SGC's Duncan glad to walk on at Memphis
MEDINA – Austin Duncan had offers to play college football for free, but he had a dream of playing in the NCAA’s FBS division.
He made that dream a reality when he agreed to join the football program at the University of Memphis as a preferred walk-on.
The South Gibson senior celebrated that with his family and team on Wednesday.
“It was exciting to be able to do that because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Duncan, who’s played a number of positions for the Hornets program over the past four years including starting quarterback in 2015.
Communication between Duncan and Memphis started last summer, but he said he felt nervous when he didn’t hear from the Tigers during the season.
“It was pretty frustrating, honestly,” Duncan said. “But then they had a coaching change, and the new staff got in contact with me.
“They wanted me to come down and meet them and show them what I can do.”
They apparently liked what they saw as they told him the weekend before national signing day last week they wanted him to walk on and compete for a scholarship this summer.
“They want me to come down early in the summer, like not long after I graduate, so I’m planning on doing that now,” Duncan said.
It’s not set in stone yet which position Duncan will play. He said the assistant head coach is on the offensive side of the ball and wants him to play slot back. The defensive coordinator wants him to play in the secondary.
“When I get there, I’ll get involved in practice and show a little more of my skill set, and then I guess they’ll decide after that,” Duncan said. “Honestly I don’t care where I play as long as I’m on the team and get to play.
“The only thing I prefer is to play a position that allows me to get on the field earlier.”
Rimmer offered by Memphis
Milan offensive lineman Jacob Rimmer announced last week he’d received a scholarship offer from Memphis.
The Tigers’ offer now gives the lineman eight NCAA Division I offers from the SEC, ACC and American Athletic Conference as he has a little less than a year remaining before his national signing day.
Rimmer got his ninth and 10th offers Wednesday when he announced Colorado State and Western Kentucky were interested in him as well.
Bumphus gets another offer
Hardin County’s Latrell Bumphus received a pair of offers on consecutive days in early January to play college football in the Southeastern Conference from Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
He announced earlier this week he now has his third FBS offer from Louisville.
Bumphus is projected as a college tight end and is set to play his senior season at Hardin County this fall.
Winn gets first offer
Dresden quarterback and 2015 Mr. Football Class 1A Back of the Year Dresser Winn received his first NCAA Division I offer last week when Tennessee Tech told him they wanted him on their team.
The Golden Eagles, who picked up a pair of local players last week in Liberty’s Dantae Wilkes and Trinity Christian Academy’s Andrew Goldsmith, have a new coaching staff who appears to be hitting West Tennessee hard in recruiting after all the local athletes they’ve been after in the past month.
Updating schedules
With local teams looking for games, some of the teams Jackson Central-Merry played have filled the slot opened by JCM’s upcoming closing.
South Gibson is traveling to Nolensville. South Side is hosting Blackman from Murfreesboro.
McNairy is hosting Middle College from Memphis.
Milan is hosting University School of Jackson, which had an opening after Rossville Christian opted out of playing the Bruins.
Other JCM opponents in West Tennessee – Haywood, North Side, Westview, Dyersburg and Liberty – are still looking for opponents.
Another team looking for an opponent is Adamsville. The Cardinals’ Week 11 opponent last year, Lauderdale County, Ala., isn’t playing the Cardinals this year.
Head coach Brandon Gray said he hopes to have another opponent lined up in the coming weeks.
Brandon Shields, 425-9751