Tulsa Opens Spring Drills on Tuesday
3/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 10, 2008
Tulsa, Oklahoma - The Tulsa football team will be on the practice field Tuesday afternoon for the first of 15 spring practice sessions. The Hurricane will practice three times this week before taking off next week for spring break.
"Naturally we're really excited about the start of spring ball. It's one we're looking forward to because of the legacy that's been set by the past seniors in establishing a winning tradition," said Graham. "We have a mark set that anything less than a conference championship and 11 wins is unacceptable. It's very exciting because of the expectations we have.
"We think that there will be a big time battle between the three guys at quarterback," said Graham. "We have a lot of senior leadership that we lost on the defensive side of the ball, so we have a lot of guys to replace. But were excited about the development of our younger guys."
The Hurricane lost two starters on the offensive side of the ball, as the big loss was Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year Paul Smith at quarterback, but Tulsa returns nine starters and all kinds of weapons.
"We were 103rd of taking care of the football last year, so we have to get better at that. The number one emphasis offensively will be taking care of the football," said Graham. "Secondly, it's continuing our movement to getting in shape to run the spread no-huddle offense from a mental and physical standpoint.
"The two focuses on offense will be taking care of the football and continuing to get in shape mentally and physically to run our offense," added Graham.
Returning for the Hurricane from the nation's leading offense in 2007 are three 1,000-yard receivers from a year ago. Senior Brennan Marion, who set a new NCAA record for yards per catch with 31.9 yards a reception, caught 39 passes for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns. Sophomores Charles Clay (69 catches for 1,024 yards and 7 TDs) and Trae Johnson (70 catches for 1,088 ayrds and 13 TDs) were two players who earned freshmen All-America recognition a year ago.
The leading rusher from each of the last two seasons return to the lineup. Tarrion Adams rushed for 1,225 yards and eight rushing touchdowns last year, while Courtney Tennial, who missed last season with a foot injury, returns for a sixth year of eligibility. Tennial, who rushed for over 800 yards in 2006, will be limited to little contact during spring drills.
Quarterbacks David Johnson, the seniors, and sophomore Clark Harrell, who enters his third season, and sophomore transfer Jacob Bower, will battle at quarterback. Johnson, who tutored under Smith for three years, enters spring as the one to beat.
The offensive front, led by seniors Justin Morsey and Rodrick Thomas, returns four starters.
The Tulsa defense was hit hard by graduation at the linebacker and safety positions. However, senior linemen Moton Hopkins and Terrell Nemons will carry a big load for the Hurricane defense. Defensive backs Roy Roberts, Charles Davis and Kenny Sims will anchor down three spots in the Hurricane secondary.
"Defensively, we have to get back to doing what we've done in the past of being successful, and that's a relentless attitude to run to the ball and get back to a hard edge mentality defensively," said Graham.
"What we have to improve on defense is not giving away too many one play drives, We gave up 28 touchdown passes last year, and we averaged 12 the four years before that," added Graham. "We have to get back to making offenses earn it. We have to be fundamentally sound, we're going to run to the football with a passion and we're going to get after people physically and strike them. That will be our emphasis defensively during the spring."
The first spring practice session will be open to the public. There will be closed practice sessions during spring drills.
