Memphis football has a major building block for its defense.
Southern Miss transfer J’Mond Tapp signed with the Tigers out of the transfer portal on Jan. 11. He was named first-team All-Sun Belt in the 2025 season and was a dominant force for the Golden Eagles.
Tapp made 70 tackles and had 7.5 sacks for Southern Miss in 2025. A highly touted recruit out of high school, Tapp started his career at Texas before transferring to Arizona State and then Southern Miss. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Tapp is one of the most established players new coach Charles Huff has brought in during the transfer portal window so far. Huff — who came to Memphis from Southern Miss and has to essentially build an entirely new roster — now has All-Sun Belt transfers from his Southern Miss team at all three levels of the defense.
In addition to Tapp, Huff is also bringing linebacker Mike Montgomery and defensive back Ian Foster. Montgomery and Foster were third-team All-Sun Belt in 2025.
“RELATIONSHIPS STILL MATTER,” Huff posted on social media platform X after Foster’s commitment and again after Tapp’s commitment.
Huff’s Memphis roster is starting to take shape. He has brought in plenty of players from Southern Miss but has also added West Florida transfer QB Marcus Stokes and Colorado transfer RB Dallan Hayden, among others.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: All-Sun Belt DL J’Mond Tapp signs with Memphis football, Charles Huff
