Getting to know: Memphis football

Memphis' Phil Mayhue (89) avoids being tackled by Houston's Trevon Stewart, left, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, in Houston.

Memphis' Phil Mayhue (89) avoids being tackled by Houston's Trevon Stewart, left, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, in Houston.

It’s only been one year since the Memphis football team traveled to Lawrence for last season’s matchup against Kansas, but the Tigers will feature a much different look Saturday.

Exit former coach Justin Fuente (Virginia Tech) and quarterback Paxton Lynch (Denver Broncos). Enter Mike Norvell and Riley Ferguson.

Norvell, the youngest FBS head coach at 34, was Arizona State’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach from 2012-15. The Sun Devils ranked 23rd in the nation last year in total offense.

In Week One — the Tigers had a bye last week — Norvell became the first Memphis head coach to win his debut since 1984 with a 35-17 victory over Southeast Missouri. Both Norvell and KU coach David Beaty belong to the same coaching tree under current ASU coach Todd Graham.

When Graham was the head coach at Rice, he hired Beaty as a receivers coach in 2006 — his first full-time college assistant role. Three years later, at Tulsa, Graham hired Norvell in the same role.

“I know Mike really, really well. One of the finest young minds in all of college football,” Beaty said of Norvell. “Very sought after, he could’ve went a lot of different places. A really good football coach.”

Graham told the Commercial Appeal: “Very similar coaches. Guys that are very passionate, guys that are very smart. Great motivators of their players. And obviously great offensive minds. … (I’m) really proud of them.”

During Memphis season-opening win, junior transfer QB Ferguson threw for 295 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in his debut. He played for Coffeyville Community College in Kansas last year after starting his collegiate career at Tennessee.

The Tigers had no problem in their passing game against SEMO, completing 65 percent of their passes. But in the run game, they only had 110 yards on 33 attempts (3.3 yards per carry). Patrick Taylor led with 86 yards on seven carries, which included a 51-yard run.

The Tigers might be without senior running back Sam Craft, who missed two weeks of practice because of a hamstring injury. He ran for 333 yards and five touchdowns last year, along with 114 receiving yards and two scores. According to Tom Schad of the Commercial Appeal, Craft was a limited participant at practice Wednesday and only did a portion of the 7-on-7 drills.

One player who won’t step on the field is senior defensive lineman Latarius Brady, who made two starts and had 13 tackles last year. He is recovering from a torn ACL in spring practices, but isn’t expected to return until next month.

The Jayhawks will try to keep pace offensively with Memphis, especially after last year. The Tigers recorded 651 yards of offense in last year’s matchup, the third-highest single-game total in school history. That included 281 rushing yards for five touchdowns.

Interesting note: The Jayhawks have played in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium twice, but never against Memphis. In 1973, KU lost to Tennessee in a neutral-site game, and later in the season, lost to N.C. State in the Liberty Bowl game.

FIVE TIGERS TO WATCH

No. 4: QB Riley Ferguson | 6-4, 210, jr.

• In his Memphis debut, Ferguson completed 26 of 40 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns against SEMO.

• Connected with 10 different pass-catchers in Week One, replacing first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch under center.

• He redshirted in 2013 at Tennessee after suffering a leg injury. In 2015, he was quarterback at Coffeyville CC and was 225 of 332 for 2,942 yards and 35 touchdowns, earning first-team all-KJCCC honors.

No. 3: WR Anthony Miller | 5-11, 190, jr.

Memphis wide receiver Anthony Miller (3) gets past Navy safety Lorentez Barbour (2) to score a touchdown on an 11-yard pass reception in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, in Memphis, Tenn.

• Miller was dominant in the season opener with nine receptions for 103 yards. It was his fifth-career 100-yard receiving game and he was one catch shy of tying his career high.

• The redshirt junior made four starts last season, finishing third on the team with 47 receptions and ranking second with 694 yards. He added nine carries for 54 yards and a score.

• Along with his talent at receiver, Miller is the top option as a punt returner. He returned three punts against SEMO for 33 yards.

No. 54: C Drew Kyser | 6-5, 300, soph.

• Last year, he played in all 13 games as a true freshman with 12 starts. He was instrumental in an offense that finished 19th in the nation in total offense (486.9 yards per game).

• Named to the Remington Trophy fall watch list, awarded to the top center in the country.

No. 8: CB Arthur Maulet | 5-11, 190, sr.

• Don’t let the 0 receptions vs. Missouri State fool you. Cross earned first-team all-AAC honors in 2014 for a reason.

• The tight end caught three passes for 69 yards and a TD in the Tigers’ bowl win over BYU to close 2014.

• On the John Mackey Award watch list for the nation’s top tight end.

No. 46 : PK Jake Elliott | 5-10, 165, sr.

• One of the top place kickers in the nation, earning preseason All-America honors from USA Today. He earned second-team honors from Sports Illustrated and third team from Athlon Sports.

• In 2015, Elliott tied a school record by making 23 of 28 field goals. He drilled two field goals in the season opener, both longer than 40 yards.

• The kicker set a new school record by hitting 63 extra points, going perfect in the process. He’s made his last 147 PAT attempts.

• Four of Elliott’s seven kickoffs went for touchbacks in the season opener.

• The two-time AAC Special Teams Player of the Year ranks third on the school’s all-time scoring list with 333 points. Elliott only trails New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski (369) and Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (362).