Photo by: Brett Rojo
Coach Montgomery Discusses the Tulsa Defense
5/8/2020 9:41:00 AM | Football
Returning all-conference linebacker Zaven Collins leads a Tulsa defense that showed steady improvement each of the last two seasons and comes into the 2020 season with only 4 returning starters but also returns seven players who have combined to start another 51 games.
Tulsa's athleticism, speed and length is what Tulsa's Philip Montgomery likes for his defense. Since moving to the 3-3-5 scheme, the Tulsa defense has made tremendous improvement on the field. The Hurricane defense held the opposition to 394 yards per game last year, which was down 13 yards from a year earlier and 134 yards the opposition totaled in the 2017 season.
"Defensively, we're losing a lot of production in guys like Trevis (Gipson), Reggie (Robinson) and Cooper (Edmiston), so we have some big shoes to fill," said Montgomery. "But, I'm excited about the young guys that are stepping up to take over those reins. We still have a lot of those necessary tools defensively to continue to keep the progression that we've made over the last couple years."
Collins totaled 97 tackles, 8 TFLs for -27 yards and 3 pass break-ups last year. Yohance Burnett, Robert Revels III, Treyvon Reeves, Grant Sawyer and Justin Wright all have experience to fill-in for the graduating Cooper Edmiston and Diamon Cannon at the linebacker positions.
The defensive front loses two stalwarts in the likes of Trevis Gipson and Shemarr Robinson, but the Hurricane does not lack experience on the front line either. Nose guard Jaxon Player returns as a starter to the 3-man front, while Tyarise Stevenson, Cullen Wick, Anthony Goodlow and Deven Lamp bring valuable experience in 2020.
Tulsa's secondary returns starters Cristian Williams at nickel safety and Allie Green at cornerback. Akayleb Evans, who has started 14 games at corner in his career, will return this year from injury, while safeties Bryson Powers and TieNeal Martin have combined to start 11 games for the Hurricane.
Williams had 57 tackles and 3 pass break-ups, while Green totaled 45 stops and 4 pass break-ups last year. Safety Kendarin Ray turned in a solid season as a red-shirt freshman a year ago with 40 tackles and a team-high 3 fumble recoveries.
Corners Tyon Davis and Ryan Nixon and safety Daiquain Jackson also bring experience to the defensive backfield.
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