Memphis football's revamped defense aced its first test. How far can it take the Tigers?

Half an hour after Memphis football 's season-opening win over North Alabama , linebacker Chandler Martin summed up Jordon Hankins' defensive scheme.

"If we have a call that doesn't allow us to play fast, we throw it out," Martin said. "Coach Hankins does a great job of allowing us to think less and play faster."

There was never a moment during the Tigers' 40-0 win where the ultimate result was in any doubt, but the defensive performance was still noteworthy — it was their first shutout since a 59-0 win over North Alabama in 2022. Saturday's game at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium was the first chance for fans to see what Memphis' defense would look like under Hankins , and the early returns were certainly encouraging.

There were three takeaways, including an interception from Davion Ross, the cornerback who missed almost the entirety of the 2023 season after suffering an injury in the second game of the season. There was almost a fourth, when Martin scooped up a fumble and took it to the end zone before the play was called back after replay review.

Memphis wants to make the expanded College Football Playoff this season. To get there, the defense has to be better than last season's, when the Tigers were 92nd in the country in scoring defense and routinely had problems containing explosive offenses.

"To be honest, we weren't that good on defense last year," said Martin, a first-team All-AAC performer who led Memphis in tackles a season ago and on Saturday. "And I take that personally. So I tell my guys all the time, 'We're going to be good on defense this year. We're not going to have to let the offense score 50 points. We're not doing that no more.' We just take pride in every play, and we'll let the results take care of themselves."

Hankins — who's also the linebackers coach — took over as interim defensive coordinator before the AutoZone Liberty Bowl win over Iowa State and instituted an entirely new defensive scheme in less than a month. That had the Cyclones guessing all game, and it ended with a remarkable stat: Memphis allowed zero rushing yards .

He earned the full-time job a few days later . Throughout the offseason, Hankins has said the defensive scheme might change on a week-by-week basis — so there's no telling if the team that trots out against Troy on Saturday (11 a.m. CT, ESPNU) will look anything like the one that dominated North Alabama. It's hard to argue with the results, though — zero rushing yards allowed, and then a shutout.

"If he can just keep this done consistently for the rest of the season, he'll be my best friend," coach Ryan Silverfield said.

There were plenty of notable contributors and lots of new faces. Harvard transfer Matt Hudson came up with an interception, and Tennessee transfer Elijah Herring had four tackles and a sack. The strength of the defense is without question the linebacker corps, with Hudson, Herring and Martin a formidable trio that had complete control of Saturday's game.

Georgia State transfer Javon Denis had a fumble recovery and Louisiana-Monroe transfer AJ Watts was second on the team with five tackles.

In other words: This is a remade defense around Martin.

"Kudos to our defense," quarterback Seth Henigan said. "A shutout is always amazing. Really proud of our guys in every single phase. Chandler Martin played a great game, we had multiple turnovers. That's going to set up your team to win the game and be successful 10 out of 10 times."

Last season's success was about the offense, with Henigan often putting up gaudy numbers and helping Memphis to shootout wins, like the 59-50 triumph over South Florida or the 45-42 escape at North Texas. Those games featured significant defensive lapses, though, and the Tigers won't get to the College Football Playoff if that continues.

"If they can go three takeaways every game and play like that," Silverfield said, "we've got ourselves a chance."

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis football's revamped defense aced its first test. How far can it take the Tigers?