Memphis football will use Monarc technology in the upcoming season

On Wednesday, Monarc Sports announced its partnership with Memphis football for the upcoming season.

Monarc Sports created “The Seeker,” which, according to their X account, is the “world’s first robotic QB & practice automation solution.” The company has partnered with numerous programs across the country over the last few seasons, and the Tigers are one of the newest teams to get on board.

The Seeker is an advanced Jugs machine that can “emulate any type of game-like pass, kick or punt.” According to their website, nearly half of the Power Four teams use the technology in their programs. 

The Seeker was created by three engineering students, Nate Pierotti, Karlicic Maganti and Bhargav Maganti, and Iowa, where Pierotti attended, was the first program that used the product. 

There are several things that make the Seeker different from a regular Jugs machine. For one, you can preload six balls to fire off instead of loading one-by-one.

The second difference is the modes that you can use on the machine. It has a manual and robotic mode.

In manual mode, users can put in exactly where they want the ball to go on a touchscreen, whether it’s a pass, punt or kick, and The Seeker will put the ball exactly where it’s told to. In robotic mode, players wear motion sensors, and the Seeker can hit them in stride based on their route and speed.

According to statistics from Pro Football Focus, teams that used Monarchs in 2024 saw a 15.5 percent increase in receptions that resulted in a first down, a 14.2 percent increase in receiving touchdowns and a 16.4 percent increase in explosive plays of 15 or more yards.

Teams with a minimum of 10,000 reps using The Seeker saw even bigger improvements in one season. According to the study, teams with a minimum of 10,000 reps saw a 28.1 percent increase in receiving touchdowns, a 15.4 percent increase in receiving yards and a 130.9 percent increase in expected points added per pass play.

“Appreciate the folks @MonarcSports for helping our players and staff create an edge with their top of the line equipment and support,” Charles Huff said on social media.

While the technology has been around since the late 2010s, it appears only a few teams in the American currently use the machine. The new addition to the football program shows Huff’s innovation and desire to adapt to the changing landscape of college football and technology.