Tulsa-Michigan State Game Preview

GAME 1: TULSA (0-0, 0-0 American) vs. MICHIGAN STATE (0-0, 0-0 Big 10)
Date/Time:	Friday, August 30, 6:05 p.m. (CT) / 7:05 p.m. (ET)
Site:	East Lansing, Michigan
Stadium:	Spartan Stadium (75,005)
Coaches:	TULSA – Philip Montgomery (Tarleton State '95), 5th year MICHIGAN STATE – Mark Dantonio (South Carolina '79), 14th year
TV:	FS1
Talent:	Tim Brando (pxp), Spencer Tillman (analyst), Coley Harvey (sideline)
Tickets:	To purchase tickets, 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:	First Meeting
First Meeting:	No previous meetings
Last Meeting:	No previous meetings
Game Notes:	Tulsa \| Michigan State \| American Athletic Conference

"You're going to have to earn every yard" is how Tulsa's Philip Montgomery summed up that nation's top returning run defense as the Golden Hurricane face the No. 18/20 Michigan State Spartans of the Big 10 tonight.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. local time (6:05 Tulsa time) Friday at Spartan Stadium in a nationally televised game on FS1.

The Spartans are coming off of a 7-6 season in 2018, while Tulsa is looking to rebound from a 3-9 season. The Hurricane did end the 2018 campaign with two wins in the final four games.

Tulsa's offense will be tested early this season against a defensive unit that was 10^th nationally in total defense a year ago and one that had the country's best run defense, allowing opponents to rush for only 79.9 yards per game. MSU also ranked 8^th for scoring defense, holding the opposition to 18.7.

As a whole, Michigan State returns 8 starters on defense.

"Their front 7 is special. They do an unbelievable job against the run. They don't stay blocked. If a back see's daylight, you'd better hit it because it's going to close in a hurry," said Montgomery.

MSU's defensive front four –– ends Jacob Panasiuk and Kenny Willekes, nose tackle Raequan Williams and tackle Mike Panasiuk –– return as starters, while linebackers Joe Bachie at the MIKE linebacker spot and SAM linebacker Tyriq Thompson are also returning starters.

Bachie had a team-leading 102 tackles, 8.5 TFLs and five pass break-ups last year, while end Kenny Willekes was also a menace for opposing offenses with 20.5 of his 78 total tackles going for lost yards.

"I think Bachie is the ringleader to their defense. He's sideline-to-sideline, he can run, he's very physical and he doesn't stay blocked. He's pretty special and keeps everything communicated and on the same page," added Montgomery.

The MSU secondary returns four players who started games last year, but only free safety David Dowell started all 13 contests and totaled 59 tackles. Safeties Josiah Scott and Tre Person started games at corner last year, as did returning corner Josh Butler.

"Michigan State always seems to have 2 or 3 guys from the secondary that translate to the next level. They've got good length and speed back there," said Montgomery. This year is no different.

Needless to say, Tulsa's offense faces an extremely difficult task with the veteran Spartan defense.

Tulsa's young offensive front will have its hands full right from the opening snap. The Tulsa line lost 128 starts to graduated players from last year, while this season the front is composed of a red-shirt freshman, one sophomore, two juniors and one senior. Senior returning starter Chris Ivy Jr., at left tackle anchors the line. Left guard Chris Paul started 8 games on the right side last year, while Tiller Bucktrot started 4 games at right guard and center Dylan Couch moved over after starting 3 games at left guard in 2018.

The strength of the Hurricane offense last year was its run game behind that veteran offensive line and the running duo of Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II. The pair combined for 1,813 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The receiving corps is led by junior Keylon Stokes, who led the Hurricane in receiving yards with 575 yards on 41 receptions, and senior Keenen Johnson, who totaled 438 yards a year ago. That duo will have to show up big against the Spartans and get help from a host of younger players.

Fall camp has seen the battle at quarterback between returning 8-game starter Seth Boomer and Baylor transfer Zach Smith. Who will be the starter has been the common question around the Tulsa camp? Here's two things we know for sure when it comes to the quarterback position, who ever it is, he'll be well-prepared. Secondly, all of America we'll know at the same time the starter when whoever trots on the field to take the first Tulsa snap.

Like Michigan State, Tulsa's defensive unit enjoyed solid success a year ago, ranking 8^th in the country for pass defense and 10^th for 4^th down conversions.

The defensive front is led by end Trevis Gipson, who tallied 46 tackles, 9 TFLs and 5 forced fumbles to rank second in the country. Nose guards Jaxon Player and Tyarise Stevenson anchor the middle, while senior Shemarr Robinson and Cullen Wick man the tackle position for the Hurricane.

Robinson had 31 tackles, Wick 29, Stevenson 25 and Player 14 tackles last season.

The Tulsa linebacker corps is poised to be one of the top units in the American Athletic Conference, not to mention the country. Senior MIKE linebacker Cooper Edmiston led the Hurricane last year for tackles (113), interceptions (4) and fumble recoveries (4), while WILL linebacker Zaven Collins was named Freshman All-America by USA Today and the FWAA after totaling 85 tackles and a team-high 9.5 TFLs.

Senior Diamon Cannon has been steady as well. He had 52 tackles and 3 pass break-ups last year. The depth behind the starters is strong too with juniors Yohance Burnett, Treyvon Reeves and Robert Revels III.

Tulsa's secondary is long and athletic and returns 40 starts among eight players – corners Reggie Robinson II, Akayleb Evans and Allie Green, safeties Manny Bunch and Brandon Johnson as well as nickel safeties Bryson Powers, TieNeal Martin and Cristian Williams.

With some staff changes offensively for the Spartans, no one, other than the Spartans themselves, is quite certain what the offense will look like from a schematic standpoint. Brad Salem takes over as offensive coordinator after coaching running backs for his first three seasons and quarterbacks the last six.

"As you go through all the scenarios, they have the same people, yet they're in different spots. So trying to gauge exactly what they're going to do offensively is difficult," said Montgomery.

Senior quarterback Brian Lewerke, who has the top two passing games in school history with 445 ad 400 yards, leads the Michigan State attack. He completed 54-percent of his passes for 2,040 yards and 8 TDs last season.

Connor Heyward leads the run game with 529 yards and 5 TDs in 2018, while La'Darius Jefferson totaled 255 yards and 2 touchdowns. At receiver, the Spartans return the its top-3 receivers from last year, including Darrell Stewart, Cody White and running back Connor Heyward. Tight end Matt Dotson also returns as a target for MSU.

To a man, the Spartans entire two-deep on the offensive front tip the scales at 300+ pounds, averaging 304 pounds for the starters and 312 pounds for the 5 reserves.

It's a tall task ahead for Tulsa as the Golden Hurricane march into Spartan Stadium looking to upset the host team.

Tulsa-Michigan State Game Preview

Players Mentioned

Seth Boomer

Shamari Brooks

Tiller Bucktrot

Manny Bunch

Yohance Burnett

Diamon Cannon

Zaven Collins

Dylan Couch

Cooper Edmiston

Akayleb Evans

Trevis Gipson

Chris Ivy Jr.

Brandon Johnson

Keenen Johnson

TieNeal Martin

Chris Paul

Jaxon Player

Bryson Powers

Treyvon Reeves

Robert Revels III

Shemarr Robinson

Reggie Robinson II

Zach Smith

Tyarise Stevenson

Keylon Stokes

Corey Taylor II

Cullen Wick

Cristian Williams

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