The UAB football team took another loss on the chin last week but dejection is not an option with the Blazers renewing the Battle for the Bones against Memphis, Saturday, Oct. 21, at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2.

So how do the teams match up? Here is AL.com’s position-by-position breakdown for UAB’s showdown with the Tigers:

Quarterback

Jacob Zeno has his lowest output of the season in the loss at UTSA and his potential is only limited by the performance of the offensive line and his own self-inflicted wounds. He has passed 1,905 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions, adding 135 yards and four scores on the ground, and leads a unit ranked 24th in passing offense (294 ypg).

Landry Lyddy has seen his first snaps in the last two weeks, going 8-of-13 for 53 yards and a pick, and third-string quarterback Harrison Barker is 1-for-3 for 17 yards while rushing for 50 yards on six attempts. Not only have the backups thrown a pass but Terrell McDonald and Fred Farrier II are a combined 2-of-2 for 83 yards.

The Memphis offense is predicated upon the passing game, which ranks 28th in that category (284.3 ypg), and Seth Henigan has taken almost every snap this season. The junior quarterback has passed for 1,697 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while adding 129 yards and three scores on the ground. Tevin Carter has appeared in three games but only in those that were already decided. Advantage: Even

Running back

UAB running back Jermaine Brown Jr. has certainly found his groove after slowly gaining his strength back from a spring injury and has 588 total yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on the season. The senior running back currently has 4,265 career all-purpose yards, needing 405 more to set the program’s all-time record, and has the Blazers ranked 75th in rushing offense (145 ypg).

Isaiah Jacobs amassed 249 rushing yards and three touchdowns, along with 17 receptions for 63 yards, before being sidelined the last two games and his availability is still contingent heading into the Battle for the Bones. Lee Beebe has played well as the current second option, rushing for 89 yards and a score, and Lee Witherspoon and Demetrius Battle are as capable of toting the rock.

Along with its deep pool of running backs, UAB has also utilized receivers Brandon Buckhaulter, TJ Jones and Amare Thomas in the running game – combined on nine attempts for 114 yards.

Although the Tigers prefer the pass, their running game complements the pass to create a top-50 offensive attack. Old Dominion graduate transfer Blake Watson has a team-high 82 carries for 468 yards and six touchdowns, along with 26 receptions for 233 yards and a score, and sophomore Sutton Smith is second on the team with 169 yards and two touchdowns and 10 catches for 50 yards. Mississippi State transfer Ke’Travion Hargrove and former North Illinois transfer and MAC Freshman of the Year Jay Ducker fill out the depth and have combined on 19 attempts for 84 yards. Advantage: Even

Receiver/tight end

The Blazers have no shortage of talent in the receiving corps and five players have at least 100 yards this season, along with running back Jermaine Brown Jr. and tight end Bryce Damous.

Senior Tejhaun Palmer leads the unit with 25 receptions for a team-high 386 yards and three touchdowns, followed by true freshman Amare Thomas with a team-high 35 catches for 326 yards and a pair of scores. Samario Rudolph has 18 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown, and Fred Farrier II has 13 receptions for 198 yards.

TJ Jones and Brandon Buckhaulter are used in the short passing game on screens, sweeps and reverses, and the latter has a 75-yard touchdown on one such lateral play. Damous leads the tight end group with 18 receptions for 161 yards and a score, and Dallas Payne and Terrell McDonald have a combined 14 catches for 136 yards while providing solid pass blocking on the edges.

Memphis has plenty of talent on the outside, led by former Oxford (Ala.) standout Roc Taylor and his team-high 34 receptions for 507 yards and two touchdowns, and rotates five wideouts with at least 100 yards and a score on the season. Toledo transfer Demeer Blankumsee has settled in nicely as the second option, aside from Watson out of the backfield, and has 25 catches for 357 yards and three scores.

Koby Drake has 14 receptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns, while averaging 8.7 yards on punt returns, and Joe Scates has 10 catches for 114 yards and three scores. Missouri graduate transfer Tauskie Dove is averaging 22 yards per reception, but has only seven catches after amassing 86 receptions and 1,164 yards during his Missouri career, and tight end Anthony Landphere has 11 catches for 82 yards. Advantage: Even

Offensive line

The Blazers have shown slight improvement behind an inexperienced offensive line and seem to have established their primary starting five at the midway point of the season. Despite the running game receiving a spark the last few weeks, the unit has allowed opponents to live in the backfield and given up 58 tackles for loss and 19 sacks.

Left tackle Will Parker and center Brady Wilson have started every game at their respective positions, and redshirt freshman Luke Jones has taken over left guard the last four games. Brennan Moran assumed right guard duties for two games, on the road at Georgia and Tulane, but an injury forced Quez Yates back into action the last two games. Trey Bedosky started the first five games at right tackle but Tater Reid has taken control of the position the last two weeks.

Memphis has the luxury of an established offensive line, outside of a pair of first-time starters at the tackle positions, and the unit has allowed only 13 sacks and 36 tackles for loss this season. Redshirt senior and three-year starter Jacob Likes is the anchor at center, while redshirt juniors Jonah Gambill and Davion Carter are returners at the guard positions. Makylan Pounders earned two starts last season before making his full-time debut this year at left tackle and LSU transfer Xavier Hill has a lock on right tackle. Advantage: Memphis

Defensive line

Considering the experience returning and an influx of young talent, UAB’s defensive line has underperformed this season and penetration into the backfield has been almost non-existent with the unit helping rank 122nd in rushing defense (202.3 ypg) and collecting a third of the team’s sacks and tackles for loss. Senior defensive end Michael Fairbanks II leads the unit on the edge and has 16 tackles (1.5 for loss) while forcing a team-high three fumbles.

Senior nose tackle Kevin Penn continues to lead the defensive line grouping with 19 tackles (3 for loss) and three sacks, followed by fellow senior and defensive tackle Fish McWilliams with 14 tackles (1.5 for loss) and a sack. True freshman Miquon Merriweather is developing at a rapid rate on the interior, starting against South Florida in place of an injured Penn, and fellow true freshmen Eamon Smalls and Emmanuel Waller are also earning valuable playing time with Tyrique Howard and Joke Gill on the mend.

Memphis operates out of a multiple 3-4 base, currently ranking 59th in total defense (366.8 ypg), and its defensive line is a deep unit led by Oklahoma transfer defensive tackle Josh Ellison, who paces the group with 17 tackles (3.5 for loss) and a sack. Redshirt juniors Derick Hunter and Hank Pearson work in relief behind Ellison and have a combined 15 tackles (2.5 for loss) with Hunter adding 1.5 sacks.

CorMontae Hamilton is first off the edge at defense end, posting 14 tackles (1 for loss) and a sack, and Louisiana Tech transfer Keveian’ta Spears, along with Joshua White and Jarra Anderson, form a dynamic trio at nose tackle. Spears and Anderson each have a sack, combining for 11 tackles (4 for loss), and Hamilton and fellow defensive end William Whitlow both have a fumble recovery. Advantage: Memphis

Linebackers

UAB has plenty of setbacks at linebacker this season but there have been few pleasant surprises with former reserves stepping into larger roles. Michael Moore is a prime example with the senior amassing 40 tackles (4 for loss) at the SAM position, along with Nikia Eason Jr. who is tied for a team-high three sacks and two fumble recoveries. Desmond Little is feeling more comfortable at UAB’s edge-rusher position and has 17 tackles (4.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks.

Jackson Bratton commands the entire defensive unit from his middle linebacker position and has 38 tackles (3.5 for loss), two sacks and a fumble recovery. Redshirt sophomore Will Sorrells and true freshman Everett Roussaw split time at the other inside spot, combining for 39 tackles (2 for loss) and 1.5 sacks, and Tamarious Brown and James Smyre have each made five appearances.

The Tigers get top production from the linebacker corps and are led by ETSU transfer Chandler Martin, who has a team-high 46 tackles (6 for loss) and a sack. Geoffrey Cantin-Arku works beside Martin in the middle, racking up 30 tackles (1.5 for loss) and forcing two fumbles, and Cincir Evans has 21 tackles (3 for loss), a sack and a pass breakup while working from multiple vantage points.

Memphis utilizes its “Buck” position the same as a JACK linebacker and has two dangerous edge-rushers in Jaylon Allen and Fresno State transfer Andres Fox, the latter of which will miss the first half due to actions last week in a loss to Tulane. Allen has 19 tackles (3 for loss) and a fumble recovery, while Fox has 10 tackles (2.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble and recovery. Advantage: Memphis

Secondary

The Blazers have few positives on defense and the secondary is one of those in ranking 67th in passing yards allowed (226.1 ypg) and collecting six interceptions on the season. Senior safety Keondre Swoopes has showcased his versatility with starting assignments at both the STAR and strong safety positions and leads the team with 42 tackles, while grabbing an interception and a fumble recovery in the win over South Florida.

Ike Rowell started the first four games at strong safety, giving way to Swoopes the last three contests, but has contributed at a high level with 30 tackles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. Ray Thornton III has earned three starts at free safety, providing 13 tackles and three pass breakups, and Damien Miller has missed the last two games after collecting 17 tackles and forcing a pair of fumbles in moonlighting at both safety and linebacker.

AJ Brown has appeared in every game, primarily in a reserve role, and true freshman Chris Bracy has six appearances with 11 tackles and an interception. Senior Damon Miller continues to manage a nagging injury and has three games under his belt.

Mac McWilliams leads the cornerback unit with 32 tackles and five pass breakups, followed by BJ Mayes with 21 tackles, six pass breakups and a team-high two interceptions, and Colby Dempsey has 24 tackles and an AAC-leading eight pass breakups. True freshman Ricky Lee III has played in every game while gathering eight tackles, a pass breakup and an interception, and Auburn transfer A.D. Diamond and T’sai McDonald round out the current rotation.

Memphis has five of its top 10 tacklers in the secondary but it’s not actually a bad thing for a unit that ranks 55th in passing yards allowed (218.8 ypg). DeAgo Brumfield is the top corner for the Tigers, posting 18 tackles (2 for loss) and a team-high seven pass breakups, and redshirt freshman DJ Bell has 15 tackles, three pass breakups and a pick-6 on the other side. Redshirt senior Julian Barnett rounds out the rotation.

Arkansas graduate transfer Simeon Blair leads the backend at safety with 29 tackles (1.5 for loss), three pass breakups and a forced fumble and recovery, followed by Greg Rubin with 25 tackles (1.5 for loss), two pass breakups and a sack. Cameron Smith completes a strong trio at safety, racking up 20 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception, and An’Darius Coffey takes up shop at the STAR position. Advantage: Even

Special Teams

Matt Quinn is having an up-and-down season with a 6-for-10 showing on field goal attempts but has the leg and accuracy to make kicks in clutch moments. Arkansas transfer Patrick Foley is averaging 41.7 yards per punt and is one of the more pleasant surprises for the Blazers this season. UAB’s kickoff team still needs work but the return game has plenty of talent with Mac McWilliams, Jermaine Brown Jr. and Kameran Shanks returning kicks.

The current punter for Arkansas must be a good one as Memphis and UAB both have former Razorbacks handling the field position battle. Graduate transfer Reid Baur averaged 42 yards per punt during his Arkansas career and currently has an average of 44.1 yards for the Tigers, while forcing 16 fair catches and sticking 10 kicks inside the 20. Redshirt juniors Seth Morgan and Tanner Gillis have shared field goal duties this season while combining to go 5-of-7 with Morgan missing attempts of 24 and 50 yards. Advantage: Memphis

Coaching

UAB faces an uphill battle to bowl eligibility but Trent Dilfer remains positive despite the challenges of his first season coaching on the college level. The Blazers are making marked improvement on the field but self-inflicted wounds have prevented them from reaching their potential. Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield is in his fourth season leading the Tigers, producing a 25-18 overall record and 12-14 showing in league play, but has finished no better than third (2020) since taking the reins of the program. Advantage: Memphis

Overall

Both teams have high-volume offenses and vulnerable defenses and anything could and should happen in the renewal of the Battle for the Bones following a decade-long absence on the schedule. The Blazers have the home advantage and are intent on bringing the rack of ribs back home to Birmingham. Advantage: UAB