The Washington Huskies host the University of Tulsa Saturday at 2 PM at Husky Stadium. Both teams enter the second week 1-0. UW dropped Boise State 56-19 while the Hurricanes beat Pine Bluff 42-7.
Interestingly, both Washington and Tulsa were held scoreless in the first quarter while putting up 28 points in the second quarter and 7 in the 3rd quarter in their season openers.
The City of Tulsa is situated in the north east corner of Oklahoma, in the heart of “Tornado Alley”, but are nicknamed the Hurricanes. “T-Town”, as locals refer to it as, is 500 miles inland, most any Hurricane would be a tropical storm by the time it reached, has seen 7 major storms pass through since 1930. The most recent was named “Bill”, in 2015.
FUN FACT: The team had been referred to as “Orange and Black”, “Kendallites”, “Presbyterians”, “Tigers”, and “Tulsans”. In the 1920s, then-head coach Howard Acher put a vote to the team to replace Golden Tornadoes, which belonged to Georgia Tech (now known as Yellow Jackets).
The vote resulted in “Golden Hurricane”, which it has remained ever since the 1920’s. In the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s the city was known as “The Oil Capital of the World” but Golden Hurricanes, they remained.
For old-time Seattle Seahawks fans, the most famous Tulsa player is Pro Football Hall of Famer, Steve Largent. The University of Tulsa has the smallest undergraduate enrollment of all schools that participate at the FBS level.
Now, onto the matchup:
Opponent First Look: 2022 Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
2022 Season Recap: W-L: 5-7
Head Coach: Phillip Montgomery (Career Record: 43-53)
In Phillip Montgomery’s 8th and final season as the head coach at Tulsa, The Golden Hurricanes finished with a record of 5-7 narrowly missing a third-consecutive bowl appearance. Tulsa fell week one in a matchup with Wyoming that ended up going to double overtime. The Golden Hurricanes won their next two games against Northern Illinois and Jacksonville State rather easily. Tulsa was 2-1 heading into the Ole Miss and gave Ole Miss a real challenge rushing for 262 yards and keeping it with in one score the whole game. However they would lose to Ole Miss and go one to lose four of the next five games following that matchup. Following that stretch of losses they would make a change at QB and would go on to win their final two games against South Florida and Houston.
Quarterback Davis Brin began the season as the starting QB for the Golden Hurricane, but by mid season he was splitting reps with Braylon Braxton, and by the end of the year Braxton was the full time starter. Davis Brin, finished the year with 2,138 yards, 17 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in nine games before transferring to Georgia Southern in the off-season. Braylon Braxton threw for 1,133 yards, 10 touchdowns, and two picks on a 56% completion rate while rushing for 145 yards and five scores and will be back at quarterback for Tulsa in 2023. While it took them awhile to figure out the QB position they were stacked at the other skill positions for the 2022 season.
At wide receiver Keylon Stokes and Juancarlos Santana combined for over 2000 yards and 15 TDs, at running back Deneric Prince ran for 729 yards and 5 TDs, before all three guys left for the NFL. Tulsa’s biggest struggles offensively were along the offensive line where they allowed 45 sacks most in the AAC last year and was among the bottom three teams rushing with only 138.7 yards per game.
On defense it was a rough year for the Golden Hurricanes allowing 413 yards and 33 points per game both in the bottom half of the AAC. The team was one of the worst in the country in sacks vs sacks allowed, while they allowed 45 sacks on offense they were only able to get 16 sacks on defense in the entire season.
Week 1 @ Wyoming– Loss – 37-40 – 460 Passing Yards, 3 Passing TDs – 61 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD
Week 2 Northern Illinois – Win – 38-35 – 322 Passing Yards, 4 Passing TDs – 107 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD
Week 3 Jacksonville State – Win – 54-17 – 457 Passing Yards, 5 Passing TDs – 164 Rushing Yards, 2 Rushing TDs
Week 4 @ Ole Miss – Loss – 27-35 – 195 Passing Yards, 2 Passing TDs – 262 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD
Week 5 Cincinnati – Loss – 21-31 – 249 Passing Yards – 36 Rushing Yards, 3 Rushing TDs
Week 6 @ Navy – Loss – 21-53 – 284 Passing Yards, 2 Passing TDs – 25 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD
Week 7 @ Temple – Win – 27-16 – 155 Passing Yards, 2 Passing TDs – 299 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD
Week 8 SMU – Loss – 34-45 – 216 Passing Yards, 3 Passing TD – 182 Rushing Yards, 2 Rushing TDs
Week 9 Tulane – Loss – 13-27 – 146 Passing Yards, 1 Passing TD – 111 Rushing Yards
Week 10 @ Memphis – Loss – 10-26 – 176 Passing Yards, 1 Passing TD – 31 Rushing Yards
Week 11 USF – Win – 48-42 – 302 Passing Yards, 1 Passing TD – 271 Rushing Yards, 5 Rushing TDs
Week 12 @ Houston – Win – 37-30 – 316 Passing Yards, 3 Passing TDs – 115 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD
2022 Offense:
30.6 Points per game, 273.2 Passing Yards per game, 138.6 Rushing Yards per game, 27 Passing TDs, 18 Rushing TDs
2022 Defense:
33.1 Points per game, 206.3 Passing Yards allowed, 207.8 Rushing Yards allowed, 21 Passing TDs allowed, 20 Rushing TDs allowed,
Key Losses from 2022 team:
- QB – Davis Brin – 2138 Passing Yards, 17 Passing TDs, 2 Rushing TDs
- RB – Deneric Prince – 729 Rushing Yards, 5 TDs, 84 Receiving Yards, 1 Receiving TD
- WR – Keylon Stokes – 76 Catches, 1224 Receiving Yards, 8 Receiving TDs
- LB – Justin Wright – 101 Tackles, 2 INT, 3 Pass Deflections, 2 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles
- S – Bryson Powers – 99 Tackles, 1 Sack, 3 Pass Deflections, 1 Forced Fumble
- LB – Jon-Michael Terry – 85 Tackles, 1.5 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles
2023 Tulsa Hurricanes:
Head Coach: Kevin Wilson(Career Record: 43-53)
This offseason Tulsa tried to jumpstart its program by hiring former offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson from Ohio State. Wilson was the offensive coordinator for Ohio State for six years, and the head coach at Indiana before that. Fans expect him to make a big difference for the Tulsa offense. The program’s offense was mediocre last year, 51st in scoring. Wilson has brought an entirely new coaching staff with him to Tulsa including a couple familiar names, Steve Spurrier Jr as offensive coordinator and Former NFL receiver Ryan Switzer as WR coach. Whether Wilson’s high-powered offensive system can translate for Tulsa will set the tone for the Golden Hurricane’s first season under the new coach.
On offense the Golden Hurricanes have an all new system and expect big things but they are replacing starters at almost every position. At QB they replaced their starter midway through last season when Braylon Braxton took over for Davis Brin. With a new offense and Braxton at QB expectations were high coming into the year. However week 1 Braxton threw 2 interceptions in his first 4 attempts then went out with an injury. Redshirt freshman Cardell Williams then came in and went 13-14 for 233 yards and 3 TDs so the Huskies should prepare to see both of them at QB this week.
At running back Tulsa will replace Deneric Prince with a committee of guys. Jordan Ford averaged 5.1 yards per game on limited carries last season for the Golden Hurricanes and Coach Wilson complimented his status after a strong spring. Former Missouri transfer Anthony Watkins and Virginia Tech transfer Tahj Gary are other options.
Based on returning production veteran Malachai Jones should be the leader in a young receivers room after catching 37 passes for two touchdowns last season. Oklahoma State transfer Braylin Presley, who is likely to be used as a running back as well, is a potential immediate impact player in the slot. Marquis Shoulders and Freshman Devin Williams, who are listed as the other starters at WR, were the receiving leaders last week vs UAPB. There is a lot of production to replace from last season with Keylon Stokes and Juancarlos Santana graduating but the Golden Hurricanes have 4 WRs capable of making an impact.
The Golden Hurricane return eight upperclassmen offensive lineman, including five with experience at a Power 5 school. Returning pieces such as Bryce Bray and Brody Wisecarver will likely have a bigger role this season, given the departures of former starters Dillon Wade and Jaden Muskrat. Left guard Chester Baah, guard Darrell Simpson and center Will Farniok are all back after starting multiple games. Tackle Kai-Leon Herbert also returns after starting in Tulsa’s season opener and missing the rest of the season due to injury.
Tulsa’s defense ranked 117 out of 131 FBS teams in 2022 giving up over 200 passing and rushing yards per game. So while there is much excitement for a new offense the defense is where the most improvement is needed. Tulsa hit the transfer portal hard to try and improve the defense this offseason, bringing in seven defensive players from across the nation with a couple announced as starters ahead of Week 1.
The Defensive line shows how heavily Tulsa relied on the transfer portal to revamp the defense from last years unit that really struggled. Transfer Ben Kopenski and sophomore Owen Ostroski will start at defensive end for the Golden Hurricanes and be tasked with bringing the edge pressure that was missing from last years defense. Former Colorado Transfer Jayden Simon and Southern Illinois transfer Zaid Hamdan will fill out the interior of the defensive line.
At linebacker Julien Simon is another transfer portal addition for Tulsa in the off-season who will be starting. Simon, who is originally from Tacoma spent the past two seasons at USC. Former walk-on Mitchell Kulkin is expected to begin the season as the team’s other starting linebacker. Both guys will have huge expectations given leading tackler Justin Wright transferring to Oklahoma State.
Defensive back should be a strength of the defense with Kendarin Ray back at safety. He had 86 tackles, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, and an interception in 2022. Oklahoma State transfer Demarco Jones is expected to complement returning starter Reggie Ellis for the unit’s two cornerback spots. Corner Tyree Carlisle is also returning. He recorded 44 tackles, two TFLs, and three pass breakups in 2022.
Tulsa opened the Kevin Wilson era last Thursday night with a 42-7 win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Playing in his first career game, QB Cardell Williams completed 13-of-14 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns after coming in for an injured Braylon Braxton in the first quarter. Jordan Ford had his first career 100+ rushing game and WR Marquis Shoulder’s 132 receiving yards and two TDs were career highs. The Hurricane offense amassed 517 yards and 42 points with an average of 7.4 yards per play. The defense also had a solid outing holding Ark. Pine Bluff to only 252 total yards and 7 points. The lowest point total scored against Tulsa in the last three seasons. Ben Kopenski and Kendarin Ray shared the team-lead with 10 tackles each.
2023 Starters:
QB – Braylon Braxton – SO – 6’ 2” 222 LBs – #1
RB –Jordan Ford – JR – 5’ 9” 191 LBs – #6
WR – Marquis Shoulders – SO – 5’ 9” 170 LBs – #4
WR – Braylin Presley – SO – 5’ 6” 170 LBs – #5
WR – Deven Williams – FR – 6’ 1” 192 LBs – #19
TE– Ethan Hall – SR – 6’ 3” 246 LBs – #47
LT – Kai-Leon Herbert – SR – 6’ 5” 302 LBs – #57
LG – Chester Baah – SR – 6’ 3” 303 LBs – #76
C – Will Farniok – SR – 6’ 3” 296 LBs – #56
RG – Bryce Bray – SR – 6’ 5” 306 LBs – #77
RT – Darrell Simpson – SR – 6’ 6” 345 LBs – #79
DE – Owen Ostroski – SO – 6’ 2” 253 LBs – #48
NT – Jayden Simon – JR – 6’ 3” 314 LBs – #90
DT – Joseph Anderson – SR – 6’ 0” 281 LBs – #44
DE – Ben Kopenski – SR – 6’ 1” 255 LBs – #0
LB – Julien Simon – SO – 6’ 1” 227 LBs – #24
LB – Mitchell Kulkin – SO – 6’ 218 LBs – #40
Nickel – Jaise Oliver – SR – 6’ 2” 203 LBs – #25
FS – Kendarin Ray – SR – 6’ 3” 213 LBs – #1
CB – Demarco Jones – SR – 6’ 0” 188 LBs – #11
CB – Tyree Carlisle – SR – 6’ 0” 181 LBs – #4
SS – LJ Wallace – SR – 6’ 2” 210 LBs – #22
Coaching Changes:
Kevin Wilson- Head Coach
Ron Burton – Assoc. Head Coach and Defensive Line Coach
Steve Spurrier Jr – Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach
Chris Polizzi – Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach
Joe Bolden – Special Teams Coordinator
Greg Frey – Tight Ends Coach
Michael Hunter Jr – Cornerbacks Coach
Adrian Mayes – Runningback Coach
Koy Mcfarland – Linebackers Coach
Ryan Stanchek – Offensive Line Coach
Ryan Switzer – Wide Receivers Coach
Key Returners:
QB– Braylon Braxton- SO – 2022 Stats: 1133 Passing Yards, 10 Passing TDs, 2 INT, 145 Rushing Yards, 5 Rushing TDs (Started final 4 games of season)
RB– Jordan Ford – JR – 2022 Stats: 56 carries, 288 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs, 3 catches, 56 Receiving yards
DT – Joseph Anderson – SR – 2022 Stats: 35 Tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3.5 Sacks
S– Kendarin Ray – SR – 2022 Stats: 86 Tackles, 3 TFL, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 INT, 5 Pass Deflections
