What Marcus Stokes said about transferring to Memphis, QB competition
Here's what Marcus Stokes said about why he signed with Memphis football out of the transfer portal and the Tigers' QB competition so far.
During Marcus Stokes' first team meeting with Memphis football, he noticed something he hadn't heard in his three years at West Florida — a curse word. At West Florida, there was no cursing around the building. "I'm not saying either or is bad, but when I heard Coach (Charles) Huff cuss in the first meeting, I was like, 'Damn.
I ain't used to it,' " Stokes said March 28. "You know what I'm saying? So it took some getting used to, probably the first two weeks.
" Stokes arrived at Memphis after a decorated career with the Argonauts. He threw for 3,297 yards, 30 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2025, rushed for 367 yards and 10 touchdowns, and was named Gulf South Conference offensive player of the year. He also was named a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, known as the Division II Heisman.
After entering the portal and signing with Memphis, he's in a quarterback competition that includes South Carolina transfer Air Noland and Southern Miss transfer Denzel Gardner. "Ever since I was little, I just always loved competition," Stokes said. "I ain't never shied away from it.