PRACTICE #8 RECAP: Tulsa Running Back Update

TULSA, Okla. –– The Tulsa football team practiced for 2 hours at H.A. Chapman Stadium Friday after the heavy morning rains moved the Hurricane practice to the afternoon. It was an afternoon where the humidity started out at 100% and as practice ended was down 77% humidity.

"It was good to have something like this happen from the standpoint of preparing us for the season as things occur. You're going to have situations where game times will change, weather is going to blow in, lightning will strike, you'll be on and off the field," said Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery.

"You have to be ready for change and not let it affect you. I thought we handled it decent today. It was pretty humid today after all the rain, but I thought our guys fought through it and continued to get good work in," Montgomery added.

A LOOK AT THE RUNNING BACKS . . .
The running back position is one that coaches knew what they could expect from the top two returners – Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II. The junior duo totaled 1,813 yards and 18 touchdowns to lead the Hurricane offense a year ago.

And nothing has changed as Tulsa is nearly through its first week of preseason camp.

"Shamari and Corey are getting quite a few reps right now, but as camp gets towards the middle we'll see where we are as reps go for them. Some of the younger guys still need more reps, so as we adjust those young guys will get more of it."

53404 — Shamari Brooks finds an opening during scrimmage situation.

Montgomery is even more impressed this camp on how Brooks and Taylor have even gotten better from a year ago.

"I think they've improved quite a bit. Technique-wise they're so much better. We've but in some new stuff where we're making them expand their abilities and they've done a really good job of handling that," said Montgomery. "Just their mature approach to the game right now is really good. They're locked in, focused, seeing things, knowing when they need to bounce outside, knowing when they need to stay inside. I'm really proud of what we're getting out of those two guys."

Last season, Brooks started all 11 games in which he played as a true sophomore, gaining 967 yards and seven touchdowns, while Taylor was not far behind with 846 yards and led the Hurricane with 11 touchdowns.

"Sham and Corey give us the whole package. They give us a ton of experience, work ethic and leadership. They've helped set the tone as soon as we get onto the practice field and what the expectation is for each day," said running backs coach Justin Hill. "They bring their own skill set. Sham is hard to tackle in a phone booth, and with Corey being as strong and powerful as he is, they complement each other very well. They're both home run hitters. They both have the ability to make big plays and that's really important for an offense."

At some point in camp, the reps may dwindle for the tandem of Brooks and Taylor and when that does a pair of freshmen, TK Wilkerson, a red-shirt freshman, and true freshman Christian Lovick, will see more reps.

53405 — Corey Taylor II goes through running drill.

The depth behind the duo is coming along nicely as the Hurricane finished its 6^th day of practice Wednesday. Montgomery and Hill have both been pleased with the progress of the two young guys.

"TK and Christian are both catching on and doing what they're supposed to do. We'll give them an opportunity to show a little more, and at the same time make sure we're taking care of Sham and Corey."

"It's coming along," said Hill about the depth at running back. "TK is coming in as a red-shirt freshman. He's going to be good. He still has a lot to learn and has to be able to use his body and run behind his pads and remain physical. Christian is really versatile and very smart. He's still learning how to apply what's being taught in the meeting room to the practice field. That's just going to take time. It's going to reps, and the further we get into camp, the better he's going to be."

With the new red-shirt rule a year ago, Wilkerson was able to see action in three games and still keep his red-shirt status. In his first carry from scrimmage, Wilkerson burst out for a 79-yard run against UConn and finished that game with 95 yards on six carries.

Lovick finished his prep career in 2018 at Tomball Memorial (Texas) High School with 3,643 yards and 47 touchdowns.

PRACTICE #8 RECAP: Tulsa Running Back Update

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