West Florida transfer Marcus Stokes to start at QB for Memphis football vs UNLV

West Florida's Marcus Stokes will take the starting quarterback position for the Memphis football team in their season opener against UNLV, as announced on the pregame radio show. Stokes outshone South Carolina transfer Air Noland for the starting role. Known for his standout performances at the Division II level, Stokes caught the attention of Memphis offensive coordinator Kevin Decker during his time at Old Dominion.

Decker continued to recruit Stokes upon joining the Memphis staff last year, and the two seem to have a strong fit for Decker's fast-paced offense. Stokes boasts an impressive resume, having thrown for 3,297 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 2025, earning him the Gulf South Conference offensive player of the year title and a finalist spot for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is synonymous with the Division II Heisman.

Additionally, he contributed 367 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Originally a four-star recruit from Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Florida, Stokes had initially committed to Penn State before moving to Florida. However, his scholarship was revoked after a video surfaced online of him using a racial slur while singing along to a rap song.

As a result, he transferred to West Florida, redshirted in 2023, and became the starting quarterback in 2024. He truly thrived during the 2025 season. Memphis's 2026 campaign kicks off on the road against UNLV on August 29th at 9 PM on FOX. For further inquiries, sports writer Jonah Dylan can be reached at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.