CAMP UPDATE: The Defensive Line Position

TULSA, Okla. –– With the departure of three starters from a year ago, the progress of the defensive line was important through spring drills and now in fall camp the group has continued to make significant progress.

Tulsa's front three will be versatile with movement from inside to outside among the group.

"Our defensive line has come along well this camp. I think coach Williams is doing a great job molding them to see what their identity will be," said Tulsa Head Coach Philip Montgomery.

Senior end Anthony Goodlow (6-5, 286) leads the way for the Hurricane after starting five games a year ago and leading Tulsa with six sacks. He totaled 28 stops and seven TFL on the season.

Goodlow is joined up front by two players who have made significant contributions to the Tulsa defense – junior Everitt Rogers (6-2, 305) and former walk-on Joe Anderson (6-0, 272). Rogers played in eight games and had 10 stops a year ago, while Anderson tallied 22 tackles and 3.5 TFL.

"Anthony Goodlow has done a tremendous job of leading the defensive front and some other guys have to step up and are stepping up in that way," said Montgomery.

"We talk about it all the time. Big guys rule the world when it comes to the football field. If you're winning the trenches on both sides of the football then you're giving yourself an opportunity to win games. Our defensive line is vitally important to what we do from a schematic standpoint and it's an important job. We have to have guys that are willing to work at an extremely high level and impact the game at a high level."

Tulsa added two FBS transfers to the defensive front in the likes of Colorado transfer Jayden Simon (6-3, 344) and Mississippi State transfer Isuchukwu King Ani (6-4, 265). Unlike Simon, who joined Tulsa in January, Ani did not participate in spring drills as he joined the Hurricane in July.

Redshirt freshman Owen Ostroski (6-2, 256), from nearby Holland Hall High School, and another local prep product, Haydon Grant (6-5, 255), from Owasso High School, have had bright moments during fall camp and will be expected to be important contributors up front for the Hurricane this year.

Bryce Alonso (6-3, 258), Cooper Laake (6-3, 264) and Darrias Murdock (6-4, 281) have each seen little play time in their first couple seasons, but add depth this year.

A pair of rookies Tai Newhouse (6-3, 303) in the middle and Vontroy Malone (6-5, 245) on the outside bring solid size, ability and could play important minutes as true freshmen. Newhouse collected 92 tackles, 17 TFL and five sacks as a senior at Lawrence (Kan.) Free State High School. Malone totaled 152 tackles, 35 TFL and 15 sacks in 28 career games at Brazoswood (Texas) High School.

CAMP UPDATE: The Defensive Line Position

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Players Mentioned

Bryce Alonso

Anthony Goodlow

Haydon Grant

Cooper Laake

Vontroy Malone

Darrias Murdock

Tai Newhouse

Owen Ostroski

Everitt Rogers

Jayden Simon

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