© Melina Myers-Imagn Images
Audio By Carbonatix
Tahj Ra-El has gone dark on social media. His tweets are now protected. His Instagram page has been deactivated.
The online movement comes amid scandal following reports of revenge. The former Memphis football player got back at the team that booted him from the roster.
Ra-El is originally from Charlotte, NC. He suited up three years with Old Dominion before transferring to Memphis in 2024.
In his lone season with the Tigers, he played in four games, making two starts. His time with the program ended in October.
It was initially believed that he left the team on his own accord. New reports claim that he was dismissed by the coaching staff.
Tahj Ra-El got his revenge.
A screenshot of a conversation with UTSA quarterback Owen McCown is now circulating social media. It seems to show Ra-El handing over the defensive signals.
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) July 24, 2025
UTSA was 3-5 entering the game. Memphis was 7-1. The contest was played on the first weekend in November, a few weeks after Ra-El’s departure.
The Tigers lost the matchup after giving up 44 points. McCown threw four touchdowns.
One Memphis staff member recently said, “It felt like their offense was one of the best in the nation until I found out why.”
The defensive back is now at Purdue.
After leaving Memphis, he followed his former defensive backs Charles Clark coach to the Big 10. There is speculation as to whether or not Clark knew of the situation prior to Tahj Ra-El’s signing.
Purdue released a statement on the scandal after the fact. That note read, “Our coaching staff sees the scenario as being mischaracterized and does not have any concerns moving forward.”
Tahj Ra-El has gone dark on social media.
If you search for his Instagram account (@tahj.nfz), you’ll find nothing. His X page (@Tahj_El21) shows that his tweets are now protected.
Despite the alleged revenge tactics, Purdue seems to be moving forward with its transfer portal addition. At this point in time, Ra-El remains firmly on the roster. It’s business as usual.
Memphis certainly won’t feel the same way about the defender. The Tigers finished 11-2 in the ’24 season with a 6-2 mark in AAC play.
They missed out on the conference title game due to the UTSA loss. Had they been able to pull out a win, the team would’ve finished at 12-1 overall with a tie-breaking win over Tulane for the league’s No. 2 spot.