Matt Malouf feels at home at the University of Memphis.
That's why the Oxford High School senior standout quarterback has committed to play football for the Tigers.
Malouf, who transferred to Oxford following his sophomore season at Pillow Academy, visited Ole Miss and Memphis on consecutive weekends earlier this month. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound signal caller said he felt at home on the Memphis campus.
"I just felt like it was a better fit. Coach (Tommy) West has been with me since day one. I attended the Memphis camp this past summer, and he called me the day after it was over and offered me a scholarship," said Malouf, the son of Holli and Bill Malouf of Greenwood. "By far, they recruited me the best."
Malouf, whose father played quarterback at Ole Miss, said the Rebels' recruiting process of him was "confusing."
"Later in the year, they started recruiting me more. At first it was an athlete not a quarterback, then they had all the coaching changes and then they said they wanted me as a quarterback. I just wasn't comfortable with all that," Malouf said.
Malouf, who also had a scholarship offer from Southern Mississippi, led Oxford to a 13-1 record as the Chargers lost to eventual state champion West Point in the North 4A finals.
During his senior season, he passed for 2,234 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 674 yards and 10 touchdowns en route to being voted the MVP in the state Class 4A ranks by the 4A coaches.
Malouf, a member of the Clarion-Ledger's top 40 high school recruits list, was named also named first-team all-state by the Jackson newspaper.
"Memphis is getting as good a quarterback as they'll find anywhere," said Oxford head coach Johnny Hill. "I've been coaching 30 years, and you don't find a quarterback like this very often. He's going to be a special player for Memphis.
"He's only at the tip of the iceberg as far as what he can do as a quarterback. He has come a long way the last two years, but his potential is unlimited."
Hill said Malouf was timed Sunday in a high school all-star game combine in Jackson in 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash in "very bad conditions."
"Matt is the total package at quarterback. The physical tools are obvious; he has a strong arm and is a big, strong, fast kid," Hill said. "But it is the intangibles that make him special. He's a great leader, highly competitive and excels under pressure."
Malouf said another deciding factor in picking Memphis was the Tigers' spread offensive attack.
"I am happy about being a part of an exciting, wide-open attack," Malouf said.
