There's a buzz of excitement around the University of Memphis football program this summer. And coach Mike Norvell can sense it.

Before traveling to Newport, R.I., for the American Athletic Conference's media kickoff event, which begins Monday, the Tigers' second-year head coach sat down with The Commercial Appeal to talk about that excitement, some of the newcomers who have impressed in summer workouts and more. Some of his answers have been edited for clarity and length.

Q: What is going to be different about this team in 2017, as opposed to your first year as head coach?

A: We’re excited about the evolution of where we’re going. I think last year coming in, everybody was excited about just kind of the process of getting to know each other, what we were going to be, what we were going to look like. At this time in the preseason, there were still so many unknowns. Going into Year 2, we have a year and half of experience together. ... I guess (with) the confidence and what the previous 18, 19 months have meant for these guys together, and the work we put in, we have a lot better sense of confidence in who we are and what we want to look like and where we think we can go.

Q: The expectations are also probably going to be quite a bit higher this year, at least if the summer is any indication. Have you talked about that with the team, and what’s this group’s mentality with those expectations?

A: Yeah, we talk about every day, truly focusing on the step that’s in front of us. Expectations, we had extremely high expectations of the team last year. And right now, we haven’t accomplished anything. As we sit there, the fact that people are giving us attention is a compliment to our program and a compliment to the young men that we have in it and where we’re going. But preseason expectations, they really don’t stand for anything unless you go out and do it on the field. And the only way that we can accomplish any of that is focusing on today, focusing on tomorrow, the first day of practice — to build off that each and every day, working to achieve the goals and the expectations that we have.

Q: With Riley Ferguson, last year, it was really, “What’s he going to do?” This year, people know about him. But what are your expectations? And what’s changed about him?

A: My biggest thing is I want to see that continued growth. I’d say that I was as pleased with Riley in spring ball as probably any football player on our team because I thought he grew as much as any player on our team. People say, “Well, he had a good season last year. He threw for some yards. He did some nice things.” But what I saw from December, the bowl game, to the end of spring practice was somebody that truly was buying into the process of what it took for him to continue to improve his game. I saw the hunger that he had from Day 1, trying to learn the offense. ... Really his leadership within the football team. I think Riley is a wonderful leader. I think guys gravitated to him last year and the way that he tried to command the offense and the football team. But I think with that experience, and the confidence that he has, you see that going to another level.

Q: Defensively, there’s a little more turnover, especially on the back end. Coach (Chris) Ball has talked about simplifying some things schematically. Defensively, what’s going to be different, either in terms of emphasis or scheme?

A: Well the emphasis is going to be, we’re going to continue to have an attack-style mentality. That’s something that we were top five in the country in takeaways, and that’s something that we need to continue to do and we’ve got to be able to have those explosive plays. Obviously another area that we can improve in that is getting to the quarterback. We impacted the passer, but we didn’t sack the quarterback and create those negatives as we would like to and as we’re trying to do. I think you’re going to see with the experience that we have on the defensive line, some of the guys that are coming back — to be able to get a guy like Jackson Dillon back is going to definitely help. And then being able to I guess minimize the explosive plays that we’re giving up. You go back and look at last year and a lot of those plays were due to either a miscommunication or a real fundamental error that maybe allowed a drive to continue or a big play to happen. ...

Q: Fans are really excited about this recruiting class. Obviously you haven’t seen them in pads yet, but from what you’ve seen in summer workouts, who’s stood out or are guys that you think could be in a position to contribute this year?

A: I mean, it’s hard right now. We haven’t had any pads. ... I’ll tell you collectively, as a group, I thought last year’s newcomers group was one of the most impressive that I’ve been around in my coaching career. And I’ll tell you, this year’s class has done an exceptional job, even somewhat surpassing what those guys did in the summer. ... I’ve really been proud of how those guys have come in and battled.

I’ll tell you, Obinna (Eze) has done a phenomenal job. For being such a highly recruited student-athlete, probably one of the hardest workers I’ve seen. Just his desire — he’s made every run, he’s already 305 pounds. He was 280 on signing day, I believe. ... He knows it’s going to be a process. He’s knows he’s got to develop. It all looks good in T-shirts and shorts right now, but they’ve had the right mentality.

T.J. Carter has looked phenomenal. Dre Thomas has done a really nice job. Really excited, I know we haven’t talked about him, but O’Bryan Goodson. O’Bryan was a guy that he ended up being kind of a later signee for us. He was a highly recruited young man early in the process and actually ended up signing after signing day, right as we got into the summer, but I was as excited about him as much as probably anybody in the class because of what I think he can do and how he fits this defense. And he’s looked good. But when you walk out on the field and you see this class, you see size, you see speed. It is a really, really good group of young players.

Q: I’m sure this has come up on the recruiting trail, but you’ve started to get some of the coaching carousel buzz. What would you tell fans who are worried about that, and what do you tell recruits who ask about your future at Memphis?

A: Well, I don’t think that’s ever the question. I think we talk a lot about the excitement of what’s going on here. I think you see a program that is pushing to progress. With the indoor facility, obviously all the things we’re doing as a program, the young men we’re able to recruit, the excitement within this community — that’s something that I don’t think gets enough attention, enough praise. Just the impact that this football team has on our community. That’s what makes this place, this job, a very special opportunity. You get the backing of the city, the backing of a community. It’s 365 days a year, people have that excitement about what we’re doing. That’s what I’ve enjoyed.

To see us continue to build it and progressing it, it’s exciting that people are talking about Memphis Tiger football year-round now. So we’re going to continue to work hard. Does that question come up? Sure. It comes up with just about every recruit, all the time. But it also came up the first month that I had the job here. So it’s one of those things, they’re always out there, but I think we’re excited about what the future has here at the University of Memphis and with this coaching staff. There’s been guys that have had other opportunities that have been out there, that have elected to be a part of this staff and our program and what we’re doing.

Breaking down the Tigers

Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Offensive linemen | Defensive linemen | Linebackers | Defensive backs | Special teams