First Opponent Check-In: Tulsa Only Loses Collins, QB, and Trades Corners on Portal

STILLWATER – The other day we checked in for the first time on opening opponent Missouri State and now we take a look at the familiar non conference foe waiting in week two with Tulsa coming to Boone Pickens Stadium on Sept. 11. The Cowboys lead the series with the Golden Hurricane 43-28-5 but it has been much more dominating in recent years as Oklahoma State has won eight straight including a very competitive 16-7 win last season as freshman quarterback Shane Illingworth pulled it out of the fire after starter Spencer Sanders went down on the first series and the right side of the offensive line went out with broken legs in the first half.

University of Tulsa Athletics

Tulsa and head coach Philip Montgomery have plenty of talent returning.

Oklahoma State barely outgained Tulsa in the low scoring defensive game 284-277-yards.

To Oklahoma State and Tulsa’s credit the Golden Hurricane finished with a 6-3 record and should have beaten Cincinnati for the American Athletic Conference in that 27-24 late season game in Cincinnati.

They had a first-round NFL draft choice in linebacker Zaven Collins, who was selected by Arizona with the 16th pick in the first round. Collins had 9.5 tackles for loss and 8.0 tackles for loss as a junior. He had 53 tackles total and four interceptions and two of those he took back for touchdowns.

Tulsa really only lost one player on offense in quarterback Zach Smith, but Brin Davis and Seth Boomer both played and had to help win games. Davis completed 19-of-29 for 269-yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. There are many that believe that Davis will be better. All 2,275-yards receiving return for this season with slot receiver Keylon Stokes, wide receiver J.C. Santana, and slot Josh Johnson all back.

In the running game Deneric Prince is back and so is Shamari Brooks, who tore his ACL the week of the opener with Oklahoma State.

The Golden Hurricane on defense will be led by powerful and big-time damaging defensive interior lineman Jaxon Player. Player is a 6-0, 290-pound beast.

In the secondary cornerbacks Allie Green and Akayleb Evans went in the transfer portal late in the spring. Back-up corner Ryan Nixon went in the portal as well.

University of Tennessee

Kenny Solomon against Alabama last season.

The portal taketh and it gives as well. The Golden Hurricane picked up Tennessee corner Kenny Solomon, who performed well in the rugged SEC. Tulsa got a further boost when they gained Travon Fuller from Texas A&M and Tyree Carlisle from Independence Community College.

Philip Montgomery is a good coach that has done a good job of making the school in FBS Division I with the smallest enrollment competitive, better than competitive as they are conference contenders and bowl worthy.

An improved Missouri State team; Tulsa, which loses little personnel; and the blue turf Boise State Broncos are why Oklahoma State has one of the more difficult non conference schedules in the country.