Tulsa-Tulane Kicks Off at 10 am Today

Saturday, October 7

New Orleans, La.

10:00 AM

Tulsa

Tulane

Tulsa-Tulane Kicks Off at 10 am Today

10/6/2017 9:57:00 AM | Football

By: Don Tomkalski

Tulsa-Tulane Kickoff Moved to 11 a.m.

GAME 6: TULSA (1-4, 0-1 American) vs. TULANE (2-2, 0-1 American)
Date/Time:	Saturday, October 7/10:02 p.m. (CT)
Site:	New Orleans, La.
Stadium:	Yulman Stadium (30,000)
Coaches:	TULSA – Philip Montgomery (Tarleton State '95), 3rd year TULANE – Willie Fritz (Pittsburg State '83), 2nd year
TV:	ESPN3
Talent:	Mark Neely (pxp), Ray Bentley (analyst)
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM or Online
Talent:	Bruce Howard (pxp), Rick Couri (analyst), Jeremie Poplin (sidelines)
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Series:	Tulsa leads 11-2
First Meeting:	Tulane 25, Tulsa 15 (Nov. 9, 1968), New Orleans, La.
Last Meeting:	Tulsa 50, Tulane 27 (Oct. 22, 2016), Tulsa, Okla.
Game Notes:	Tulsa \| Tulane \| American Athletic Conference

Tulsa faces the Tulane Green Wave today at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans at 10 a.m. CT. The game time was changed for a second time late Friday after being changed on Thursday to an 11 a.m. start due to the track of Hurricane Nate. The game was originally scheduled for 3 p.m.

The game will now be aired on ESPN3, the network's digital channel.

It's the third straight week that Tulsa will face a version of the option attack with the first two coming against New Mexico and Navy. The Golden Hurricane offense has only been on the field for 37:41 minutes in each of the last two weeks, compared to the opponents combining for 82:19 time of possession.

Senior D'Angelo Brewer leads a Tulsa running game that averages 295 yards per game, the ninth-best in the nation. After rushing for 400 yards in back-to-back game against Louisiana and Toledo, the Tulsa offense has been well below its season average on the ground in the last two contests. Tulsa has averaged just 192 yards rushing against the last two option teams, but on only an average of 35 carries per game, also well below its average amount of carries, 66.7, from the first three games.

Obviously, the opponents' ball control and Tulsa's lack of possession time has entered greatly into that equation. The offense will need to have increased possession time, and turn that possession time into scores to have success against the Green Wave. Tulsa averaged 47.0 points in weeks 1 to 3, and will look to return to that form this week.

Brewer averages 128.6 yards per game, and is complemented by true freshman Shamari Brooks, who averages 57.8 yards and a 5.6 average per carry.

Quarterback Chad President has led the Tulsa offense after a preseason battle with Luke Skipper to open the season as the starter. President is also one of Tulsa's top runners, gaining 361 yards and 5 touchdowns for a 72.2 average per game and 7.8 average per carry, while he has completed 58-percent of his passes for 792 yards with 2 touchdowns.

The running game needs the big boys up front to create holes. Tulsa's offensive line has paved the way for over 300+ yard rushing games in 10 of the last 18 contests. From left to right – Tulsa lines up on the front with senior Evan Plagg, junior Tyler Bowling, junior Chandler Miller, senior Zac Uhles and junior Willie Wright.

A young receiving corps will need to make plays this week for the Tulsa offense. Receivers Justin Hobbs, a junior, and sophomore Keenen Johnson lead the troops as the duo has combined for 48 of Tulsa's 71 receptions for 580 yards.

The Tulsa offense will face a defensive unit that has held the opposition to under 400 yards of total offense, and that list of opponents has included two of the nation's most potent offenses. Oklahoma and Navy.

So, it will be another stiff test for the Hurricane offense. The Green Wave has held opponents to 209.8 rushing yards and 178.5 yards passing this season, while forcing seven turnovers in its four games.

Linebackers Rae Juan Marbley, Zachery Harris and Luke Jackson have combined for 81 tackles and 7.5 TFLs for -41 yards, while nickel back Jarrod Franklin leads the secondary with 25 stops and 3 pass breakups.

Senior Parry Nickerson has been patrolling the Tulane secondary for years, it seems like. The red-shirt senior cornerback is one of the tops in the league and has 21 tackles and 2 interceptions on the season., while fellow corner Donnie Lewis also has picked off two passes.

The defensive front for Tulane is big with 6'4", 305-pound Sean Wilson anchoring the line from his nose tackle position, while his backup, Braynon Edwards, carries 330 pounds. Flanking them on the outside is 6'6" Ade Aruna and Eldrick Washington at the end positions.

Tulsa's defense will again have the task of stopping another potent running game.

The Tulane offense comes into the game with the nation's 19^th-rated running game, averaging 244.2 yards per game. The Green Wave has 5 players gaining over 100 yards on the year and are led by seniors Dontrell Hilliard and Sherman Badie with 341 and 155 yards, respectively. Hilliard averages 5.8 yards per carry, while Badie has a 7.8 average per attempt.

Hilliard had 124 yards and two TDs on just 12 carries against Tulsa in last year's game, as the Green Wave totaled 355 yards on the ground in the 2016 contest.

Tulane quarterbacks Jonathan Banks and Johnathan Brantley have combined for 263 rushing yards and 4 TDs, while also throwing for a combined 402 yards. Banks has completed 23 passes for 301 yards and 3 TDs to lead the Tulane passing attack.

Receiver Terren Encalade has a team-leading 13 receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown, while the next closest is Darnell Moody with 90 yards on six catches. The Green Wave has a relatively young offensive line, but still has combined for 39 starts between them. Right tackle John Leglue, at 6'7", 310 pounds, leads the way with 17 career starts, while center Junior Diaz has started 11 games.

Last week, Tulsa was without four players who were in the opening day lineup on the defensive side of the ball. It's possible that 1 to 2 of those players may return for Tulane this week.

Senior end Jeremy Smith has been the leader of a young Hurricane defensive front, while totaling 23 tackles and 3 TFLs for -17 yards. Jesse Brubaker, Trevis Gipson, Frankie Davis and Myles Mouton also man the end spots for the Hurricane. Brubaker could make a return to the field this week after missing the Navy contest.

Tulsa has mainly used a three-man rotation on the interior this season with true freshman Garrett Flanary, sophomore Shemarr Robinson and senior Kolton Shindelar, and red-shirt freshman Tyarise Stevenson has seen more playing time lately.

Sophomore Cody Edmiston and senior Petera Wilson will man the MIKE linebacker spot against Tulane. In his most extensive playing time at that spot, Wilson has totaled 30 tackles over the last two games. He has 34 stops on the year, while Edmiston has compiled 37 tackles and one interception. Fellow linebacker Craig Suits has also been active, totaling 26 tackles and intercepting a team-high 2 passes.

Due to Jordan Mitchell's season-ending knee injury, junior McKinley Whitfield moved over from his STAR linebacker spot to safety, where he spent the first two years of his career. He has totaled 42 tackles, three stops for -9 yards and one pass break-up.

Fellow safety Manny Bunch has a team-leading 44 tackles along with one pick-off this season. Sophomore Christian Williams will also see time at safety for the Hurricane

The corner slots have seen three different starters for the two positions this year –– senior Kerwin Thomas, sophomore Reggie Robinson and true freshman Akayleb Evans, while another true freshman Allie Green IV and sophomore Keidrien Wadley have also seen time at corner. Robinson and Thomas have each started 4 games, while Evans has started each of the last two games.

The game will be televised on ESPN3 and can be heard on the Golden Hurricane Radio Network as well as on the nationally on the Tulsa Tune-In App.