Thursday, August 6, 2015

Tulsa Golden Hurricanes Season Preview

STORYLINES
Tulsa’s Philip Montgomery makes his head coaching debut this season following a recordbreaking tenure as Baylor’s offensive coordinator. Tulsa has reached double digits in wins four times since the 2007 season, most recently in 2012, when the Golden Hurricane went 11-3 and won the Conference USA title. Tulsa returns 17 starters from last season.
OFFENSE
The Golden Hurricane returns 10 starters from an offensive unit that averaged 412.5 yards per game in 2014. WR Keevan Lucas finished second in The American in receptions (101) and receiving yards (1,219) and last season and led the conference with 11 touchdown receptions. Lucas joins WR Keyarris Garrett to comprise one of the top receiving tandems in the conference. RB Zack Langer was second in The American in rushing in 2014 (80.1 ypg). Langer registered four 100-yard games in his final six appearances. QB Dane Evans ranked second in The Ameican in passing (258.5 ypg) and finished with 23 touchdowns in his first year as the regular starter.
DEFENSE
S Michael Mudoh enters the 2015 season with 271 career tackles, which ranks fourth among returning players in FBS football. Mudoh was sixth in The American last season with 9.4 tackles per game. Mudoh is the lone returning starter in the Tulsa secondary. DT Derrick Luetjen, who has made 24 consecutive starts, and DE Derrick Alexander, who has 23 career starts, lead a veteran defensive line. Alexander earned second-team all-conference accolades in 2014. LB Craig Suits earned FWAA Freshman AllAmerica honors last season after he finished with 81 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in 12 starts.
SPECIAL TEAMS
P Dalton Parks was an honorable mention all-conference selection last season after he averaged 42.0 yards per punt. Tulsa will turn to K Redford Jones as the new placekicker. Jones saw action as a kickoff specialist last season. RB D’Angelo Brewer was second in The American in kickoff returns last season (22.3 ypr).

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