THE TULSA OFFENSE PREVIEW
8/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 5, 2011
Tulsa, Oklahoma - Tulsa returns an offense in 2011 that has the ability once again to be explosive as 10 starters are back for the Hurricane. Tulsa averaged 41.4 points and 505.6 yards while ranking fifth nationally in total offense, sixth in scoring, 13th in passing and 15th in rushing.
"If you look at our skill set, speed is the name of the game for us on offense," said Blankenship. "We have really good team at receiver, running back and quarterback. We just have to continue to maximize that. We need to try to do a better job of taking some vertical shots down the field."
Leading the way is the 2010 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year G.J. Kinne. The senior quarterback threw for 3,650 yards and 31 touchdowns last year, while leading the team in rushing for the second straight season with 561 yards and seven TDs.
With quartet of players in the backfield of tailbacks Trey Watts, Ja'Terian Douglas and Alex Singleton and combo H-back/tailback Willie Carter, Tulsa hopes to have a run game that could produce multiple players with 100 yard rushing games in 2011.
The nation's leading all-purpose yardage leader in each of the last two seasons, Damaris Johnson, leads the Tulsa receiving corps. Johnson enters the 2011 campaign already as the NCAA's all-time record-holder for all-purpose and kickoff return yards. He comes into his senior season looking to become the school's all-time leading receiver. Last year, Johnson caught a team-high 57 passes for 872 yards and four TDs, while rushing for 560 yards and seven touchdowns.
Johnson will be joined by a skillful group of returning receivers -- Jordan James, Ricky Johnson, Thomas Roberson, Bryan Burnham, Freeman Kelley and Genesis Cole -- not to mention an influx of a young and talented recruiting class.
Senior tight end Clay Sears, can be productive from both the tight end and h-back positions, while the starting offensive line returns intact from a year ago with all five starters back -- from left to right including senior Tyler Holmes, senior Clint Anderson, junior Trent Dupy, sophomore Stetson Burnett and junior Brian DeShane. The depth on the offensive line is solid this year as well, while as many as 10 players will compete for playing time on the front line.
"If you look at how we finished the year system-wise, that's what we feel really comfortable with. Putting G.J. into a lot of run-pass option situations is something he does very well. He will definitely be part of the running game. Damaris obviously is a guy who needs to continue to get touches, and beyond that we'll try to design touches for Willie Carter. He's grown into that role that Charles Clay handled for four years, and Willie got a lot of the same last year. He also gives us an opportunity to put him back at tailback and be a go-to running back with the home run speed" said Blankenship.
QUARTERBACK
The quarterback position is led senior G.J. Kinne (6-2, 224), the returning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, but after Kinne, although talent exists experience does not.
Kinne threw for 3,650 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2010, while leading the Hurricane in rushing for the second straight season with 561 yards and seven TDs. He had six games throwing for over 300 yards last year, including a season-best 406 yards and four touchdowns against Southern Miss, while closing out the season with three 300+ passing games.
The signal-caller opened the 2010 campaign throwing for 399 yards and a career-best five touchdowns against East Carolina. Kinne has moved himself into third place on the school's career passing chart with 6,382 yards, total offense list with 7,336 yards and career touchdown passes chart with 53.
"The great thing is that we have a guy going into his third year as the starting quarterback, and very seldom at the college level do you get a three-year starter. That's exciting. What we'll have to do very quickly in fall camp is to establish who's going to be that next guy. Kalen has a year with no playing time, Joe Calcagni is a true freshman, and we have two red-shirts. None of our guys past G.J. have taken a snap in a game."
Freshman red-shirt Kalen Henderson (6-0, 202) showed signs of a cannon arm and a bright future during the early part of spring drills. As a high school senior, Henderson completed 71-of-151 passes for 1,734 and 21 touchdowns at East St. John (La.) High School, while gaining 534 yards and 11 TDs on the ground.
Sophomore walk-ons Stephen Rouse (6-0, 201) and Malachi Blankenship (6-1, 182) add depth. Newcomer Joseph Calcagni (6-1, 190), who had an outstanding prep career at Springdale (Ark.) High School as he passed for 4,718 yards and 42 touchdowns in his final two seasons, will be given an opportunity to back-up Kinne.
RUNNING BACK
The running back slot returns experience and talent to both the tailback and H-back positions in 2011. One area of emphasis during the spring was running the ball between the tackles, and it appears a trio of tailbacks will each have a part in that goal this season.
Sophomore Trey Watts (5-11, 203) had an outstanding spring, fellow sophomore Ja'Terian Douglas (5-11, 180) showed his speed and ability and junior Alex Singleton (6-1, 250) once again showed his power. Singleton gained 391 yards and a team-high nine TDs last year, while Douglas averaged 7.8 yards per carry as he totaled 335 yards on the ground. Watts had 197 yards last season in 11 games as he battled through injuries.
"I anticipate Trey Watts taking a bigger role in the backfield than he did last year. But, we'll continue to have situational play with Ja'Terian and Alex," said Blankenship. "This year we've got guys who have significant game action, and they come in as veteran players as opposed to unproven guys."
True freshman Zach Langer (5-11, 202), who rushed for 947 yards his senior season at Jenks High School after gaining 2,446 yards and 39 touchdowns as a junior, will provide depth.
Junior Willie Carter (6-2, 221) holds down the starting H-back slot, an outstanding replacement for Tulsa's only missing starter from the 2010 campaign sixth round Miami Dolphins draft choice Charles Clay.
Carter will double at tailback as well. Last year, he rushed for 162 yards and an 8.1 average per carry and caught 19 passes for 299 yards. Starting tight end Clay Sears (6-4, 234) can be productive from both the tight end and H-back positions.
TIGHT END
Senior Clay Sears (6-4, 234) provides athleticism at the tight end position. In the spring, he showed his playmaking ability and developed into a more physical blocker. Sears caught six passes for a 10.7 average and two touchdowns last year.
"When you look at tight end, it's really one and the others. Clay is the lone feature guy that has played a lot. I love his athleticism, and over the last year he's developed into a physical blocker," Blankenship said. "The question at that position is where else do we get the help. I really like Mike Britton as a role player. He's a little undersized, but has done nothing but produce when he gets the opportunity. Then we have some young guys who will hopefully be able to develop,"
Two former walk-ons, seniors Michael Britton (5-10, 239) and Nathan Largen (6-1, 231) showed the ability in spring drills to be solid back-ups for Sears. Britton provides power and strong blocking ability, while in addition to his ability as a blocker Largen also showed tremendous speed for the position.
Red-shirt freshman Greg Brown (6-3, 243) and junior walk-on Matt Hesterberg (6-2, 237) will add depth at the tight end position.
True Freshman Colt Clontz (6-8, 225) provides the Hurricane with a tall target at tight end. As a senior at Tidehaven (Texas) High School, Clontz caught 61 passes for 911 yards and seven touchdowns after surpassing 1,000 receiving yards in his junior campaign.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The starting offensive line returns intact from left to right -- Holmes, Anderson, Dupy, Burnett and DeShane -- on a Hurricane offense that totaled over 505 yards per game, including 217 on the ground and 289 through the airways.
Not only does Tulsa return its five starters, but the Hurricane has quality depth with more than 10 players vying for legitimate playing time.
"The best thing as a unit that for the first time in the last four years is that we have quality depth in the offensive line. Looking at the number of players that have significant playing time coming into this season is exciting. I really believe we'll have 10 guys vying for legitimate playing time and that's encouraging," said Blankenship. "As a group, another thing we're encouraged by is that we've gotten bigger."
The left side is the anchor of the offensive front with two seniors, tackle Tyler Holmes (6-4, 301) and guard Clint Anderson (6-2, 285). Holmes has started every game in which he has played for the Hurricane since his red-shirt freshman season with 33 career starts. He missed six games in the 2009 season after suffering a broken leg prior to Tulsa's game at Oklahoma.
Anderson has started 24 contests at left guard and last year was a second-team all-Conference USA selection.
"The number of starts that Tyler and Clint have between them, there's no question that those two guys are the ones that have led our offensive line group both on and off the field. There's a toughness that those two guys have that has really been incredible," said Blankenship.
Backing up Holmes at left tackle is junior Jared Grigg (6-4, 290), who missed last year after recovering from an injury, as well as two transfers. Oklahoma transfer Kody Cooke (6-5, 275) saw playing time last year, mostly on special teams, while Notre Dame transfer Matt Romine (6-5, 295) came to Tulsa after graduating in May with one year of eligibility remaining. Romine returns to his hometown to join his high school coach Bill Blankenship. He played in 24 games for the Fighting Irish, including nine contests and three starts a year ago.
At guard, sophomore Gabe Moyer (6-2, 307) and freshman Alec Henry (6-3, 315) bring big bodies at the inside spot for the Hurricane. Moyer played mostly on special teams a year ago, while Henry gray-shirted and joined the Tulsa team this past January.
Junior Trent Dupy (6-2, 285) is a two-year starter who has held the center position since his true freshman season of 2009. A preseason candidate for the Rimington Award, an honor going to the nation's top center, Dupy has started 23 games for the Hurricane.
Senior Eric Sproal (6-4, 317) brings a wealth of experience and versatility to the position. He has played in 22 career games and has started six contests, including two starts at center in the 2009 campaign and four starting assignments last season at right guard. Red-shirt freshman Jake Alexander (6-2, 290) was competing for a starting position last year as a true freshman until suffering a season-ending injury in preseason drills. Alexander, who had a standout career at Jenks (Okla.) High School, came into his freshman season as the nation's 10th-rated offensive center by Rivals.com. He will compete at both center and guard this season.
Junior walk-on Jacob Rader (5-11, 288) missed the spring season with an injury, but provides depth for the Hurricane.
Stetson Burnett (6-4, 305) started nine games at right guard last year as a gray-shirt freshman and earned Conference USA all-freshman team honors. Alexander, who also will compete at center, and true freshman Garrett Stafford (6-5, 301) will vye for playing time at guard. Stafford came to campus this past January after graduating from Memorial (Okla.) High School and made an impressive showing in his first spring.
At right tackle, Brian DeShane (6-3, 313) is the incumbent after having started the last nine games a year ago. DeShane missed spring practice due to off-season surgery, but is expected back at full strength in the fall.
With DeShane out this spring, Joe King (6-6, 309), a transfer from Texas Tech, moved into the right tackle spot and will compete with DeShane for the starting spot in 2011. Senior David Lazenby (6-5, 303), who sat out last year, brings past starting experience to the lineup. Lazenby played all 12 games and started seven contests at right tackle in 2009.
True freshman Garrett Gladd (6-4, 303) brings tremendous credentials after starting four years on the offensive line at Sallisaw High School and will add depth at the right tackle slot.
RECEIVERS
Tulsa returns three starters at wide receiver in 2011. The nation's all-purpose yardage leader in each of the last two years, Damaris Johnson (5-8, 170), leads the Tulsa receiving corps.
He brings tons of accolades as the NCAA record-holder for kickoff return yards, but the diminutive Johnson has been an outstanding receiver for the Hurricane as well. Johnson, a second-team Associated Press All-American last season, caught a team-high 57 passes for 872 yards and four touchdowns. Tulsa's leading receiver also narrowly missed being the teams' leading rusher, as Johnson missed that mark by one yard with 560 yards for a 10.1 average.
The NCAA's all-time kickoff return leader is also the NCAA's career record-holder for all-purpose yards, combining his receiving, rushing, kick return and punt return yardage for a career total of 7,796 yards.
With 2,746 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in his career, Johnson enters this season needing just 597 yards to break the school's career receiving total that has stood for over 45 years. Howard Twilley set Tulsa's all-time receiving record in 1965 with 3,343 career yards.
Johnson also has 1,062 rushing yards and 571 punt return yards in his career.
"With some of the younger guys and then the incoming class, I think we've gone from being just fast to being a bigger, more physical, fast set of receivers," said Blankenship.
Sophomores Freeman Kelley (5-11, 187) and Brett Davis (5-11, 190) are listed behind Johnson at one of the wide-out positions heading into spring drills.
Kelley sat out last year after lettering as a true freshman in 2009, while most of Davis' playing time a year ago came on special teams. In the spring, both players showed the ability to make contributions at receiver.
The surprise of spring practice was sophomore Jordan James (6-2, 205), who last year caught only one pass, but comes into the 2011 campaign expected to be a big-play receiver for the Hurricane. James enters preseason drills ahead of incumbent starter Ricky Johnson (6-2, 217) at one receiving slot. A year ago, Johnson caught 22 passes for 351 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore walk-on Samuel Crabtree (5-11, 172) showed future promise as a receiver during the spring.
Sophomore Thomas Roberson (6-3,199), who missed most of spring drills with an injury, is the third returning starter in the Hurricane receiving corps. He caught 30 passes for 367 yards as a true freshman while earning C-USA all-freshman team accolades last year.
Junior Bryan Burnham (6-2, 205), who turned in an impressive spring season, and senior Genesis Cole (6-1, 188) can compete for a starting spot in preseason camp. Cole caught 17 passes for 205 yards in 2010, while Burnham saw limited action on offense last year, but was a solid special teams performer.
The Tulsa receiving corps will also get an influx of size, speed and outstanding ability this year with a solid incoming freshmen class.
True freshman Keyarris Garrett (6-4, 185) established Daingerfield (Texas) High School touchdown records for a single season (25) and career (35) after catching 68 passes for 1,380 yards last year. Zach Epps (6-5, 185) is another tall target for Tulsa quarterbacks, as he caught 53 passes for 650 yards and four touchdowns a year ago at Blue Valley West (Kan.) High School.
Conner Floyd (6-1, 197) played in only four games his senior season at Lake Travis (Texas) High School and caught 12 passes for 182 yards, but a year earlier he totaled 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior. He may be the smallest of Tulsa's newcomers at the receiving slot, but Gary Owens (5-9, 178) possesses outstanding speed and ability. Owens had 60 receptions for 763 yards and eight touchdowns his senior campaign at West Mesquite (Texas) High School
