It took some patience, but Memphis football is out of the question in the spring portal window.
The Tigers signed former Oklahoma defensive back Reggie Grimes II on Sunday night, bringing a highly touted recruit from Ravenwood High School back to his home state. Grimes played four seasons at Oklahoma after choosing the Sooners over other power conference offers and made 43 tackles during his Norman career.
Grimes has played in just four games in 2023 and could have two years of eligibility remaining. He adds to a Memphis defensive front that lost the stalwart Jaylon Allen after last season, but has plenty of depth along the line. Grimes is the first defensive player to commit to the Tigers during the spring, but Memphis landed a commitment from former UMass running back Greg Desrosiers early Sunday.
The 6-foot-4, 278-pound Antioch native was #1 on the Tennessean’s Dandy Dozena collection of the Nashville area’s top college football prospects in 2019. He entered the transfer portal in December and received offers from Oklahoma State and Texas State, among others.
It’s the second year in a row that an Oklahoma defensive lineman has transferred to Memphis. Last year it was Josh Ellison, who made 30 tackles for the Tigers in 2023.
Although there were more departures than arrivals during the spring, the Tigers signed more than 30 players during the early signing period and winter transfer window.
Memphis begins its season on August 31 when it hosts North Alabama.
Contact sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or at X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on the Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Football Signs Former Oklahoma Defensive Lineman Reggie Grimes
