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Tulsa Football: Defense can lead Golden Hurricane back to AAC title game

By Jackson Caudell

STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 19: Wide receiver JuanCarlos Santana #5 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes turns with a nine-yard catch against safety Tanner McCalister #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the first quarter on September 19, 2020 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OSU won 16-7. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 19: Wide receiver JuanCarlos Santana #5 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes turns with a nine-yard catch against safety Tanner McCalister #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the first quarter on September 19, 2020 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OSU won 16-7. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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Tulsa football coach Phillip Montgomery was entering the 2020 season on the hot seat and under pressure to pull off some wins. If you follow college football closely, you know that Tulsa had been better than their record had indicated in previous years, but they could not find a way to win close games.

Last season, everything fell into place for the Golden Hurricane and after almost pulling a stunning upset over Oklahoma State in Week 1, Tulsa recorded wins over AAC powers such as UCF and SMU and came within three points of upsetting undefeated Cincinnati in the conference title game.

Now, Tulsa is out to prove that last season was no fluke and that Montgomery is building a sustainable program that can compete for conference titles annually.

Most of the faces off of last season’s team are back, but there will be one notable absence from Tulsa in 2021. Linebacker Zaven Collins was one of the best players in college football last season and that was evident by all of the postseason hardware that Collins took home. He was a first-round pick of the Cardinals and Tulsa is left having to replace their leader and best player.

The other main starter that is going to be missed is last season’s starting quarterback Zach Smith. He had been a mainstay for Tulsa the past couple of years and his presence won’t be easily replaced. When the two starters that you have to replace are your quarterback and best defender, things could be tough.

Tulsa is experienced everywhere else and should have another solid season, but this team is hoping for more.

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