A Look at the Receivers

"The strange thing about our receivers is that we have some old guys, then we have some young guys, but not a ton in the middle," said Tulsa Head Coach Philip Montgomery.

The "old guys" Montgomery was referring two includes two 1,000-yard receivers.

Senior Josh Atkinson (6-2, 208) was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2015 catching 76 passes for 1,071 yards and five touchdowns and had six 100+ receiving games, while Tulsa's other 1,000-yard receiver is fellow senior Keevan Lucas (5-10, 198).

In 2016, Lucas returns after leading Tulsa in receiving yards in 2014 and was off to a solid start in 2015 before a knee injury sidelined him in the fourth game. In 2015, Lucas averaged 102.2 yards and five TDs in those first four games after catching 101 passes for 1,219 yards, 11 touchdowns and 101.6 yards per game in 2014.

Sophomore Justin Hobbs (6-4, 207), who had a team-high 17.2 yards per reception in 2015, could be considered one of those "older guys". Hobbs totaled 32 catches for 551 yards and two TDs after getting more playing after Lucas went down with the season-ending injury.

Two local products, both from Tulsa's McLain High School and both third-year juniors, are expected to have an expanded role in 2016. Nigel Carter (6-3, 205) and Bishop Louie (5-10, 172) return with previous game experience for the Hurricane. Both Carter and Louie played as true freshmen in the 2014 season.

"I think overall our consistency is getting better and better. We have some experience coming back in a couple spots, and one into a new spot. Bishop Louie is probably having the best camp he's had. He's playing really well right now. Nigel (Carter) is playing well right now too. We have a couple of the young guys stepping up making plays," added Montgomery.

Brodrick Umblance (6-1, 187) is also competing for valuable playing time. In spring drills, Umblance made the move from the secondary to receiver, where he played as a true freshman in 2014. Red-shirt freshman Jarion Anderson (5-9, 179) is also in the mix to see playing time this season.

Tulsa also welcomed three highly successful true freshmen to preseason camp –– Jordan Brown (6-2, 198), Keenen Johnson (6-1, 190) and Josh Stewart (6-4, 201). Brown had 896 yards an 10 touchdowns in his prep career, Johnson played quarterback in high school and Stewart caught 20 passes for 353 yards and six TDs his senior season.

Three returning walk-on athletes Avery Gragg (6-2, 204), Randall Smith (6-1, 211) and David Snelling (5-9, 182) have also made progress during preseason camp for the Hurricane.

A Look at the Receivers

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Players Mentioned

Jarion Anderson

Josh Atkinson

Jordan Brown

Nigel Carter

Avery Gragg

Justin Hobbs

Keenen Johnson

Bishop Louie

Keevan Lucas

Randall Smith

David Snelling

Josh Stewart

Brodrick Umblance

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