Ryan Silverfield had 35 seniors to greet, but he still had a few extra seconds to spend with one of them.
Seth Henigan smiled as he shook his coach’s hand, the two sharing a brief moment during Memphis football’s senior day ceremony before Saturday’s game against UAB.
“The fact that this young man said, ‘I’m going to be a part of this.’ He’s going to go down as one of the best to ever do it wearing a Tiger uniform,” Silverfield said. “Loyalty is rare, this day and age.”
Henigan and the rest of Memphis’ seniors played their last game at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, defeating UAB 53-18 to retain the “Battle for the Bones” trophy in a matchup that was never competitive.
It might have been Henigan’s most complete game of the season, with four touchdown passes to get to a round number by the end of the night — 100 career TD passes, on the dot. It’s a program record he’s likely to extend, what with one regular-season game and a bowl game left.
The 100th went to a fellow senior in backup tight end Jamauri Chislom, and it was Chislom’s first with the Tigers.
“I didn’t know it was my 100th touchdown pass,” Henigan said. “I just knew it was Jamauri’s first.”
It was a vintage quote from Henigan, who has almost always deferred to his teammates when he breaks records or wins games, but takes the blame when things go the other way.
The Tigers (9-2, 5-2 AAC) were picked in the preseason to win the conference title, but they were officially eliminated from contention earlier in the day, meaning this senior class will leave Memphis having never gone to an AAC title game. So Saturday’s win did nothing to quell the disappointment about failing to reach that goal. But it did provide a positive sendoff for a class that has had an outsized impact on the program.
Silverfield talked about recruiting safety Greg Rubin at White Station High School, watching him miss shots in a basketball gym in “terrible, ugly-looking orange pants.” About recruiting Henigan over Zoom. About recruiting receiver Roc Taylor a day after he had his offer pulled by Tennessee.
About watching guard Jonah Gambill stretching before a high school game and wondering if he was the right fit for the Tigers. About recruiting running back Brandon Thomas at North Little Rock High School and thinking, “I don’t know what you are, but you’re going to come play football at the University of Memphis.”
Rubin became a four-year starter and defensive leader. Gambill started for four seasons, filling in at multiple positions on the offensive line and serving as a captain this season. Taylor has more than 2,000 career receiving yards. Thomas rushed for his 33rd career touchdown Saturday night.
And Henigan? Well, he threw 100 touchdowns.
“This group will certainly go down as something very, very special,” Silverfield said.
The Tigers’ offense will look almost unrecognizable next season with new faces at quarterback, three receivers, one running back, at least two offensive linemen and an almost completely new tight end room.
Defensively, they’ll lose Rubin, fellow safety AJ Watts, cornerbacks Davion Ross and Kobee Minor, linebacker Matt Hudson and defensive linemen Javon Denis and Patrick Lucas Jr. Star linebacker Chandler Martin was honored during senior day but has another year of eligibility.
So many seniors meant a quick ceremony, but there was still room for plenty of emotion. And the roar of applause was extra loud for Rubin, who announces his hometown as “901” during pregame intros and played four years for his hometown team.
“It’s been crazy,” Rubin said. “It’s been a crazy journey for me. Just to do it in my backyard, represent my city, it’s been crazy and special. It’s special, though. I don’t regret no moment.”
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
