GAME PREVIEW: Tulsa vs. Memphis

Saturday, November 10

Memphis, Tenn.

11:00 AM

Tulsa

Memphis

Photo by: Brett Rojo

GAME PREVIEW: Tulsa vs. Memphis

11/9/2018 12:02:00 PM | Football

GAME 10: TULSA (2-7, 1-4 American) vs. MEMPHIS (5-4, 2-3 American)
Date/Time:	Saturday, November 10, 2018, 11:02 a.m. (CT)
Site:	Memphis, Tenn.
Stadium:	Liberty Bowl Stadium (56,862)
Coaches:	TULSA – Philip Montgomery (Tarleton State '95), 4th year MEMPHIS – Mike Norvell (Central Arkansas '05), 3rd year
TV:	ESPNU
Talent:	Shawn Kenney (pxp), Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
Tickets:	To purchase tickets, GoTigersGo.com
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM or Online
Talent:	Bruce Howard (pxp), Rick Couri (analyst), Jeremie Poplin (sidelines)
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Series:	Memphis leads 17-11
First Meeting:	Memphis 48, Tulsa 12 (Sept. 23, 1961), Tulsa, Okla.
Last Meeting:	#21 Memphis 41, Tulsa 15 (Nov. 3, 2017), Tulsa, Okla.
Game Notes:	Tulsa \| Memphis \| American Athletic Conference

TULSA, Okla. –– The explosive Memphis offense will post a significant challenge for Tulsa when the two teams meet Saturday morning at 11 a.m., a game that will be televised on ESPNU.

The Tulsa defense has performed soundly this season, but will face one of the most balanced attacks in the American Athletic Conference with the nation's most explosive running back in the likes of Darrell Henderson.

Memphis averages 535.6 total yards, 267.2 rushing yards and 44.3 points to rank third in The American this year in each of those categories. Tulsa counters with a defense that ranks among the top-5 in The American for passing (3^rd), total defense (4^th) and scoring defense (5^th). The Hurricane holds opposing offenses to 401 total yards, 27.4 points and 173.2 passing yards.

Both teams are coming off wins last week, Memphis moving to 5-4 on the season with a 59-41 win at ECU, while Tulsa snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 49-19 home win over UConn to improve to 2-7.

In Memphis' run game, Henderson has the potential to take it to the house each time he gets his hands on the ball, rushing for 1,280 yards and 15 TDs on just 135 carries for a nation-leading 9.48 yards per carry. He's also a threat out of the backfield, catching 15 passes for 283 yards and 3 TDs from his running back position.

Quarterback Brady White has completed 64-percent of his passes for 2,328 yards and 20 touchdowns on the season and has targeted 6'3" receiver Damonte Coxie for a team-leading 52 receptions, 839 yards and seven TDs. Four other Tiger receivers have surpassed the 200-yard mark for yardage, while a total of 10 receivers have caught a touchdown pass.

The Memphis offensive line is led by three seniors – left tackle Trevon Tate, center Drew Kyser and right tackle Roger Joseph.

Trying to slow down the Memphis offense starts up front with a Tulsa line that 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 8 games this year whether anchoring Tulsa's 3-man or 4-man fronts. Gipson and Robinson have tallied 34 and 21 tackles, respectively, to lead the front four, while Stevenson has 19 stops and 3.5 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 leads the way with a team-high 85 tackles and three interceptions. Collins has added 64 tackles and 6.5 TFLs for -23 yards, while Cannon has tallied 45 stops for 2 TFLs for -14 yards and three pass breakups.

The secondary is led by senior safety McKinley Whitfield, who has 58 tackles and a team-best seven pass breakups on the season. Fellow safety Manny Bunch has 53 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 4 contests and has 44 stops on the year, including a season-high 12 stops against Tulane.

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.

Green and Hill has six starts, while Evans and Robinson each has three. The foursome has combined for 71 tackles and 12 pass break-ups.

Memphis' defense has been one of the better ones in The American against the run this year, the strength of the Hurricane offense. The Tigers have limited opposing offenses to 175 yards on the ground.

The Tigers have totaled 59 tackles for lost yardage and 19 sacks this year. Senior linebacker Curtis Akins leads Memphis with 68 tackles. Fellow linebackers Austin Hall and JJ Russell have combined for 75 tackles and 11 stops for -20 yards.

Bryce Huff, from his KAT position, a hybrid end/outside linebacker spot, leads the Tigers with 11.5 TFLs for -44 yards and 5 sacks for -26 yards. The interior cogs to the defense are two 297-pounders, tackle Emmanuel Cooper and nose guard O'Bryan Goodson.

The secondary is led by sophomore strong safety Tyrez Lindsey with 56 tackles, while free safety Josh Perry has totaled 37 stops and 4 pass breakups. The corners – T.J. Carter and Tito Windham – have 72 tackles and 8 pass breakups between them.

Despite injuries that have knocked Tulsa's backfield tandem of Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II out of one game each, the ground game has been the strength for the Hurricane offense, averaging 221 yards per game. It's been turnovers and an inconsistent passing game that has hampered the offensive attack.

Tulsa has turned over the ball 20 times, while opponents have turned those takeaways into 71 points, an average of nearly eight points per game. Tulsa's margin of loss this season has been 3.8 points.

The Hurricane run game produced 470 yards last week against UConn, while the entire offensive production amounted to a season-high 638 yards. Brooks had a game-high 151 yards on 167 carries, while Taylor rushed for 133 yards and one TD on 18 attempts.

On the year, Brooks has gained 774 yards and 6 touchdowns, while Taylor has 631 yards and 5 touchdowns. In 17 career contests, Brooks has rushed for 1,461 yards, 16 TDs and eight 100+ rushing games. In Brooks' absence at Houston, Taylor turned in a career night with 152 yards on 33 carries.

Seth Boomer will be in the saddle at the quarterback position for the sixth straight game for Tulsa. The red-shirt freshman is getting more comfortable handling the signal-calling for the Hurricane. He has completed 48 passes for 781 yards and 7touchdowns, including a freshman record 4 TD passes last week vs. UConn. 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.

All-conference center Chandler Miller will be starting his 48^th consecutive game since his first start as an opening day starter in 2015 as a red-shirt freshman. Right tackle Willie Wright has started 44 straight contests.

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.

Two 300-pounders, Chris Paul and Tiller Bucktrot, have shared starting time at right guard this season.

Three of Boomer's targets on the outside have each surpassed 300 yards receiving, as junior Keenen Johnson has 23 catches for 358 yards and 3 TDs, senior Justin Hobbs has hauled in 27 passes for 338 yards and 2 touchdowns, while true sophomore Keylon Stokes has 337 yards and 2 TDs on 25 receptions

The tight end position will see senior Cole Neph taking most of the snaps, as fellow senior Chris Minter is still working himself back from injury. Neph has caught 10 passes this year for 141 yards and 3 touchdowns.