Previewing Memphis’ safeties for the 2026 season

Memphis wraps up spring practice on Saturday, but they’ve spent the last month learning what the team will look like in Charles Huff’s first season. The Tigers brought in more than 60 new players over the offseason, and spring has been the team’s first chance to mesh as a group. 

In previous years, a second transfer portal opened following spring training, but the rules changed before the offseason. Players only get one transfer portal per offseason, so the team won’t change from spring to the Week 0 game against UNLV.

After taking a look at most of the team, it’s time to look at the defensive backs, which are split up between the cornerbacks and safeties. Huff brought in eight new safeties this offseason and returned five players with limited experience.

Here’s a preview of Memphis’ safeties ahead of the 2026 season.

Ian Foster

Foster followed Huff from Marshall to Southern Miss, and he’s followed him again to Memphis ahead of his junior campaign. Foster listed Arkansas, Oregon, Ole Miss, Kansas State and the Tigers in his top five after entering the portal, but he chose to follow his head coach after taking a visit in early January.

Foster recorded 76 total tackles, a sack and three interceptions in 2025, and he received an 87.3 defensive rating, according to Pro Football Focus.

Dylan Smith

Smith spent three seasons at Oklahoma State, where he recorded 77 tackles and two interceptions. Smith started the first four games for the Cowboys, but he took a redshirt year and entered the transfer portal after head coach Mike Gundy was fired.

Smith will have two years of eligibility remaining, and he could play a big role in the secondary with his Power Five experience.

Ahmere Foster

Like a handful of other players that signed with the Tigers out of the transfer portal, Foster followed Huff over two stops from Marshall to Memphis, and he’ll finish his career in the Bluff City. The Miami native has recorded 112 tackles over the last three seasons, and he grabbed a career-high three interceptions as a junior.

Dylan King

King started his collegiate career at Tennessee State before enrolling at East Mississippi State Community College as a sophomore. King transferred to Southern Miss ahead of the 2025 campaign and recorded 27 tackles in his lone season with the Golden Eagles.

Beni Mwamba

Mwambe transferred to Memphis after spending his freshman year at Chattanooga. As a sophomore, Mwambe appeared in 12 games, mainly on special teams, but he did see three defensive snaps in the season opener against his former team.

Chase Pinkston

Pinkston enrolled at Jones Community College in 2024 before transferring to Memphis. Pinkston spent last season as a redshirt player, and he’ll have three years of eligibility remaining.

Khalil Foster

Foster signed with Huff at Southern Miss, and he appeared in two games before taking a redshirt. The safety recorded two tackles in those two games, and it’ll be interesting to see how much he plays as a redshirt freshman.

Nick Burden

Burden signed with Memphis as a three-star recruit in the class of 2026, and he was rated the No. 234 safety in the country. Burden picked the Tigers over offers from 30 other programs, including Cincinnati, North Carolina and North Carolina.

Jordan Bell

Bell signed with Memphis after recording more than 2,000 all-purpose yards for Munford High School in 2023. After playing several positions in high school, Bell was moved to safety at Memphis, and he’s still learning the position on the fly.

Huff talked about how Bell impressed over the first two practices, and it’ll be interesting to see if he becomes a factor at the position.

Charlie Harrell

Harrell joined the Tigers as a preferred walk-on in 2023, and he has logged 289 snaps on special teams over the last three seasons. 

Tim Sims

Sims signed with Memphis as a three-star recruit in the class of 2026, and he was rated the No. 139 safety in the class. Sims selected the Tigers over 18 other offers, including Purdue, Cincinnati and Georgia Tech.

Johnny Moody

Moody signed as a three-star recruit in the class of 2026, and he chose Memphis over 15 other offers, including offers from Kentucky, Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Moody ranked as the No. 108 safety in the country and No. 45 player out of Alabama, and he recorded 16 tackles and three interceptions in nine games as a senior.

Jamariez Robinson

Robinson signed with the Tigers out of the class of 2024, but he hasn’t seen any playing time through his first three seasons. The safety redshirted during his freshman season, and he has three seasons of eligibility remaining.