Tulsa Golden Hurricane Defensive Preview

Tulsa Golden Hurricane Defensive Preview

7/30/2019 12:30:00 PM | Football

By: copyright The University of Tulsa

Tulsa returns eight starters and an additional seven more players who started at least one game last year on defense, thus translating into depth across the board for the Hurricane defense.

"I have high expectations for our defense and expect those guys to lead the way for us. We basically have nine starters coming back, but there's even more than that who have started games and have a lot of experience," said Montgomery. "From a depth and experience standpoint, potentially this can be the best defense we've had since I've been here."

A year ago, Tulsa's defense ranked among the top-45 nationally for fewest passing yards allowed (8^th), 4^th down conversions (10^th), pass efficiency (41^st) and red zone defense (44^th).

It starts upfront for the Hurricane defense with two 300+ pounders Tyarise Stevenson and Shemarr Robinson, and senior leader on the outside Trevis Gipson. Tulsa returns all three starters at linebacker with seniors Cooper Edmiston, who has had back-to-back 100-tackle seasons, Diamon Cannon and last year's Freshman All-American Zaven Collins.

On the back-end, the Hurricane is much more athletic and has good size and length. Three cornerbacks – Reggie Robinson, Akayleb Evans and Allie Green IV – shared time in the starting lineup last year, while eight lettermen return to man the three safety positions.

For a successful campaign, Tulsa's experienced and deep defense will need to perform beyond expectations, while giving the Hurricane offense time to find its groove in the early stages of the season.

DEFENSIVE LINE
The defensive front returns seven lettermen in 2019, including three of Tulsa's top-10 returning tacklers.

Senior end Trevis Gipson (6-4, 268) and junior Tyarise Stevenson (6-3, 343) at nose guard return as starters upfront for the Hurricane defense, while four-year senior tackle Shemarr Robinson (6-4, 310) has started 12 games over the last two seasons.

Gipson leads the returning linemen in tackles after totaling 46 stops in his first season as a full-time starter in 2018, while also adding nine stops for -30 yards and a conference-high five forced fumbles.

Stevenson had 25 tackles and four TFLs, while sharing duties in the middle of the line. Robinson who can move into nose guard, heads into fall camp as the starter at tackle for the Hurricane. He ranked ninth last year for total tackles with 31 stops, while also recovering two fumbles.

Stevenson and sophomore Jaxon Player (6-0, 296) came out of the spring as the top two nose guards, while Gipson is backed up by junior Cullen Wick (6-2, 269) and sophomore Deven Lamp (6-5, 250).

"We've got some good experience on the defensive line and we have a chance to be really special there," said Montgomery. "Trevis has worked his tail off to get the status he's at right now. He has to be a hungry, driven and relentless type player for us. Big Cat (Stevenson) and Jaxon did a nice job feeding off each other in the spring, and Shemarr is solid."

"We have some other young guys coming on like Anthony (Goodlow), Deven (Lamp) and Cullen (Wick). Cullen really started to come on the latter part of the season and has continued to grow," added Montgomery.

Junior JaJuan Blankenship (6-0, 284), who had eight tackles in seven games last year, will also get minutes on the interior of the defensive front for the Hurricane, while red-shirt freshman walk-on Joseph Anderson (6-1, 257) also adds depth at the end position behind Gipson.

Player totaled 14 tackles in 10 games as a true freshman last year, while Wick and Lamp also were in their first seasons on the field for the Hurricane. Wick was 10^th in tackles with 29 stops and five TFLs for -46 yards, while two of Lamp's four tackles went for lost yardage, including one sack.

At tackle, Robinson is backed up by red-shirt freshman Anthony Goodlow (6-5, 255) and junior Cade Baumann (6-4, 244). Both Goodlow and Baumann sat out 2018 after coming to Tulsa last year. Goodlow had 105 tackles, 30 TFLs, 19 sacks and 13 QB pressures as a senior at Del City (Okla.) High School, while Baumann was credited with 39 tackles and seven sacks in his second year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in 2017.

Four true freshmen – Cooper Laake (6-3, 270), Lazarus May (6-2, 210), Darrius Murdock (6-5, 265) and RaQuan Thompson (6-3, 275) – join the defensive line troops in 2019 and will see if they can maneuver into the rotation upfront.

LINEBACKERS
The most seasoned group on the defensive side of the ball is the linebacker corps, led by seniors Cooper Edmiston (6-3, 241) and Diamon Cannon (6-2, 230) and Freshman All-American Zaven Collins (6-4, 256) returning for his sophomore season.

Edmiston led Tulsa in tackles (113), interceptions (4) and fumble recoveries (3), while Collins was second in tackles with 85 and had a team-leading 9.5 TFLs for -31 yards. Cannon totaled 52 tackles and three pass break-ups.

"We're strong at linebacker with the starting experience and depth we have returning," said Montgomery. "Coop had a tremendous year last season and has been very consistent. He's had over 100 tackles in both years that he's been the starter and we need for him to have another great year. Diamon has been solid and Zaven needs to keep coming on like he did last year."

Edmiston holds down the starting spot at MIKE linebacker and will be backed up by red-shirt freshman Justin Wright (6-2, 240), who did see minimal action on special teams in four games last year. True freshman Dorian Hopkins (6-1, 215), who is coming off a senior season at Memphis' University School with 95 tackles, 17 TFLs and seven sacks, adds depth along with red-shirt freshman walk-on Mitchell Kulkin (6-0, 208).

Collins moved into the starting lineup at WILL linebacker in the third game last season due to injury and made a name for himself, earning Freshman All-America honors by the FWAA and USA Today.

Robert Revels III (6-2, 230), who started the first two games in 2018 but suffered an injury that sidelined him the remainder of the season, returns to the WILL spot as does returning second-year player Grant Sawyer (6-3, 219), who saw valuable playing time as a true freshman. Revels totaled eight tackles in those first two games, while Sawyer had 11 tackles, two TFLs and one fumble recovery in 12 games. Red-shirt freshman walk-on Connor Kelley (6-0, 207) adds depth.

Experienced depth is also evident at the STAR position as junior Treyvon Reeves (6-2, 220) backs up Cannon. Reeves totaled 13 stops and one sack a year ago. Yohance Burnett (6-1, 223) was in the mix for a starting spot last year until suffering a season-ending knee injury in preseason camp. Burnett, a transfer from Navarro Junior College who came to Tulsa at mid-year 2018, has yet to play in a game for the Hurricane.

Newcomer Bershard Glaspie (6-3, 215), from Mesquite (Poteet (Texas) High School, adds depth at linebacker.

DEFENSIVE SECONDARY
Tulsa returns 11 lettermen to the secondary, including eight players who have started at least one game in their careers.

"Our secondary really provides a lot of pop to us defensively, because of what they can do in coverage and also what they can do in run support," said Montgomery.

Tulsa's three returning corners – senior Reggie Robinson II (6-1, 197) and juniors Akayleb Evans (6-2, 193) and Allie Green IV (6-3, 215) – have combined for 39 career starts. The trio combined for 15 starting assignments a year ago, while each missed at least one game with an injury.

Green led the way in tackles for the corners with 36 stops and had three pass break-ups in 11 games, while Evans totaled 21 stops and four PBU's in nine contests. Robinson totaled 19 tackles and had five pass break-ups in eight games.

Two junior college transfers – Tyon Davis (6-0, 180) from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Ryan Nixon (6-3, 180) from California's El Camino College, both with three years of eligibility remaining – will be expected to add solid depth at the corner positions for the Hurricane. True freshman Reggie Ellis (6-0, 180), who had 15 pass break-ups as a senior at Aldine Davis (Texas) High School last year, adds depth along with red-shirt freshman walk-on Josiah Wilson (5-9, 185).

"We have great length and size at corner, and all three of those guys bring something different to the table. Technically, I think they play as well as anybody in the country," said Montgomery.

Despite losing starting safety McKinley Whitfield to graduation, senior Manny Bunch (6-2, 201) returns as a starter. Bunch was third on the team in tackles with 80 and had five pass break-ups in 2018. At strong safety, Bunch is backed up by sophomore Marcus Mays (6-2, 193), who played in just four games last year, and red-shirt freshman Kendarin Ray (6-4, 203).

Red-shirt freshman walk-on Jett Hendrix (6-0, 184) and true freshman Jaise Oliver (6-2, 190) add depth.

Senior Brandon Johnson (6-0, 186) came out of spring as the starter at free safety. Johnson, who transferred to Tulsa from Tyler Junior College prior to last season, totaled nine tackles in 12 games in 2018.

Two junior college transfers will battle it out with Johnson for playing time at free safety, Mike Garrett Jr. (6-1, 183) participated in spring drills after transferring from Blinn College, while Lamar Mullins (6-3, 205) comes to Tulsa from Butler Community College. Both Garrett and Mullins were three-star athletes at their respective schools.

Senior Keidrien Wadley (6-0, 197) will attempt to make a comeback after missing the 2018 season and spring drills with an injury.

With Tulsa's change to the 3-3-5 defense a year ago, the nickel safety position proved to be an integral part of Tulsa's defensive performance.

Bryson Powers (6-1, 204), a sophomore, who started seven games for the Hurricane as a red-shirt freshman, had 63 stops and four pass break-ups in 2018.

Senior TieNeal Martin (6-1, 207), who transferred in from Yuba College, had three starts and totaled 28 tackles in 12 games, including a season-best 14 stops in his first collegiate start against Arkansas State. Sophomore Daiquian Jackson (5-11, 212) also returns to the position after playing in 10 games a year ago.

Cristian Williams (6-0, 19), who's season was cut short last year after two games, may get the opportunity to make a return to the lineup this year.