Memphis picked up its second win of the season Saturday night against Arkansas State. After a slow start to the game, the Tigers got the run-game going and recorded a 42-24 win over the Red Wolves.
Charles Huff said earlier in the week that he thought the tigers running backs were “as average as grits,” but they looked much better in the second game of the season. Memphis ran for 335 yards, and the Tigers had two running backs finish with more than 100 yards on the ground.
It’s the first time Memphis has ended the game with two players running for more than 100 yards since last year when Sutton Smith and Brendon Lewis both ran for more than 100 yards in a win against Arkansas.
On the other side, the defense gave up big drives and allowed 434 yards of total offense, but they recorded stops when it mattered in the second half.
Here are three winners from the Tigers’ victory against the Red Wolves.
RB Jaylin Carter
Jaylin Carter led the team in rushing with 183 yards and four touchdowns. It was a career high for the sophomore, and he became the first running back to score four touchdowns since Mario Anderson found the end zone four times against North Texas.
Memphis has a rich history of running backs, and through two games, Carter has the look of a player who could add his name to that list. Through two games, the Southern Miss transfer has recorded 280 yards and five touchdowns, and he’s averaging 8.2 yards per play.
In the first game, he broke away or a 36-yard touchdown run, and against the Red Wolves, he found a hole and ran for a 74-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Through two games, Carter has been one of Memphis’ best players.
S Dylan Smith
After transferring from Oklahoma State, Dylan Smith has started at safety in both games for the Tigers. He has recorded three tackles in both games, but last night he finished with with two interceptions, including the first takeaway of the game.
Arkansas State was driving on its first possession, but Smith ended the drive with an interception in the red zone, giving the Tigers the momentum early in the game. With 2:31 left in the game, Smith grabbed another interception to wrap up the game.
The safety entered the game with only two career interceptions and tied that total in his second game at Memphis. Last year, Huff’s team led the FBS in interceptions, and they’re off to a good start in 2026.
Smith got the secondary going with the takeaways last night, and it will be interesting to see if he can continue to grab interceptions throughout the season.
RB Manny Covey
Carter wasn’t the only running back who had success against the Red Wolves. Manny Covey ran for 103 yards on 15 carries, but he didn’t find the end zone.
The running back is now up to 149 yards on 26 carries this season, and he and Carter compliment each other nicely. It feels like the Tigers can run either back, and there isn’t any drop off.
Being able to efficiently use multiple running backs will help Memphis throughout the season.
