Tulsa Defensive Coordinator Joseph Gillespie Named to Broyles Award List
12/8/2020 2:33:00 PM | Football
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. –– The University of Tulsa Defensive Coordinator Joseph Gillespie has been named a nominee for the 2020 Broyles award which honors college football's top assistant coaches, it was announced today by the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation.
Gillespie is in his second season as defensive coordinator and has been influential in Tulsa's defensive transition to the 3-3-5 scheme in 2018.
With an overall 6-1 record and 6-0 American Athletic Conference mark this season, Tulsa is ranked 18th in the Associated Press poll and 19th in the USA Today Amway Coaches poll.
Defensively, Tulsa has held opponents to 19.9 points (21st in NCAA) and 330.1 total yards per game (20th in NCAA). The Hurricane also ranks 15th nationally in passing efficiency defense, 15th in fewest passing yards allowed, 27th in red zone defense and 50th in rushing defense.
Tulsa has had 59 TFLs for -194 yards, 17 sacks for -86 yards, 26 PBUs, six interceptions including two returned for TDs and eight fumble recoveries.
As linebacker coach, GIllespie has tutored Golden Hurricane All-America candidate Zaven Collins. The 6'4' junior has won the Chuck Bednarik, Walter Camp and Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week awards in three separate weeks this year, as well as earning the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week four times.
Collins is a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik National Defensive Player of the Year award and the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker.
The 56 nominees in this year's Broyles Award class were selected from approximately 1,270 assistant coaches representing 127 Division One programs across the country. The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), broadcasters, a college football hall-of-fame selection committee and current college head coaches.
Players Mentioned
Linebacker
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