(Photo Credit: Nathan J. Fish)
Key Players Returning:
QB Kirk Francis, RB Viron Ellison Jr., OG Ender Aguilar, OT Brody Duffel, NT Tai Newhouse, LB Chris Thompson, LB Elijah Wlson, CB NuNu Campbell, CB Keuan Parker, FS Zach Williams, PK Seth Morgan, and PT Angus Davies.
Key Players Departing:
QB Cooper Legas, RB Bill Jackson, RB Anthony Watkins, WR/PR Kamdyn Benjamin, WR Joseph Williams, TE Luke McGary, OC Kasen Carpenter, OG Walter Young Bear, OT Rey Burnett, DE Myles Jackson, DE Vontroy Malone, DE Owen Ostroski, LB Zach Marcheselli, DT RJ Jackson Jr., LB Gavin Potter, CB Tyree Carlisle, FS Malachai Jones, SS Buddha Garrett, SS Dayne Hodge, KR Lloyd Avant, and PR Kandyn Benjamin.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: OL Ian Mayes (Arlington, Texas), WR Micah Tease (Texas A&M transfer), TE Brody Foley (Indiana transfer), TE Zion Booker (Western Carolina transfer), WR Mekhi Miller (Missouri transfer), LB Tristan Lawyer (Frisco, Texas), RB Kelvin Washington (Longview, Texas), QB Andrew Alford (Phenix City, Alabama), DT Nahki Johnson (Pitt transfer), and OL Simon Wilson (Middle Tennessee transfer).
2024 Results:
G01 Northwestern State W 62-28
G02 @ Arkansas State L 24-28
G03 #13 OKLAHOMA STATE L 10-45
G04 @ Louisiana Tech W/OT 23-20
G05 @ North Texas L 20-52
G06 ARMY L 7-49
G07 @ Temple L 10-20
G08 UTSA W 46-45
G09 @ UAB L 21-59
G10 EAST CAROLINA L 31-38
G11 @ South Florida L 30-63
G12 FAU L 16-63
Misc. Team Information:
2024 Record: 3-9 (14th in AAC)
Home: 2-4
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 1-7
Non-AAC: 2-2
Head Coach: Kevin Wilson
Tulsa: 0-0
Bowls: 0-1
Career: 33-63
(Photo Credit: Brett Rojo)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Kirk Francis (149-253, 1585 yards, 58.9%, 6.3 avg., 9 TD, 6 INT)
Rushing: Viron Ellison Jr. (62 car., 353 yards, 5.7 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Grayson Tempest (16 rec., 138 yards, 8.6 avg., 0 TD)
TDs Scored: Viron Ellison Jr. (2)
Sacks: 4 Tied (1)
Tackles: Chris Thompson Jr. (49)
Tackles For Loss: Chris Thompson Jr. (5)
Interceptions: Jehlen Cannady/Elijah Green (2)
Pass Deflections: Keuan Parker (4)
Forced Fumbles: Aquavious Dunbar (2)
Kick Returns: Grayson Tempest (6 ret., 129 yards, 21.5 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: Zach Williams (1 ret., 10 yards, 10.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Seth Morgan (10-15 fg/fga, 67%, 33-34xp/xpa, 63 pts.).
Punting: Angus Davies (68 punts, 2965 yards, 43.3 avg., 17 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 11 Kirk Francis (RS SO)
RB: 22 Viron Ellison Jr. (SO)
WR: 00 Zion Booker (JR/TR)
WR: 00 Micah Tease (RS SO/TR)
WR: 00 Makhi Miller (SR/TR)
TE: 00 Brock Foley (RS JR/TR)
LT: 00 JaQuan Adams (RS JR/TR)
LG: 00 Sean Hill (GR/TR)
OC: 00 Simon Wilson (RS SR/TR)
RG: 50 Ender Aguilar (RS SR/TR)
RT: 00 Hunter Erb (RS JR/TR)
KR: 1 Braylin Presley (SR/TR)
PK: 11 Seth Morgan (GR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 00 Byron Turner Jr. (RS SR/TR)
NT: 99 Tai Newhouse (RS JR)
DT: 00 Nahki Johnson (RS SR/TR)
DE: 26 Zach Neilsen (RS JR)
LB: 00 Ray Coney (JR/TR)
LB: 6 Chris Johnson Jr. (GR/TR)
NB: 16 Devin Robinson (RS SO)
CB: 00 JD Drew (RS JR/TR)
CB: 7 Elijah Green (SO)
FS: 2 Jehlen Cannady (GR/TR)
SS: 18 Zach Williams (SO)
PR: 1 Braylin Presley (SR/RS)
PT: 29 Angus Davies (JR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/30 ABILIENE CHRISTIAN WILDCATS | First meeting.
09/06 @ New Mexico State Aggies | Tulsa leads the series 15-4. The Golden Hurricane lost (7-24) the last meeting in 2001, and their last series win (35-10) was in 1990.
09/13 NAVY MIDSHIPMEN | Tulsa trails the series 2-8. The Golden Hurricane are 1-7 since 2015, and they lost (21-53) the last meeting in 2022.
09/19 at Oklahoma State Cowboys | Tulsa trails the series 28-45-5. The Golden Hurricane are 0-5 since 2017, and their last series win (35-50) was in 1998.
09/27 TULANE GREEN WAVE | Tulsa leads the series 13-7. The Golden Hurricane are 4-5 since 2015, and their last series win (20-13) was in 2021.
10/04 @ Memphis Tigers | Tulsa trails the series 12-20. The Golden Hurricane are 2-5 since 2015, and they lost (10-26) the last meeting in 2022.
10/16 @ East Carolina Pirates | The series is tied 9-9. The Golden Hurricane are 2-4 since 2015, and their last series win (29-27) was in 2023.
10/25 TEMPLE OWLS | Tulsa leads the series 5-4. The Golden Hurricane are 3-3 since 2017, and their last series win (48-26) was in 2023.
11/08 @ Florida Atlantic Owls | Tulsa trails the series 1-3. The Golden Hurricane are 1-2 since 2015, and their only series win (47-44) was in 2015.
11/15 OREGON STATE BEAVERS | First meeting.
11/22 @ Army Black Knights | The series is tied 1-1. The Golden Hurricane lost (7-49) last season’s meeting, and they won (49-39) the inaugural meeting in 2007.
11/29 UAB BLAZERS | Tulsa leads the series 4-1. The Golden Hurricane lost (21-59) last season’s meeting, and they won (49-42) the prior meeting in 2012.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Road: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 4-4
Non-AAC: 2-2
Overall: 6-6 (6th in AAC – Bowl Eligible)
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