The University of Memphis closes its 15-session spring practice with Saturday’s Blue Gray Scrimmage. (And, yes, it’s a scrimmage, not a game).

Tiger coach Tommy West said after Friday’s workout at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium that a rash of injuries might limit the length of the scrimmage.

Receiver Duke Calhoun (knee), running back T.J. Pitts (ankle) and linebacker Tommy Phelps (chest) were among the higher-profile players who didn’t participate in spring practice because of injuries. Linebacker Josh Weaver (shoulder) and offensive lineman Dominik Riley (knee) were injured during the spring. None of the five will play in the scrimmage.

“We’re still banged up a little bit,” West said. “If it gets too bad, we just won’t be here very long.”

As for those who will play and what to watch for:

***The Quarterbacks: Arkelon Hall, the junior college transfer, and Matt Malouf, the sophomore-to-be, have been competing from the start the competition will resume in August. Hall owns a quick release and throws from various arm angles, mostly sidearm. Malouf is emerging as an accurate thrower and, as most know from watching him a year ago, is an adept runner.

***The Running Backs: Pick up a roster sheet that U of M sports information staff will provide. There’s no Joe Doss (he completed his eligibility) and there’s no T.J. Pitts (see injury list above). That leaves junior college transfer Curtis Steele, who sat out last season as a redshirt; Jeremy Longstreet, a converted linebacker; and Mike Davis, a freshman from Franklin, Tenn. Steele is the speediest of the trio, Longstreet has made strides since making the switch last month and Davis has the potential to be a powerful back.

***The Defense: Even with Weaver and Phelps out, this unit has been the story of the spring behind first-year coordinator Tim Walton. It’s been an aggressive, attacking unit not afraid to play press-man coverage.

The University of Memphis football team finally was able to practice on its Murphy Athletic Complex fields Tuesday after last week’s rains had saturated the area forcing the Tigers to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

At the end of Tuesday’s workout, the Tigers scrimmaged for about 25 plays — all in the red zone. The defense made its presence felt for the first 16 snaps (Michael Grandberry had a pick in the end zone, freshman defensive back Jermaine Richardson added several big hits and Tony Bell and Steven Turner combined on a second-and-goal stop from the 1-yard line).

But the scrimmage ended with the offense executing as well. Junior college quarterback Arkelon Hall tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Singleton, converted linebacker Jeremy Longstreet ran 17 yards for another score and Hall ended the practice with a 15-yard TD run.

“A point of emphasis for us on offense (this year) is scoring touchdowns,” Tiger coach Tommy West said. “We didn’t start good (in the scrimmage), but we finished pretty good. We’re getting a little better at different things every day.”

Somewhat overshadowed by the University of Memphis basketball team’s run to the Sweet 16 has been the start of the Tiger football team’s spring practice.

The Tigers concluded their first week — including two workouts in full gear Friday and Saturday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium — with junior college transfer quarterback Arkelon Hall getting a crash course in the U of M’s spread offense. Tiger coach Tommy West said Hall needs some help with his footwork, a component in which offensive coordinator Clay Helton excels.

Week Two will likely see the Tigers conducting full-scale scrimmages Wednesday and Saturday.

There’s been a rash of reported visits by Terrelle Pryor, the nation’s top-rated and still unsigned prep football prospect, to the University of Memphis.

As of Wednesday, Pryor, a 6-6, 225-pound dual-threat quarterback, had not scheduled a trip to Memphis. He was not here for Feb. 23 game between the then-No. 1 Tigers and then-No. 2 Tennessee and he did not attend last weekend’s game at FedExForum against UAB as was widely reported. Whether or not he’ll actually made a visit remains in question.

Pryor, who is leading his team deep into the Pennsylvania Class AA basketball playoffs, has spent the past few days dealing with the aftermath of a postgame brawl between his Jeannette (Pa.) High team and Pittsburgh (Pa.) North Catholic. Pryor and his teammates avoided suspensions earlier this week when the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League imposed a two-year probation on the participating teams and instructed the players and coaches from both teams to take anger management classes.

Pryor, the nation’s top football recruit according to Rivals.com and Scout.com, resumes his basketball career tonight in a Class AA semifinal game against Erie (Pa.) North East. Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Oregon remain his top football choices and he said he’ll make a decision after basketball season ends.

Talked with the father of Tallahassee Lincoln High quarterback B.J. Daniels Tuesday and he said Memphis remained in the running for his son, rated the No. 8 dual-threat QB in the country according to Rivals.com.

It was difficult to get a handle on B.J.’s preference. His father, Bruce, said his son will make his decision between Memphis and South Florida during a noon press conference at the school Wednesday. And Bruce said he had no idea on which way his son will go.

Daniels could be one of most significant signees for Tiger coach Tommy West during his seven-year run at the U of M. He is the ideal run-pass threat to make a spread offense hum.

Bruce praised the recruiting effort of Tiger assistant Darin Hinshaw, a former University of Central Florida quarterback and said his son was captivated by the thought of playing some basketball for the top-ranked men’s team.

As Wednesday’s National Signing Day approaches, the University of Memphis remains in the hunt for a prized recruit: dual-threat quarterback B.J. Daniels of Tallahassee, Fla.

Memphis may have moved up on Daniels’ list last week when one of his suitors — South Florida — received a commitment from quarterback Evan Landi of Coral Springs, Fla. Landi, who may end up at another position, has been promised a chance to play quarterback.

And Memphis could be a legitimate choice for Daniels if Michigan nabs the nation’s No. 1 recruit — dual-threat QB Terrelle Pryor of Jeannette, Pa. New Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez was in Jeannette last weekend to watch Pryor, like Daniels a basketball standout, too — participate in a high school hoops game.

Daniels is intrigued by the opportunity to also play basketball for the U of M, which dispatched assistant Chuck Martin to Tallahassee last week to see Daniels play. Daniels made his official visit to the U of M Jan. 25-27 and watched the top-ranked Tigers beat Gonzaga.

“I’ve talked to some of the (U of M basketball) assistants and they told me I’d have a chance to play both sports,” Daniels said. “Of course, with the football team running the spread offense, that’s something I’d love to play in. I feel like that’s where I can use my abilities.
“I like to get the ball to the playmakers. I like to get it in their hands. That’s what attracts me about Memphis . . . that and their basketball team is No. 1 in the country.”

Daniels said he’s friends with several U of M students, including Lady Tiger basketball player Jessica Hall, who is from Tallahassee and a starting guard for the U of M.

“They say they love it there,” Daniels said. “But I plan on making my decision on signing day.”

When University of Memphis football coach Tommy West hires Tim Walton as his defensive coordinator — possibly as early as next week — it will represent a second chance for West and Walton.

West desperately wanted to hire Walton, a former Ohio State defensive back and ex-Tiger assistant, a year ago. But Walton couldn’t pass up an attractive offer to become the University of Miami’s DC under first-year coach Randy Shannon.

Walton and Shannon didn’t see eye to eye and Shannon dismissed Walton in mid-December. West won’t miss an opportunity to reel Walton back to Memphis.

In Walton, West will have a defensive coordinator who will run the 4-3 defense with the same precision and effectiveness West ran it during the latter stages of the 2006 season, when West served as the team’s interim DC. And in Walton, West will have a strong, young recruiter with a solid reputation in talent-rich Florida.

It’s a win-win situation for West. And it’s a great situation for Walton, who should benefit from retaining a defensive coordinator’s title.