. Central.

Did Fan Fest decide the starting quarterback?

No. Fan Fest showed both quarterbacks receiving significant reps and throwing touchdown passes during practice drills, but the competition remained unresolved.

Call to Action

Who should start at quarterback for Memphis against UNLV: Air Noland or Marcus Stokes? Share your view respectfully, explain what you are watching for, and send this article to another Tigers fan. Continue following Memphis News with a Purpose for balanced, faith-informed coverage of Memphis sports and community life.