Photo by: Brett Rojo
TULSA FOOTBALL NOTES: UCF GAME
9/28/2020 3:00:00 PM | Football
Tulsa Opens American Athletic Conference Play on the Road at No. 11-Ranked UCF on Saturday
GAME #2
TULSA (0-1, 0-0 AAC) vs. #11 UCF (2-0, 1-0 AAC)
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020 • 6:30 p.m. (CT) / 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Spectrum Stadium (44,206), Orlando, Fla.
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Big Country 99.5 FM
FOR FULL GAME NOTES PACKAGE, CLICK HERE
TULSA 0-1, 0-0 The American
Head Coach: Philip Montgomery
(Tarleton State '95)
6th year at Tulsa
Career Record: 25-38 (6 years)
TU Record: same
UCF 2-0, 1-0 The American
Head Coach: Josh Heupel
(Oklahoma '01)
3rd year at UCF
Career Record: 24-4 (3 years)
UCF Record: same
THE STORYLINES . . .
• Tulsa is in its 121st season of football.
• Tulsa has the smallest FBS enrollment with 3,269 undergraduate students … Tulsa's overall enrollment is 4,380 … UCF is among the largest FBS schools with an enrollment of 67,000.
• Tulsa opened the season on Sept. 19 at #11 Oklahoma State, while #11 UCF has played in each of the last two weeks.
• Tulsa had 3 of its non-conference games cancelled this year, including Toledo (Sept. 5), Northwestern State (Sept. 19) and Arkansas State (Sept. 26).
• UCF is the second straight top-20 team that Tulsa faces this year.
THE SERIES . . .
• This is the 11th meeting between Tulsa and UCF … Tulsa leads the series 7-3.
• The series is tied 3-3 in games played in Orlando, while Tulsa leads at home by a 5-0 series advantage.
• Tulsa has won the last 3 meetings, including a 35-20 win in Orlando in 2016 and a 34-31 win at home last year.
• The teams met in 3 conference championship games while both schools were members of Conference USA, as Tulsa posted a 2-1 mark in those games.
• The first meeting in the series came in the 2005 Conference USA Championship game as Tulsa grabbed a 44-27 win in Orlando.
• Tulsa has a 13.6 scoring edge over UCF in its 7 wins, while the Knights have a 21.3 scoring margin over Tulsa in its 3 victories.
LEADING THE NATION . . .
• Tulsa leads the nation in tackles for lost yards with a 14.0 average for -56 yards, all of which came in the season opener at Oklahoma State.
• Junior linebacker Zaven Collins ranks 1st nationally for TFLs with 4 for -24 yards and is also first for QB sacks with 3 for -16 yards.
• As a team, the Hurricane ranks 3rd nationally for sacks per game after posting six for -24 yards against Oklahoma State.
ALSO IN THE TOP-5 DEFENSIVELY . . .
• For more Tulsa players join Zaven Collins among the leaders in NCAA defensive statistics.
• Junior linebacker Grant Sawyer is tied for 2nd with 3.5 TFLs for -11 yards.
• Sophomore safety Kendarin Ray ranks 2nd for solo tackles with 11.
• Senior cornerback Allie Green IV ranks 3rd nationally for interceptions per game, while senior nickel safety Cristian Williams is 4th for fumble recoveries.
FIRST THREE GAMES Vs. RANKED TEAMS . . .
• Tulsa's first three opponents – Oklahoma State, UCF and Cincinnati – are currently ranked among the nation's top-25.
• OSU was ranked #11 when Tulsa dropped a 16-7 decision to the Cowboys in the season opener for both schools.
• Tulsa travels this week to #11-ranked UCF and after an open week will face #15 Cincinnati at home on Oct. 17.
TULSA'S RUNNING BACK GROUP CAME INTO SEASON SECOND IN NATION ONLY TO CLEMSON . . .
• Tulsa's returning running back corps came into the 2020 season with the second-highest combined career rushing yards and rushing TD totals in the nation, which was second only to Clemson.
• Tulsa's running back room returned 4,541 career yards and 51 TDs, while Clemson returned highs of 5,887 career yards and 74 rushing TDs.
• For the Hurricane, Shamari Brooks led the way with 2,700 career yards and 23 TDs followed by Corey Taylor II with 1,490 yards and 22 TDs.
• TK Wilkerson gained 315 yards and 6 TDs on the ground, while Christian Lovick had 36 rushing yards.
PRACTICE PAUSE . . .
• Tulsa began preseason camp on August 7 … practiced 4 days before a scheduled day off on August 11.
• Practice was paused for 9 days due to COVID-19 testing and multiple positive tests on Aug.12.
• Practice resumed on August 21 … Tulsa practiced 3 more times before classes began on August 24 … Tulsa practiced just 7 times in the 17 days of preseason camp.
• Leading up to the season opener on Sept. 19 at Oklahoma State, Tulsa had practiced a total of 25 times in 43 days since beginning preseason camp.
DEFENSE STEPS UP . . .
• In the season opener, Tulsa faced one of the nation's top returning offenses with the retuning leading rush Chuba Hubbard … OSU averaged 453.9 yards last year and returned all of its skill position players.
• Tulsa limited the OSU offense to 277 yards, including 139 on the ground and 138 rushing.
• The Hurricane 14 TFLs for -56 yards and 6 sacks for -24 yards, while also forcing one fumble and intercepting one pass.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA LINEBACKER ZAVEN COLLINS OFF TO AWARD-WINNING START . . .
• If his performance against No. 11-ranked Oklahoma State in the season opener is any indication, then junior LB Zaven Collins should be in the conversation for All-America honors as well as consideration for some of the top defensive player awards in the country.
• Collins totaled 6 tackles, all solos, with 4 of those for lost yardage of 24 yards, including 3 TFLs for -16 yards, and that came in just a little over 2 quarters of the game since he left in the 3rd period with an injury.
• For his performance, Collins was named the Chuck Bednarik National Defensive Player of the Week.
• He currently ranks first in the nation for TFLs and sacks.
• Collins earned preseason fourth-team All-America honors by Phil Steele's magazine.
• He was also named to the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award presented the nation's top defensive player.
• The linebacker was left off of the Dick Butkus preseason watch list for the nation's top linebacker.
• Last year, Collins had the second-most tackles with 97 stops, has 8 TFLs for -27 yards, 2 sacks for -14 yards, 3 pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.
• As a redshirt freshman in 2018, Collins was named to the USA Today and Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America Teams.
• He became the 9th Tulsa player to earn Freshman All-America honors, all coming since the 2003 season
• In 2018, Collins moved into the starting WILL linebacker spot in the 3rd game vs. Arkansas State due to a Robert Revels III injury moving over from his backup role at the MIKE position.
NOT HOME UNTIL . . .
• Tulsa will not open the home season until October 17 when the Hurricane hosts the No.14-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats.
• It's the latest home opener in 51 years since October 18, 1969 when Tulsa fell to Florida State 38-20 at Skelly Stadium.
• The last time Tulsa opened with 3 straight road games was in 2009 and the Hurricane went 2-1 in those games.
• Tulsa was scheduled to open the season at home on Sept. 5 against Toledo … along with the Toledo game, the Northwestern State (Sept. 19) and Arkansas State (Sept. 26) games were cancelled.
GAME #2
TULSA (0-1, 0-0 AAC) vs. #11 UCF (2-0, 1-0 AAC)
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020 • 6:30 p.m. (CT) / 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Spectrum Stadium (44,206), Orlando, Fla.
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Big Country 99.5 FM
FOR FULL GAME NOTES PACKAGE, CLICK HERE
TULSA 0-1, 0-0 The American
Head Coach: Philip Montgomery
(Tarleton State '95)
6th year at Tulsa
Career Record: 25-38 (6 years)
TU Record: same
UCF 2-0, 1-0 The American
Head Coach: Josh Heupel
(Oklahoma '01)
3rd year at UCF
Career Record: 24-4 (3 years)
UCF Record: same
THE STORYLINES . . .
• Tulsa is in its 121st season of football.
• Tulsa has the smallest FBS enrollment with 3,269 undergraduate students … Tulsa's overall enrollment is 4,380 … UCF is among the largest FBS schools with an enrollment of 67,000.
• Tulsa opened the season on Sept. 19 at #11 Oklahoma State, while #11 UCF has played in each of the last two weeks.
• Tulsa had 3 of its non-conference games cancelled this year, including Toledo (Sept. 5), Northwestern State (Sept. 19) and Arkansas State (Sept. 26).
• UCF is the second straight top-20 team that Tulsa faces this year.
THE SERIES . . .
• This is the 11th meeting between Tulsa and UCF … Tulsa leads the series 7-3.
• The series is tied 3-3 in games played in Orlando, while Tulsa leads at home by a 5-0 series advantage.
• Tulsa has won the last 3 meetings, including a 35-20 win in Orlando in 2016 and a 34-31 win at home last year.
• The teams met in 3 conference championship games while both schools were members of Conference USA, as Tulsa posted a 2-1 mark in those games.
• The first meeting in the series came in the 2005 Conference USA Championship game as Tulsa grabbed a 44-27 win in Orlando.
• Tulsa has a 13.6 scoring edge over UCF in its 7 wins, while the Knights have a 21.3 scoring margin over Tulsa in its 3 victories.
LEADING THE NATION . . .
• Tulsa leads the nation in tackles for lost yards with a 14.0 average for -56 yards, all of which came in the season opener at Oklahoma State.
• Junior linebacker Zaven Collins ranks 1st nationally for TFLs with 4 for -24 yards and is also first for QB sacks with 3 for -16 yards.
• As a team, the Hurricane ranks 3rd nationally for sacks per game after posting six for -24 yards against Oklahoma State.
ALSO IN THE TOP-5 DEFENSIVELY . . .
• For more Tulsa players join Zaven Collins among the leaders in NCAA defensive statistics.
• Junior linebacker Grant Sawyer is tied for 2nd with 3.5 TFLs for -11 yards.
• Sophomore safety Kendarin Ray ranks 2nd for solo tackles with 11.
• Senior cornerback Allie Green IV ranks 3rd nationally for interceptions per game, while senior nickel safety Cristian Williams is 4th for fumble recoveries.
FIRST THREE GAMES Vs. RANKED TEAMS . . .
• Tulsa's first three opponents – Oklahoma State, UCF and Cincinnati – are currently ranked among the nation's top-25.
• OSU was ranked #11 when Tulsa dropped a 16-7 decision to the Cowboys in the season opener for both schools.
• Tulsa travels this week to #11-ranked UCF and after an open week will face #15 Cincinnati at home on Oct. 17.
TULSA'S RUNNING BACK GROUP CAME INTO SEASON SECOND IN NATION ONLY TO CLEMSON . . .
• Tulsa's returning running back corps came into the 2020 season with the second-highest combined career rushing yards and rushing TD totals in the nation, which was second only to Clemson.
• Tulsa's running back room returned 4,541 career yards and 51 TDs, while Clemson returned highs of 5,887 career yards and 74 rushing TDs.
• For the Hurricane, Shamari Brooks led the way with 2,700 career yards and 23 TDs followed by Corey Taylor II with 1,490 yards and 22 TDs.
• TK Wilkerson gained 315 yards and 6 TDs on the ground, while Christian Lovick had 36 rushing yards.
PRACTICE PAUSE . . .
• Tulsa began preseason camp on August 7 … practiced 4 days before a scheduled day off on August 11.
• Practice was paused for 9 days due to COVID-19 testing and multiple positive tests on Aug.12.
• Practice resumed on August 21 … Tulsa practiced 3 more times before classes began on August 24 … Tulsa practiced just 7 times in the 17 days of preseason camp.
• Leading up to the season opener on Sept. 19 at Oklahoma State, Tulsa had practiced a total of 25 times in 43 days since beginning preseason camp.
DEFENSE STEPS UP . . .
• In the season opener, Tulsa faced one of the nation's top returning offenses with the retuning leading rush Chuba Hubbard … OSU averaged 453.9 yards last year and returned all of its skill position players.
• Tulsa limited the OSU offense to 277 yards, including 139 on the ground and 138 rushing.
• The Hurricane 14 TFLs for -56 yards and 6 sacks for -24 yards, while also forcing one fumble and intercepting one pass.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA LINEBACKER ZAVEN COLLINS OFF TO AWARD-WINNING START . . .
• If his performance against No. 11-ranked Oklahoma State in the season opener is any indication, then junior LB Zaven Collins should be in the conversation for All-America honors as well as consideration for some of the top defensive player awards in the country.
• Collins totaled 6 tackles, all solos, with 4 of those for lost yardage of 24 yards, including 3 TFLs for -16 yards, and that came in just a little over 2 quarters of the game since he left in the 3rd period with an injury.
• For his performance, Collins was named the Chuck Bednarik National Defensive Player of the Week.
• He currently ranks first in the nation for TFLs and sacks.
• Collins earned preseason fourth-team All-America honors by Phil Steele's magazine.
• He was also named to the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award presented the nation's top defensive player.
• The linebacker was left off of the Dick Butkus preseason watch list for the nation's top linebacker.
• Last year, Collins had the second-most tackles with 97 stops, has 8 TFLs for -27 yards, 2 sacks for -14 yards, 3 pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.
• As a redshirt freshman in 2018, Collins was named to the USA Today and Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America Teams.
• He became the 9th Tulsa player to earn Freshman All-America honors, all coming since the 2003 season
• In 2018, Collins moved into the starting WILL linebacker spot in the 3rd game vs. Arkansas State due to a Robert Revels III injury moving over from his backup role at the MIKE position.
NOT HOME UNTIL . . .
• Tulsa will not open the home season until October 17 when the Hurricane hosts the No.14-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats.
• It's the latest home opener in 51 years since October 18, 1969 when Tulsa fell to Florida State 38-20 at Skelly Stadium.
• The last time Tulsa opened with 3 straight road games was in 2009 and the Hurricane went 2-1 in those games.
• Tulsa was scheduled to open the season at home on Sept. 5 against Toledo … along with the Toledo game, the Northwestern State (Sept. 19) and Arkansas State (Sept. 26) games were cancelled.
Players Mentioned
Running Back
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Linebacker
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Cornerback
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Running Back
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Safety
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Linebacker
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Linebacker
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Running Back
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Safety
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