Iowa State Football: 5 bold predictions vs. Memphis in Liberty Bowl
By Zach Bigalke
4. Darrell Henderson, Patrick Taylor Jr. will post 100-yard games
Memphis didn’t become the second-best scoring offense in the country in 2017 solely on the strength of its passing game. The Tigers were also a formidable opponent for defenses when they kept the ball on the ground. Norvell’s squad ranked in the top 30 nationally in rushing, as they averaged more than 200 yards per game carrying the ball.
A pair of sophomores fueled the successful ground game in 2017. Darrell Henderson was the star in the backfield, leading the team with 1154 yards and racking up nine touchdowns on just 130 carries. Henderson came on strong especially during the final third of the season, racking up five straight 100-yard rushing performances.
His backfield mate, Patrick Taylor Jr., was right there with him stride for stride at the end of the season. The change-of-pace back finished 2017 with three straight 100-yard games on the ground. Memphis kept opposing defenses on their heels with the backfield tandem, opening things up for Ferguson on the back end.
In the Liberty Bowl to close out 2017, the two sophomores will both keep their streaks of 100-yard games alive heading into the 2018 season. Both Henderson and Taylor will also rack up a rushing touchdown, and Henderson might also catch three or four passes out of the backfield as a safety valve for Ferguson.