GAME PREVIEW: TULSA TRAVELS TO TAMPA TO FACE USF

Saturday, October 16

Tampa, Fla.

11:00 AM

Tulsa

South Florida

Photo by: Brett Rojo

GAME PREVIEW: TULSA TRAVELS TO TAMPA TO FACE USF

10/15/2021 4:35:00 PM | Football

GAME KICKS OFF AT 12 PM LOCAL TIME SATURDAY

GAME KICKS OFF AT 12 PM LOCAL TIME SATURDAY

GAME 7: TULSA (2-4, 1-1 American) vs. SOUTH FLORIDA (1-4, 0-1 American)
Date/Time:	Saturday, Oct. 16, 12:00 p.m. (ET) / 11:00 a.m. (CT)
Site:	Tampa, Fla.
Stadium:	Raymond James Stadium (68,857)
Coaches:	TULSA – Philip Montgomery (Tarleton State '95), 7th year SOUTH FLORIDA – Jeff Scott (Clemson '03), 2nd year
TV:	ESPNU
Talent:	Mike Couzens (pxp), Dustin Fox (analyst)
Tickets:	Contact South Florida Ticket Office
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM or Online
Talent:	Bruce Howard (pxp), Rick Couri (analyst), Jeremie Poplin (sideline)
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Series:	South Florida leads 3-1
Game Notes:	Tulsa \| South Florida \| American Athletic Conference

TAMPA, Fla. –– Saturday's clash between Tulsa and South Florida features two teams that have faced extremely difficult schedules through the first six weeks of the season. The Bulls have played four current teams ranked nationally from No. 19 thru 23, while Tulsa has played Ohio State, ranked No. 9 at the time and sixth now, and Oklahoma State, now ranked 12^th.

USF is coming off a bye week, while Tulsa captured a 35-29 home win over Memphis last week. The Bulls return home after road games at BYU and SMU, while Tulsa is on the road for the first time in nearly a month.

The young Bulls program is celebrating its 25^th season of football, while Tulsa is in its 125^th season.

Both teams are averaging in the low 20's for scoring, while giving up over 32 points per game. USF has been more balanced by gaining 146.8 yards on the ground and 185.4 passing yards, while among Tulsa's 444.3 total yards, 274.8 has come thru the air and 274.8 rushing.

USF's offense is guided by freshman Timmy McClain at the quarterback position. He has completed 59 percent of his passes for 781 yards, while running for another 158 yards.

McClain has Brian Battle and Jaren Mangham carrying the load at running back with Battle gaining 191 yards and Mangham, who is a Colorado transfer, toting the ball for 189 yards and nine touchdowns.

McClain has targeted receiver Xavier Warren for 328 yards on 17 catches, while McClain's high school teammate Jimmy Horn Jr. has caught nine passes for 124 yards. The offensive front has been strong for the Bulls and rank 32nd nationally for fewest sacks allowed at 1.6 per game.

Three of those O-Linemen –– LT Donovan Jennings, LG Demetris Harris and C Brad Cecil –– have mostly started alongside each other for three years.

Tulsa's defense will need to establish itself early so as not to let the Bulls gain confidence. It starts up front for the Hurricane in its 3-3-5 alignment as tackle Jaxon Player, nose guard Tyarise Stevenson and end Cullen Wick line up as the starters. Anthony Goodlow, Everitt Rogers, Deven Lamp, Joseph Anderson and Elijah Taylor also see considerable playing time up front.

Wick, who missed last week's game, has totaled 21 tackles and 7.5 TFL for -23 yards to lead the front line, while Player has tallied 17 stops, six tackles for -15 yards and five quarterback hurries.

Tulane vs TU - BRETT ROJO/For the University of Tulsa — Jaxon Player

Tulsa's linebacker corps has seen a number of players contributing this season. Yohance Burnett, Justin Wright and Grant Sawyer are the starters. Treyvon Reeves, who was a starter in 2020, has been back in the lineup after missing the first four contests. Robert Revels III, Dorian Hopkins and Mitchell Kulkin will see playing time as well.

Burnett leads the linebackers with 38 tackles, while Justin Wright has totaled 30 stops after a career-best 14 tackles a week ago. Hopkins has collected 18 tackles, Sawyer 17 and Revels has nine.

Tulsa cornerback Tyon Davis leads the Hurricane in tackles with 42 stops after an 11-tackle performance last week, while Travon Fuller leads Tulsa with eight pass breakups and two interceptions for the nation's third-most 10 passes defended.

Tyree Carlisle, Reggie Ellis and Kenney Solomon add depth at the corner slots.

The safety position brings experience to the secondary with two seniors – TieNeal Martin at free safety and Cristian Williams at nickel. Fellow starting safety Kendarin Ray will miss this week's game, while sophomore Jaise Oliver and junior LJ Wallace will fill in strong safety for Ray.

Although coming off the bench, Bryson Powers is another starter at nickel safety as the senior has made big plays for the Hurricane defense. Last week, Powers intercepted a pass with just over a minute to play to end any chance for a Memphis comeback. Powers has totaled 28 tackles, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and the one interception this season.

For USF, their defense has allowed opposing offenses to put up 495.4 yards per game, but two of those opponents, SMU and Florida, rank among the nation's top-10 for total offense.

The Bulls' three starting linebackers rank among the top-5 for tackles this year. Dwayne Boyles shares the team-lead for tackles with 24, along with 2.5 TFL for -9 yards. Antonio Grier has 31 stops and two TFL for -11 yards, while Andrew Mims in the middle has 28 tackles.

Strong safety Matthew Hill also has 34 tackles to lead the Bulls, along with one interception and one pass breakup. Corner Daquan Evans has tallied 30 tackles, including 24 solos to help lead the secondary.

On the defensive line, the Bulls are led by Thad Mangum at tackle, who leads the front with 16 stops, and nose guard Blake Green, who has 10 stops and 2.5 TFL for -10 yards

The Tulsa offense will look to get back to where it averaged 582 yards against No. 9 Ohio State and Arkansas State in weeks three and four. Davis Brin, who has completed 113-of-194 passes for 1,649 yards and eight touchdowns, will be behind center for the Hurricane.

Tulsa's receiving corps has three receivers with over 250 yards, as Josh Johnson leads the way with 508 yards and two touchdowns. Sam Crawford Jr. has 369 yards and three TDs on 19 catches, while Juan Carlos Santana has caught 19 passes for 282 yards.

Johnson has turned in three 100+ receiving games this year, including 140 yards last week against Memphis. Crawford has two 100-yard receiving games over the last two weeks. Keylon Stokes, a 2,500-yard career receiver, has battled injuries the last few games, but hopes to be back in the lineup.

Tulsa's running game has had three runners gaining over 100 yards in at least one game this season. Shamari Brooks two 100+ games including last week's 126-yard performance, while Anthony Watkins has turned in a 115-yard game against Arkansas State and Deneric Prince had 151 yards in the season opener against UC Davis.

On the year, Brooks leads the way with 416 yards, followed by Watkins with 282 and Prince with 261 yards. Brooks went over 3,000 career yards rushing last week with his performance.

The backs run behind a veteran and versatile offensive line, led by all-AAC tackles Tyler Smith on the left side and Chris Paul at right tackle. Dylan Couch and X'Zauvea Gadlin are slotted at guard and Gerard Wheeler handles the snapping duties.

Tulsa tight ends Ethan Hall and James Palmer have been important cogs in Tulsa's run game.

On special teams, Tulsa has experience with both their kicker and punter. Senior Zack Long has connected on 7-of-7 field goals this year, including a season-long of 45 yards. Sophomore Lachlan Wilson has averaged 47.1 yards on 36 punts and has placed 12 inside the 20-yard line.

Long snapper Rey Higuera is in his fifth season starting for the Hurricane, while Cannon Montgomery handles the holding duties for the fourth year.

The game will be aired on ESPNU beginning at 11 a.m. (CT) / 12 p.m. (ET).