GAME PREVIEW: Tulsa vs. SMU

Saturday, November 24

H.A. Chapman Stadium

2:30 PM

Tulsa

SMU

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Photo by: Brett Rojo

GAME PREVIEW: Tulsa vs. SMU

11/23/2018 6:36:00 PM | Football

Bring a New, Unwrapped Toy for Toys for Tots and Get in FREE; Active or Retired Military Get in FREE

GAME 12: TULSA (2-9, 4-3 American) vs. SMU (5-6, 4-3 American)
Date/Time:	Saturday, November 24, 2:32 p.m. (CT)
Site:	Tulsa, Okla.
Stadium:	Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000)
Coaches:	TULSA – Philip Montgomery (Tarleton State '95), 4th year SMU – Sonny Dykes (Texas Tech '93), 1st year
TV:	CBS Sports Network
Talent:	Ben Holden (pxp), Jay Feely (analyst)
Tickets:	To purchase tickets, click here
Gameday Guide:	For gameday guide, click here
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM or Online
Talent:	Bruce Howard (pxp), Rick Couri (analyst), Jeremie Poplin (sidelines)
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Series:	SMU leads 14-10
First Meeting:	SMU 14, Tulsa 0 (Oct. 5, 1935), Tulsa, Okla.
Last Meeting:	SMU 34, Tulsa 34 (Oct. 27, 2017), Dallas, Texas
Game Notes:	Tulsa \| SMU \| American Athletic Conference

TULSA, Okla.–– The weather forecast for tomorrow's Tulsa-SMU football game has temperatures reaching 70 degrees with clear skies. Tulsa (2-9, 1-6 AAC) looks to finish the season on a high note with a victory going into the off-season, while SMU (5-6, 4-3 AAC) looks to get bowl eligible for the second straight season with a win.

The game kicks off from Tulsa's H.A. Chapman Stadium at 2:32 p.m., and fans have an opportunity to get FREE tickets. Fans can receive FREE admission while helping the Toys for Tots program by bringing a new, unwrapped toy to the game. It's also Military Appreciation Day, as all retired or active military personnel, will receive FREE admission by showing their valid military ID.

The game pits the American Athletic Conference's top passing defense, Tulsa, against the league's 4^th-ranked passing offense. The Hurricane holds opponents to 161 passing yards, while the Mustangs average 267 yards and has converted 27 touchdowns through the air.

Leading the way for the SMU offense is quarterback Ben Hicks. The junior has completed 56-percent of his passes for 2,263 yards and 18 touchdowns, while freshman William Brown has seen time in 7 games calling the signals and has completed 62-percent of his passes for 625 yards and 7 TDs.

The favorite target is junior James Proche with 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns, while West Virginia transfer Reggie Robinson has caught 49 passes for 654 yards and 6 TDs.

When the Mustangs run, they do it by committee as Braden West leads the way with 556 yards, followed by Xavier Jones 311 yards and Ke'Mon Freeman's 283.They do it behind an offensive line that measures 6'5" and 300 pounds.

Defensively for Tulsa, the Hurricane has been solid in the passing game, but has allowed 248 yards on the ground, so controlling the Mustangs three-man running attack will be critical as well as slowing down the SMU pass game.

Tulsa's front line features two 300+ pounders on the interior in sophomore Tyarise Stevenson and junior Shemarr Robinson. The lone senior upfront is Myles Mouton at one end spot and junior Trevis Gipson mans the other defensive end position for the Hurricane.

Stevenson has started 10 games this year whether anchoring Tulsa's 3-man or 4-man fronts. Gipson and Robinson have tallied 39 and 29 tackles, respectively, to lead the front four, while Stevenson has 25 stops and 4 TFLs for -6 yards.

Linebackers Cooper Edmiston at MIKE, Zaven Collins at WILL and Diamon Cannon at the STAR position have been active for the Hurricane this season. Edmiston ranks among the nation's top-40 for tackles, fumbles forced, fumble recoveries, interceptions and interceptions per game. He has a team-high 103 tackles and three interceptions. Collins has added 79 tackles and a team-best 9.5 TFLs for -31 yards, while Cannon has tallied 46 stops for 2.5 TFLs for -14 yards and three pass breakups.

The secondary is led by senior safety McKinley Whitfield, who has 59 tackles and a team-best seven pass breakups on the season. Fellow safety Manny Bunch has 58 tackles and three pass break-ups this year.

When Tulsa goes to five players on the back-end, red-shirt freshman Bryson Powers and JC transfer TieNeal Martin get the call. Powers has started the last 6 contests and has 58 stops on the year, including two double-digit games.

Tulsa has used four cornerbacks interchangeably this season, and part of the reason has been due to injuries. True sophomores Allie Green and Akayleb Evans, junior Reggie Robinson and senior Keanu Hill have seen the majority of playing time this year.

Hill has 7 starts, Green 6, Evans 5 and Robinson has 4. The foursome has combined for 84 tackles and 14 pass break-ups.

The SMU defense has allowed 432 yards per game, including 202 yards rushing and 229 passing yards, while giving up 36 yards per game.

Mustang linebackers Richard Moore and Kyran Mitchell headline a defense that has forced 21 turnovers. Moore has a team-high 79 stops with 12 TFLS and 5 QB hurries, while Mitchell has been credited with 75 tackles and a team-best 14.5 TFLs for -42 yards to go along with 3 pass breakups.

The SMU secondary is led by safeties Rodney Clemons and Patrick Nelson, who have combined for 118 tackles, 5 pass breakups and 3 interceptions.

The SMU front four has collectively totaled 19 tackles for lost yards, as end Delontae Scott leads the way with 27 tackles and 9 TFLs. The interior of the line is manned by 300-pound nose tackle Pono Davis and 280-pound tackle Demerick Gary.

Tulsa's offense averages 374 yards per game, including 206 on the ground and 169 through the air. Turnovers have hampered the Hurricane in 2018, playing major factors in Tulsa's losses.

The Hurricane has turned over the ball 23 times, but over the last six games has just 8 turnovers.

The running duo of Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II lead the Hurricane offense. On the year, Brooks has gained 878 yards and 6 touchdowns, while Taylor has 793 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 19 career contests, Brooks has rushed for 1,565 yards, 16 TDs and eight 100+ rushing games. Taylor has 976 career rushing yards and 14 TDs in 18 career games.

Seth Boomer will be in the saddle at the quarterback position for the eighth straight game. The red-shirt freshman is getting more comfortable handling the signal-calling for the Hurricane. He has thrown for 1,127 yards and 8 touchdowns, including a freshman record 4 TD passes vs. UConn earlier this month. His first career appearance resulted in 13 completions for 227 yards at Houston, the second-most yards ever for a Tulsa freshman making their collegiate debut.

In the last 4 games, Boomer has completed 57-percent of his passes for 694 yards, 6 TDs with only one interceptions, as compared to completing just 35.1 percent in his first three collegiate games.

All-conference center Chandler Miller will be starting his 50th consecutive game, starting all 50 games of his career, which is a school record. Right tackle Willie Wright has started 46 straight contests.

50852 — Senior center Chandler Miller will start a school record 50th consecutive game
since starting his first game as a red-shirt freshman.

The offensive front took a blow when 31-game starter Tyler Bowling was injured late against USF and will miss the remainder of the season. Sophomore Dylan Couch steps in at left guard, junior Chris Ivy lines up at left tackle and Chris Paul has taken most of the snaps at right guard recently.

Three of Boomer's targets on the outside have each surpassed 400 yards receiving, as true sophomore Keylon Stokes has 435 yards and 2 TDs on 33 receptions, senior Justin Hobbs has hauled in 34 passes for 420 yards and 3 touchdowns, while junior Keenen Johnson has 29 catches for 417 yards and 3 TDs.

The tight end position will see seniors Cole Neph and Chris Minter. Neph has caught 13 passes this year for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns.