If the quarterbacks are the headline of Memphis spring ball, the running backs are the plot twist that will decide how balanced this offense really becomes. The Tigers did not just tweak this room in the offseason; they rebuilt it, betting that a mix of veteran transfers and rising talent can give them the kind of backfield that keeps defenses honest and the playoff dream alive.
New Bellcow Wanted, Enter Dallan Hayden
Walk into a Memphis practice this spring, and it does not take long to find Dallan Hayden. He is the one who looks like he has seen everything a power conference defense can throw at him, then decided to come here and carry the ball even more. After four seasons at big-name programs, he arrives as the most proven runner in the room, bringing with him a heavy workload of college carries, a physical running style, and a reputation for doing the dirty work between the tackles.
Hayden’s recent numbers tell the story of why this staff moved so quickly to get him. He averaged strong yardage per carry last season, ran with low pad level, and rarely went down on first contact. In an offense that wants to play with tempo and hit explosive plays, having a back who can keep the chains in manageable situations is everything. He hits creases decisively, he does not spend time dancing in the backfield, and he has the vision to feel when a cutback lane opens behind overpursuing linebackers.
What really makes Hayden a fit as a potential starter is his maturity. Coaches trust him in pass protection, they trust him to handle the ball late in games, and they trust his habits in the meeting room. For a Memphis team that will likely break in a new starting quarterback, having a back who can clean up blitzes and keep the pocket firm is a quiet but crucial part of the equation. If Hayden stays healthy, it is easy to picture him as the steady heartbeat of the offense, logging twenty touches a game while the passing attack hunts for big plays on the perimeter.
The Versatile Hammer, Manny Covey
Memphis did not stop at one headline transfer. Manny Covey joins the backfield as a different style of runner, a sturdy back with a lower center of gravity and the kind of contact balance that makes arm tackles a waste of time. Listed as an experienced upperclassman on the depth chart, Covey brings age and a skill set that screams situational weapon, short yardage, red zone, and clock-killing drives when the Tigers are trying to close out wins.
Covey has enough speed to hit a crease, but his best work comes when he gets square to the line of scrimmage and drives his legs through traffic. He is the kind of back who turns second and eight into third and three, who can fall forward in piles and keep the offense ahead of the chains. That has real value in Kevin Decker’s system, because staying on schedule allows the play caller to keep everything in the menu instead of chasing long yardage miracles.
He is also more than just a grinder. Film from his previous stop shows comfort catching the ball in the flat and on angle routes, turning simple completions into hidden yards after contact. If Memphis leans into that, Covey can become a safety valve for a young quarterback, a reliable option when a progression breaks down, or pressure arrives faster than expected. In a playoff chase, those little outlet plays can flip field position and bleed clock in ways that never make the highlight reel but matter deeply in November.
The Wildcard, Jaylin Carter
Then there is Jaylin Carter, the sophomore transfer from Southern Miss, who might be the most intriguing long-term piece in the room. Carter arrives with modest raw numbers, but the efficiency and versatility inside those snaps caught the eye of the Memphis staff.
Carter is a true space player. He has enough burst to threaten the edge on outside runs and enough wiggle to make the first defender miss in the open field. In an offense that wants to stretch defenses horizontally, he fits perfectly as a change-of-pace option, motioning out of the backfield, aligning in the slot, and forcing linebackers and safeties into coverage situations they do not really want. His hands are natural, and his background as a capable receiver suggests he can handle an increased workload in the passing game if asked.
The question for Carter this spring is durability and trust. Can he hold up to a bigger role between the tackles when needed? Can he handle the blitz pickup responsibilities that come with playing every down in this offense? If he can, Memphis suddenly has a three-headed backfield that can give opponents completely different looks without a substitution, pounding them with Hayden, leaning on Covey’s power, then snapping off a perimeter touch to Carter just when a defense starts to creep in.
Three Backs, One Identity
The Memphis running back room in 2026 is not about finding one savior; it is about building an identity out of complementary strengths. Hayden brings the veteran bellcow profile, steady, tough, unafraid of contact, the back you trust when everyone in the stadium knows you are running the ball. Covey adds the hammer, who can win the most physical downs and still catch enough passes to keep defenses honest. Carter layers in explosiveness and matchup problems, the kind of player who can change a game with one well-timed screen or perimeter run.
In spring, coaches will rotate them heavily, testing how each handles inside run periods, red zone drills, third down situations, and two-minute offense. By the time fall camp opens, the goal is not just to have a depth chart, it is to have a clear plan, which backs close which quarter, who owns the short yardage snaps, who gets the touches in must-score drives. For a Memphis team dreaming about playing meaningful football in December, the answer at running back will matter almost as much as the one at quarterback.
