Memphis football kicker David Kemp enters transfer portal

Memphis football kicker David Kemp announced Tuesday via Twitter that he was entering the transfer portal when it opens on Dec. 5. It comes after Kemp did not play this season due to injury.

Kemp, a three-star recruit in 2021, lost his starting job this year to senior Chris Howard, who transferred from Florida. Kemp also had early struggles with accuracy before redshirting in his first season.

In four games in 2021, Kemp was 5-for-7 on field goals along with 7-for-9 on extra point attempts. After missing the Tigers' first five games that season due to injury, Kemp had a tough debut against Tulsa.

He missed field goal attempts from 36 and 53 yards as well as a PAT in the Tigers' 35-29 loss. He didn't play the next three games as punter Joe Doyle resumed field goal duties.

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However, Kemp rebounded to make his final 10 kicks of the 2021 season, including five field goals. His first attempt after Tulsa was a 24-yard attempt against East Carolina to force overtime as time expired. He also made a career-high 40-yard field goal in the season finale against Tulane.

Despite Kemp's solid showing in the spring game, the Tigers signed Howard out of the portal. Howard started every game this season, converted 20 of 23 field goal attempt and leads the AAC with 105 points. He was also a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker.

With Kemp transferring and Howard in his final year of eligibility, Memphis has only one place-kicker on the roster in sophomore Noah Grant.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis football kicker David Kemp enters transfer portal