Memphis fans hope for reassurance about life after Seth Henigan got just that this week.
In a recent breakdown by College Sports Network writer Oliver Hodgkinson, new Memphis signal-caller Brendon Lewis was ranked No. 23 on the top 25 returning quarterbacks in college football for 2025. For a program in transition at one of the sport’s most important positions, the analysis provides validation for head coach Ryan Silverfield’s aggressive offseason moves and a glimpse of why expectations remain sky-high for the Tigers heading into the new season.
The ranking was powered by CSN’s proprietary QB+ metric, a grading system that evaluates quarterback performance beyond surface-level stats. Lewis finished with a 79.2 QB+ score in 2024, grading out as a C+, good for 39th nationally and narrowly behind Henigan’s 80.2 (B-) score in his final season.
At first glance, that may sound like a minor downgrade — but Hodgkinson’s deeper breakdown suggests the opposite.
“Lewis was a more dangerous threat on the ground,” Hodgkinson writes, noting 0.25 EPA (Expected Points Added) per designed rush and a staggering 0.57 EPA per scramble. He also showed notable composure in high-pressure situations, logging a clutch grade of 0.6, and performed particularly well late in games and against elite competition.
That last point stands out the most.
While Henigan’s most efficient games in 2024 came against West Virginia and Tulane, Lewis earned his highest mark of 81.1 (B-) in a narrow loss to SMU, a team that reached the College Football Playoff. That matters in a league like the American Athletic Conference, where teams are increasingly judged by how they handle playoff-caliber pressure.
A New Era Under Center
When Seth Henigan walked off the field in December following Memphis’ 42–37 win over West Virginia in the Frisco Bowl, it marked the end of one of the most productive quarterback eras in school history. Henigan left as the Tigers’ all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, with the weight of consistent success across four years.
Replacing him was always going to be a challenge.
But in Brendon Lewis, Memphis didn’t settle for a “bridge” quarterback or developmental piece. They landed an experienced, dual-threat playmaker coming off a career season with the Nevada Wolf Pack — a year in which he threw for over 2,800 yards and rushed for nearly 500 more.
Over his college career, Lewis has passed for 5,330 yards, 28 touchdowns, and completed 61% of his attempts, which shows steady production and room for growth. That experience, combined with his upside as a runner, makes him uniquely suited to lead a retooled Memphis offense in 2025.
Memphis Is Still a Contender
Some fans may look at the offseason roster overhaul and assume Memphis is in for a rebuilding year. After all, 30+ new players joined the team through the portal, and not a single defensive starter from the 2024 season opener returns, except William Whitlow, who rejoined the program after briefly entering the transfer portal.
But this isn’t a rebuild. It’s a retool with purpose.
Silverfield has brought in a mix of proven production and high-upside athletes thanks to a strong NIL infrastructure and smart recruiting. And Lewis is the centerpiece of that plan.
The QB+ analysis also suggests that Memphis may not suffer the drop-off some feared. If Lewis continues on his upward trajectory, the offense could even become more dynamic, particularly with his ability to extend plays outside the pocket and break off big gains on the ground.
This could become especially important in early matchups like Arkansas on Sept. 20, where keeping defenses honest with a dual-threat QB will be crucial.
What to Watch in 2025
Here are a few things Memphis fans should keep an eye on as Lewis takes the reins:
• Explosive Plays: Expect a more run-centric and RPO-heavy approach with Lewis at QB. His ability to break, contain, and keep defenses guessing could open up lanes for space playmakers.
• Clutch Factor: Lewis performed well late in halves and against top-tier competition — traits that could help in tight AAC games and the Tigers’ non-conference gauntlet.
• Leadership and Chemistry: With so many new faces, Lewis’s maturity and experience will be key in quickly getting everyone on the same page.
Memphis doesn’t just need Brendon Lewis to be good — they need him to be great.
And based on what we saw last season at Nevada and the early data from College Sports Network, he might be up to the task. Lewis won’t be Henigan — but he doesn’t have to be. If he plays within himself, leans into his strengths as a mobile quarterback, and makes smart decisions under pressure, he could be the key to finally getting Memphis over the AAC title game hump.
Brendon Lewis has been handed both a challenge and an opportunity for a fanbase still chasing the high of 2019 and a team eager to prove that 11-2 wasn’t its ceiling.
And so far, it looks like he’s ready for both.
