Memphis has been so focused on a bowl game in Texas that one can be forgiven for forgetting there’s a bowl game here in Memphis. And this one will have some Memphis talent in it as well.
The Navy Midshipmen take on the Kansas State Wildcats in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. And while K-State has exactly ZERO men from Memphis on the squad, four former standouts in Memphis will be suited up and ready to go. Here they are, at a glance (Info courtesy of navysports.com):
Cameron Kinley (No. 3)
Name: Cameron Kinley
High School: Lausanne Collegiate School
Class and Position: Junior, CB
Notes: A 2017 graduate of Lausanne Collegiate School, Kinley was a three-sport standout who earned letters in basketball (1), football (4) and track & field (3) … earned First-Team Div. II All-State (Tenn.) recognition in football his senior year … also earned First-Team All-Metro and Best of the Preps honors … served as captain of the football team his senior year … a two-time all-region track performer who was also twice named Best of Preps … served as Class Secretary as a junior and Co-Class President as a senior …
Caleb Clear (No. 29)
Name: Caleb Clear
High School: Cordova High School
Class and Position: Sophomore, CB
Notes: A 2017 graduate of Cordova High School, Clear attended the Naval Academy Prep School during the 2017-18 academic year … a three-year football letterwinner who twice lettered at Central High School before lettering his final year at Cordova … also received an offer from Western Kentucky … son of Michael and Angilean Clear …majoring in quantitative economics.
Luke Coleman (No. 58)
Name: Luke Coleman
High School: Briarcrest Christian School
Class and Position: Freshman, OL
Notes: A 2018 graduate of Briarcrest Christian School, Coleman attended the Naval Academy Prep School during the 2018-19 academic year … a five-sport athlete who earned letters in baseball (1), bowling (1), football (3), track & field (1) and wrestling (2) … named the team MVP in bowling his senior year and the wrestling MVP in 2016 … served on Student Council for two years … brother, Duke Coleman, played football at Lane College … son of Duke and Leslie Coleman.
Jacobi Rice (No. 63)
Name: Jacobi Rice
High School: Whitehaven High School
Class and Position: Freshman, NG
Notes: A 2019 graduate of Whitehaven High School, Rice was a four-year football letterwinner who guided Whitehaven to the 2016 state championship behind a 15-0 record … garnered All-Region recognition as a senior … member of the National Technical Honor Society and served as the chapter president … high school teammate of Notre Dame’s Donte Vaughn (CB), along with eight other players who currently play for FBS teams … received offers from 10 programs, including Army … son of Jacobi Rice and Shanteau Birgs.
