2008 Tulsa Football
Todd Graham got the most out of his team in his first year at Tulsa. The Hurricane capped off a 10-4 season last year with a 63-7 beat down of Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl, easily the biggest blowout of the bowl season. It looks as if all the tools are in place for a repeat C-USA West Championship with 16 returning starters. Can they repeat? Find out as the Info Plays team gives their 2008 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football predictions below.
Offense:
You knew Todd Graham was a winner when he won at Rice. Not that Tulsa was exactly a juggernaut. Graham came into a good situation and made the best of it. He formed the nation’s leading offense at 543.9 yards/game in 2007 and has nine starters back from that group. It’s difficult to believe the Hurricane won’t be stronger in 2008. Back are the top four rushers and top six receivers, three of which gave Tulsa a trio of 1,000-yard receivers for only the third time ever in NCAA history. Running back Courtney Tennial, who had 14 touchdowns in 2006, will also be back after missing last season with an Achilles’ injury.
Tarrion Adams, who rushed for 1,225 yards last season, is back. C-USA Newcomer of the Year in Brennan Marion is also back after averaging an NCAA record 31.9 yards/catch and scoring 11 touchdowns. But the Hurricane must replace the school’s all-time leading passer, Paul Smith, who set 24 school records a year ago. Senior David Johnson enters the season as the starters, but sophomore Clark Harrell, brother of Graham Harrell at Texas Tech, is expected to give him a run for his money. Potential NFL draft pick Rodrick Thomas is back at tackle and possible all-league Justin Morsey is back at guard to give Tulsa a solid foundation on the offensive line. Two players who each gained at least 1,000 receiving yards last year as true freshman, receiver Trae Johnson and fullback Charles Clay, are back. Jesse Meyer and Dion Toliver round out one of the deepest receiving corps in the nation.
Defense:
Experience surrounds the front and back of the Hurricane defense, but the middle needs rebuilt. Tulsa loses three players that had at least 100 tackles each. Mike Bryan, George Clinkscale and Tanner Antle enter the season as starters. Moton Hopkins, who had 10 tackles for loss and earned second-team all-conference honors at end, heads the defensive line. Tackles Terrel Nemons and Wilson Garrison start at tackles, with potential star Odrick Ray trying to earn playing time there as a sophomore.
The Hurricane are loaded on offense, but somewhat suspect on defense. But pretty much the rest of the conference his hurting on defense. So the Hurricane will have to light it up in some high-scoring games. Not many teams do that as well as Tulsa, which is why the Hurricane looks like the class of the C-USA in 2008.
Conference USA Wins Expected in ‘08: at UAB, RICE, at SMU, UTEP, UCF, TULANE, at Marshall
Potential Scares/Losses: at Houston
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