Memphis may have beaten Ole Miss this past season, but you can’t beat home.

That’s why Tigers linebacker Genard Avery, a Grenada, Miss., product, wants to transfer to Ole Miss following the spring semester, according to RebelGrove.com. Avery needs to be closer to his mom, Tiffany Avery, who “got sick” during his junior year in high school.

He cited the team’s previous coaching staff — one that saw the departure of head coach Justin Fuente and assistants Galen Scott and James Shibest — as a big reason for him choosing Memphis.

Now that they’re at Virginia Tech, Avery wants to do everything he can to be closer to his mom, even if the Tigers don’t grant him a release.

“I really do want to leave. I really just want to be close to home. That’s just being honest,” Avery told RebelGrove.com. “I’ll try to walk-on at Ole Miss. I’ll do whatever I can to be closer to my mom and my family.”

The 6-foot-1, 255-pound Avery had with 53 tackles and 3 sacks last season but suffered a wrist injury in November that required surgery. In Memphis’ 37-24 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 17, he tied for the team lead with 7 tackles, including 1.5 for loss.