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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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Jaxon Player and Zaven Collins, Tulsa Football. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Jaxon Player and Zaven Collins, Tulsa Football. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /

Despite key loss, expect Tulsa defense to remain top-tier

It is never easy replacing your best player and one of the best players in the country, but that is what the Tulsa defense is going to be tasked with doing this season.

Up front, All-AAC lineman Jaxon Player is going to lead the way for the Golden Hurricane. Player is not the only solid player up front though, as Anthony Goodlow and Tyarise Stevenson are also guys to watch. This is a unit that is going to be very disruptive and wreak a lot of havoc in the trenches for opponents.

At linebacker, Tulsa is going to bring back their other two starters besides Zaven Collins. The group will be led by second-team All-AAC selection Justin Wright, who should see even more responsibility with Collins’ departure. Look for senior Treyvon Reeves to be one of the other starters and Grant Sawyer to be the other.

The secondary is going to be the best unit on the defense this season. This is a unit that is filled with length and athleticism and that is evidenced at the cornerback position. Allie Green IV is 6-foot-3, 206 pounds and Akayleb Evans is 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds and both of those guys have the potential to be lockdown corners on the outside. At safety, Kendarin Ray and TieNeal Martin are back. Look for Christian Williams to have a great season as well.

If Tulsa can replace some of Collins’ pass-rushing production, there is no reason to believe that it won’t have a really good defense again.

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