GAME PREVIEW: Tulsa Opens Season Tonight Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Thursday, August 31

H.A. Chapman Stadium

7:00 PM (CT)

Tulsa

Arkansas - Pine Bluff

Photo by: BRETT ROJO, For the University o

GAME PREVIEW: Tulsa Opens Season Tonight Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff

8/31/2023 9:35:00 AM | Football

Tulsa Opens The Kevin Wilson Era Thursday Night Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Pregame Festivities will begin on Chapman Commons as tailgating opens at 4 p.m. with food, music, rides and inflatables

GAME 1: TULSA (0-0, 0-0 American) vs. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF (0-0, 0-0 SWAC)
Date/Time:	Thursday, August 31, 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Site:	Tulsa, Okla.
Stadium:	Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000)
Coaches:	TULSA – Kevin Wilson (North Carolina '84), 1st year UAPB – Alonso Hampton (Louisiana-Monroe '96), 1st year
TV:	ESPN+
Talent:	James Westling (pxp), Leger Douzable (analyst)
Tickets:	Click HERE
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM or Online
Talent:	Bruce Howard (pxp), Rick Couri (analyst), Jeremie Poplin (sideline)
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Series:	First Meeting
Game Notes:	Tulsa \| UAPB \| American Athletic Conference I Game Program

A new era of Tulsa football kicks off Thursday night as the Kevin-Wilson led Golden Hurricane hosts the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lions at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

Game time on Fan Appreciation Day is scheduled for 7 pm, as temperatures will be near 90-degrees at kickoff.

The Wilson era has been much anticipated since the former Ohio State offensive coordinator was named Tulsa's 34^th head coach in December. Not only will the Hurricane head into the season with a new coach, but the visiting UAPB Lions will have new coach in the likes of Alonzo Hampton.

Offensively, the Hurricane will be led by sophomore quarterback Braylon Braxton, who comes into the season on a two-game winning streak as the starting quarter. In nine outings last year, Braxton completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,133 yards and 10 TDs with just two interceptions.

Tulsa's running back corps features four backs with previous experience in the Hurricane backfield with junior Jordan Ford and sophomore Bill Jackson III leading the way. The pair combined for 474 yards and a 5.4 average per rush a year ago. Tulsa lost three of its top four receivers from a year ago as Malachai Jones ranked third with 470 yards on 37 receptions. The tight end position has a bevy of talent with senior Ethan Hall, true freshman Luke McGary, redshirt freshman Connor Vaughn, junior Bayne Tryon and sophomore Colby Powers.

The Hurricane offensive front averages 6'4" and 310 pouns with all five projected starters having started at least one game in a Tulsa uniform.

The Tulsa defensive unit returns eight players with past starting experience, and is led by senior safeties Kendarin Ray, who had the third-most tackles last year with 86, LJ Wallace and defensive linemen Joseph Anderson, who is the leading returning TFL leader in 2023, and Jayden Simon.

A strong contingent of transfers include linebackers Julien Simon from USC, Division II All-American Coleton Smith form Southwest Baptist College and Oklahoma State's Ben Kopenski. Keuan Parker (Arkansas), Xavier Lanier (UAB) and Oklahoma State transfers Demarco Jones and Kanion Williams will shore up an already strong secondary.

UAPB's offense is likely to be led by two different quarterbacks, including junior college transfer Mekhi Hagens and redshirt sophomore Jalen Macon. Macon threw for 303 yards in limited action a year ago, while Hagens quarterbacked Cisco College in 2022.

The signal caller will be behind a veteran offensive line with one senior and four juniors, led by left tackle Ryan Atkins.

The UAPB run game will look to fill the void left by the graduation of a 1,000-yard rusher, but returns three of its top five receivers from 2022, led by Chrysten Cochran with 337 yards, Javaughn Williams with 220 yards and Daemon Dawkins with 210 receiving yards.

The Lions defense returns a number of key players in 2023. One of the nation's top FCS players returns to lead the UAPB defense as linebacker Rico Dozier totaled 72 tackles, 11 TFL for -102 yards and three sacks. Defensive backs Grant Ewell Jr. and Kyre Williams were ranked second and fourth last year for tackles.

Pregame Festivities will begin on Chapman Commons as tailgating opens at 4 p.m. with food, music, rides and inflatables. The headline act is musical artist and Tulsan Tony Mason taking the performance stage at 4:45 p.m.

Stadium gates open at 5:30 p.m. On Fan Appreciation Day, the first 5,000 fans will receive a FREE new mascot t-shirt. Part of fan appreciation day also includes $2 sodas and $4 beers.

The game will be aired on the ESPN+ Digital Channel and can be heard on 99.5 FM Big Country Radio.