Just In: Memphis Tigers Lands on Another Unfortunate Update Amid Dual Departures in Football and Basketball
facing yet another setback as the program grapples with significant player movement on both the football and basketball sides, raising concerns about roster stability heading into the upcoming seasons.
In a surprising development for the football program, sources indicate that Brendon Lewis, the veteran quarterback who had been expected to anchor the position under new head coach Charles Huff, has decided to leave the team. Lewis, a senior from Melissa, Texas, entered the transfer portal late Tuesday evening after limited action in spring practices.
The move comes at a critical time for the Tigers, who are rebuilding the quarterback room following the departure of previous starters. Lewis had been viewed as a potential bridge option with his experience, but internal competition from transfers like Marcus Stokes (from West Florida) and Air Noland (from South Carolina) appears to have accelerated his exit. Coach Huff’s staff is now left to navigate a young and unproven group featuring redshirt players and incoming freshmen like Gavin Owens.
“This is tough news, but we’re focused on the guys who are committed to building something special here,” a program insider said on condition of anonymity. “The portal era makes these things more common, but it doesn’t make them easier.”
On the basketball side, the Tigers are dealing with another blow as key forward Curtis Givens III has also entered the transfer portal, officially leaving the program after just one season. Givens, who showed flashes of potential under head coach Penny Hardaway, joins a growing list of departures that includes big man Aaron Bradshaw and others who have sought new opportunities elsewhere.df5ab6
The basketball program’s heavy reliance on the transfer portal in recent years has created a revolving door effect, and losing Givens adds to the challenges of constructing a competitive roster for the 2026-27 season. Hardaway and his staff have been active in adding transfers like Jayden Reid and others to offset the exits, but the latest news contributes to a sense of uncertainty around the program’s direction following a difficult prior campaign.
These back-to-back announcements mark the latest “unfortunate update” for Memphis athletics, which has been navigating coaching transitions, portal volatility, and the pressures of the American Athletic Conference. Fans on social media expressed frustration, with many calling for greater NIL investment and retention strategies to stem the tide of departures.
Athletic Director Peter Lepage has not yet issued an official statement, but sources suggest the department remains committed to supporting both programs through this turbulent period. The Tigers football team opens its season in the fall under Huff, while the basketball squad will look to rebound under Hardaway in the winter.
Stay tuned to GoTigersGo.com and local outlets for further developments as the portal windows continue.
