A Look at the Defensive Line
8/22/2016 4:42:00 PM | Football
The Tulsa coaching staff has been pleased with the growth of the defensive line during preseason camp.
Tulsa will have seven lettermen returning to the defensive front when the season opens next Saturday against San Jose State.
"I really like where we are with the defensive line. Jerry U (Uwaezuoke) has had a great camp, and so has Hayden Carman," said Tulsa Head Coach Philip Montgomery. "Moving Jeremy Smith to the other end position has been really beneficial to him. He's making more plays, and Frankie (Davis) has been consistent just like he always is. Jesse Brubaker and Trevis Gipson both have had really, really good camps."
At end, junior and returning starter Jeremy Smith (6-5, 260) leads the way, while steady junior Frankie Davis (6-2, 240) mans the opposite side. Jesse Brubaker (6-4, 270), who made the switch from tackle to end in the spring, and red-shirt freshman Trevis Gipson (6-5, 239) have had solid camps.
Smith compiled 43 stops and 6.5 TFLs in 11 games as a first-year starter in 2015, while Brubaker totaled 30 tackles and 4.5 TFLs in the 2015 campaign and Davis was credited with 23 tackles.
On the interior, senior Jerry Uwaezuoke (6-3, 286), who has starting experience with 10 starts in 2014, had 12 stops a year ago and 39 career tackles. Former walk-on Hayden Carman (6-4, 289), who has 17 career tackles, appears to have locked down the other starting tackle spot.
"On the inside some of the young guys have really stepped their game up and may see some playing time. But, I think it will be anchored by Jerry U and Haden because those guys have years of experience and better understand what we're doing defensively from a schematic standpoint," said Montgomery.
Kolton Shindelar (6-6, 276) moved outside in the spring, but during fall camp saw time at both the tackle and end positions. Myles Mouton (6-3, 257), who played end last year, moved inside to the tackle position, but like Shindelar could play both spots this year.
"Kolton is playing a lot of different spots. Obviously, when we get in our odd stuff, that's where he really came on last year," said Montgomery. "I think he's very dominant at the nose-guard position in those situations. That's always been his niche since we've been here. We're moving him around and finding some different spots for him in our base defense."
End Jake Hanks suffered a knee injury during preseason camp and will miss the 2016 season.
The Hurricane added four true freshmen to inside tackle positions – tackles Shemarr Robinson (6-4, 280) and Tyarise Stevenson (6-4, 320), end Johnnie Williams (6-5, 275) and Jimmie Nelson (6-3, 248). Robinson has the inside track to be in the rotation at tackle this season.
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