(WR Kamdyn Benjamin – University of Tulsa Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
QB Kirk Francis, QB Cardell Williams, RB Bill Jackson, RB Anthony Watkins, WR/PR Kamdyn Benjamin, OG Tautai Lio Marks, DE Owen Ostroski, CB NuNu Campbell, SS Dayne Hodge, and PT Angus Davies.
Key Players Departing:
WR Carl Chester (Marshall transfer), WR Devan Williams (Houston transfer), OC Will Farniok, OG Chester Baah, OT Kai-Leon Herbert, OT Darrell Simpson, DE Ben Kopenski, LB Dorian Hopkins (UTEP transfer), LB Mitchell Kulkin, LB Julien Simon (UCONN transfer), LB Coleton Smith, CB Xavier Lanier, NB Jaise Oliver (TCU transfer), FS Kendarin Ray, FS Kanion Williams, KR Jordan Ford (Georgia State transfer), and PK Chase Meyer (Penn State transfer).
(QB Timothy Carpenter – Dayton Daily News)
Top 10 Recruits:
3Star Recruits: WR Joshua Smith (Crandall, Texas), QB Timothy Carpenter (Dayton, Ohio), WR Alex Green (Hutto, Texas), EDGE Will Smith (Choctaw, Oklahoma), WR Corey Smith (Brownsburg, Indiana), EDGE Jaxon Lee (Frisco, Texas), ATH Elijah Green (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), DL Mason Fleming (Manvel, Texas), WR Joseph Williams (Arlington, Texas), TE Jackson Ford (Melissa, Texas), and RB Lloyd Avant (Humble, Texas).
2023 Results:
G01 ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF W 42-7
G02 @ #8 Washington L 10-43
G03 #19 OKLAHOMA L 17-66
G04 @ Northern Illinois W 22-14
G05 TEMPLE W 48-26
G06 @ FAU L 17-20
G07 RICE L 10-42
G08 @ SMU L 10-69
G09 CHARLOTTE L (OT) 26-33
G10 @ #23 Tulane L 22-24
G11 NORTH TEXAS L 28-35
G12 @ East Carolina W 29-27
Misc. Team Information:
2023 Record: 4-8 (12th in AAC)
Home: 2-4
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 2-6
Non-AAC: 2-2
Head Coach: Kevin Wilson
Tulsa: 4-8
Career: 30-55
Bowls: 0-1
(RB Anthony Watkins – Tulsa World)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Cardell Williams (79-132, 1149 yards, 59.8%, 8.7avg., 10 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing: Anthony Watkins (197 car., 889 yards, 4.5 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Kamdyn Benjamin (47 rec., 727 yards, 15.5 avg., 6 TD)
TDs Scored: Kamdyn Benjamin (6)
Sacks: Owen Ostroski (4)
Tackles: Dayne Hodge (57)
Tackles For Loss: Owen Ostroski (10)
Interceptions: Dayne Hodge (1)
Pass Deflections: NuNu Campbell (3)
Forced Fumbles: Dayne Hodge (2)
Kick Returns: Kamdyn Benjamin (3 ret., 69 yards, 23.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Kandyn Benjamin (6 ret., 67 yards, 11.2 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Angus Davies (58 punts, 2479 yards, 42.7 avg., 23 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 2 Cardell Williams (RS SO)
RB: 23 Anthony Watkins (RS SR/TR)
WR: 89 Jack Wright (RS SR/TR)
WR: 13 Jeremiah Ballard (RS JR/TR)
WR: 18 Kamdyn Benjamin (RS SR)
TE: 47 Ethan Hall (RS SR)
LT: 74 Jacob Waller (RS SO/TR)
LG: 54 Walter Young Bear (RS JR)
OC: 65 Rey Burnett (SR/TR)
RG: 51 Tautai Lio Marks (RS SR/TR)
RT: 50 Ender Aguilar (RS JR/TR)
KR: 18 Kamdyn Benjamin (RS SR)
PK: 11 Seth Morgan (GR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 55 Owen Ostroski (RS JR)
NT: 58 Tyler Rich (RS FR)
DT: 95 RJ Jackson Jr. (SO)
DE: 20 Myles Jackson (RS SR/TR)
LB: 22 Chris Thompson (GR/TR)
LB: 21 Zach Marcheselli (GR/TR)
NB: 13 NuNu Campbell (RS SO)
CB: 11 Demarco Jones (GR/TR)
CB: 4 Tyree Carlisle (RS SR/TR)
FS: 1 Dayne Hodge (RS JR)
SS: 10 Sean O’Keefe (RS SR)
PR: 18 Kamdyn Benjamin (RS SR)
PT: 29 Angus Davies (SO)
(DE Owen Ostroski – Tulsa World)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 NORTHWESTERN STATE DEMONS | First meeting between schools.
09/07 @ Arkansas State Red Wolves | The series is tied 2-2. The Golden Hurricane won (41-34) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/14 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS | Tulsa trails the series 0-9. The Golden Hurricane lost (23-28) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/21 @ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | First meeting between schools.
09/28 @ North Texas Mean Green | Tulsa leads the series 4-2. The Golden Hurricane lost (28-35) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (41-24) dates back to 2011.
10/05 ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS | First meeting between schools.
10/19 @ Temple Owls | The series is tied 3-3. The Golden Hurricane won (48-26) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (17-31) was in 2018.
10/26 UTSA ROADRUNNERS | Tulsa lost (15-34) the only prior meeting between schools in 2013.
11/02 @ UAB Blazers | Tulsa leads the series 4-0. The Golden Hurricane won (49-42) the last meeting between schools in 2012.
11/14 EAST CAROLINA PIRATES | Tulsa trails the series 5-6. The Golden Hurricane are 2-4 sine 2014, and their last series loss (17-30) was in 2015.
11/23 @ USF Bulls | The series is tied 3-3. The Golden Hurricane won (48-42) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/30 FAU OWLS | Tulsa trails the series 1-2. The Golden Hurricane lost (17-20) last season’s meeting between schools, and their only series win (47-44 OT) was at the prior meeting in 2015.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Road: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 5-3
Non-AAC: 2-2
Overall: 7-5 (3rd in AAC)
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