Why Memphis baseball star Jacob Compton's reunion with Tigers was 'like a God thing'

Jacob Compton knows what it means to rise to the occasion, to respond accordingly when faced with adversity.

Two years ago, the Memphis baseball team’s senior slugger was staring at a mountain of it. In his first season at the Division I level, the former DeSoto Central (Miss.) standout got off to a hot start as the Tigers’ designated hitter under former coach Daron Schoenrock.

Then, for no apparent reason, things went sideways.

“I don’t know what it was, but I was struggling,” Compton said.

Schoenrock called him into his office and gave it to him straight. Brutal, unvarnished honesty. Schoenrock told Compton he was not producing the way Memphis wanted and needed him to. If that continued, he said, changes would have to be made.

“That’s when the switch flipped,” he said.

Compton rebounded and led the team in home runs (11) while also leading the American Athletic Conference in RBIs (56) and doubles (18).

So it should come as no surprise that Compton – who transferred back to the Tigers after an injury robbed him of the 2023 season at South Carolina – is leading a teamwide bounce-back. Memphis, under first-year coach Matt Riser, has won five of its past seven games (improving to 18-19 overall and 6-6 in AAC play). That includes a win over Ole Miss and a three-game sweep at Rice to start the month – the first time the Tigers have swept a road conference series since 2012.

Compton is hitting .282, is tied for a team-best nine home runs (tied for third in the AAC) and 33 RBIs (tied for third in the AAC).

Before the current successful stretch, Riser pointed out that the preceding two-week rough patch was the first time this season the team had struggled over an extended period. The former Southeastern Louisiana coach said he was eager – excited, even – to see how the Tigers would respond.

“I’ll be interested to see if the guys will stay bought-in,” he said before the win over Ole Miss. “Do they continue to persevere forward? I believe it’s gonna go in a positive direction, but I’m anxious to see it on the other side.”

Daunte Stuart, Pierre Seals and Austin Baskin have been the team’s top three hitters, while David Warren and Brayden Sanders have led the way on the pitcher’s mound this season.

But Compton’s veteran presence and steady approach add another dimension to what Memphis brings to the table. The 6-foot, left-handed hitting Mississippian began his post-high school career at Coahoma (Miss.) Community College, then switched to Northeast Mississippi Community College, where he played for Richy Harrelson. Riser and Harrelson have a strong relationship, so when Compton called his former junior college coach for advice on where to go after things didn’t work out at South Carolina, Harrelson immediately thought of Memphis and called Riser on Compton’s behalf.

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“I love left-handers and I love power,” Riser said. “So that was an easy ‘yes.’ “

Compton couldn’t believe it when Riser called him.

“It really, to be honest, was like a God thing, in my belief,” he said. “Like, this is where I need to be.”

With 18 games on the schedule before the AAC tournament begins in Clearwater, Florida, Compton believes this season is setting up to be special one way or another. Which would be a welcome change for a program that has not been to an NCAA Tournament since 2007.

“I believe with what (Riser) and his staff bring, they’re setting a new standard for Memphis baseball,” he said. “There’s just a noticeable change (between this season and Compton’s other season with the Tigers). Everybody knows how it’s been in the past. Coach Riser knows what everyone thinks. He wants this culture to be completely flipped. For Memphis to not be known as the worst program in the AAC.”

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Jacob Compton back with Memphis baseball, leading a midseason charge