CAMP UPDATE: The Offensive Line Position

TULSA, Okla. –– The offensive line was perhaps the biggest question coming into preseason camp as the Hurricane lost five starters from last year.

An influx of five transfers have joined a talented, but not as experienced pool of underclassmen to offset the loss of seven linemen who had started at least one game throughout their careers.

"I've been pleased and surprised at times with the offensive line," said Tulsa Head Coach Philip Montgomery. "We still have a ways to go up front with so many new faces and those guys jelling together. They have to play as one full unit, you can't play as an individual person when you're playing up front. They depend on each other so much."

"We'll have five new starters up front and they'll have to continue to keep on jelling and coming together. I think that will be the key to who we're going to be. I love the way our offensive line has come together."

A total of seven returning players have seen playing time upfront for the Hurricane in the past. Three sophomores Jaden Muskrat (6-3, 307), Dillon Wade (6-4, 290) and Gabe Cantu (6-4, 298) as well as juniors Chester Baah (6-3, 308), Bryce Bray (6-4, 305), Will Farniok (6-3, 305), and Jeremy Jones (6-5, 320) have seen a varying amount of playing time.

Muskrat was hampered with an injury last year, but has played in eight career games with his lone start coming at right tackle in the 2020 American Athletic Conference Championship game against Cincinnati.

Wade and Farniok each filled in last year in key spots due to injury. Wade saw the majority of his snaps against No. 9-ranked Ohio State at right tackle, while Farniok played at the center position for the entire second half in Tulsa's Myrtle Beach Bowl victory at the center position.

Bray started eight games in 2021, while Baah has seen playing time in 14 career games, Jones 11 and Cantu seven for the Hurricane.

Since spring drills, redshirt freshman walk-on Walter Young Bear (6-3, 299) has continued to push his way into the two-deep during fall camp.

Four FBS transfers have seen playing time among the first and second groups on the offensive front, including Miami graduate transfer Kai-Leon Herbert (6-5, 305), Oklahoma's Darrell Simpson (6-8, 348), Colorado State transfer Tai Marks (6-2, 300) and Illinois transfer Brody Wisecarver (6-5, 320). A fifth, Tennessee transfer Chris Akporoghene (6-3, 310), missed a good portion of fall camp, but has shown his ability to get in the rotation on the line.

Tulsa opens the season against the Wyoming Cowboys on Sept. 3, in Laramie, Wyo.

Season tickets and single-game tickets are on sale for Tulsa's six-game home schedule. Fans can be purchase tickets online at TulsaHurricane.com/tickets or by calling 918.631.4688. The home opener comes on Sept. 10 against Northern Illinois.

CAMP UPDATE: The Offensive Line Position

Players Mentioned

Chester Baah

Bryce Bray

Gabe Cantu

Will Farniok

Kai-Leon Herbert

Jeremy Jones

Tautai Lio Marks

Jaden Muskrat

Darrell Simpson

Dillon Wade

Brody Wisecarver

Walter Young Bear