After a four-win season last year, Tulsa is looking to improve under head coach Kevin Wilson in his second year.
Despite losing three of their last four games by seven points or fewer, the close losses provide hope for better outcomes for the Golden Hurrican in 2024.
Offensive coordinator Steve Spurrier Jr. is focused on jumpstarting the offense, but the team needs to settle on a starting quarterback first. Could it be returner Cardell Williams?
The defense will also need to be significantly more consistent in 2024 if Tulsa is to take a leap in the win column.
Who are the Tulsa Golden Hurricane’s top returning players?
Tulsa Golden Hurricane’s Top 10 Returning Players In 2024
10) Tyree Carlisle, CB
If Tulsa is going to win more games in 2024, it needs to get more out of its secondary unit. One such returner in this group is cornerback Tyree Carlisle.
Carlisle is a three-year letter winner and two-year starter now entering his fourth season.
Over his career, Carlisle has appeared in 34 games, earning 16 starts, and has accumulated 95 tackles, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
In 2023, Carlisle played in 11 games, starting in eight. He recorded 33 tackles and one pass breakup, with a career-high nine tackles in a game against East Carolina.
9) Sean O’Keefe, SS
Veteran safety Sean O’Keefe joins Carlisle in the secondary. The 6’2″, 197-pound strong safety can play extremely physical in the secondary.
A three-year letter winner, O’Keefe has appeared in 30 career games, including one start, and has recorded 23 tackles. In 2023, he played in 10 games, contributing four tackles and forcing one fumble.
O’Keefe will undoubtedly have more opportunities in 2024 and can significantly impact Tulsa’s defensive side of the ball.
8) Bill Jackson, RB
Bill Jackson will enter 2024 as Tulsa’s backup running back, but he’s highly experienced and will play more of a dual-threat role than a true backup.
A two-year letter winner in his fourth season, Jackson has appeared in 22 career games. Over that time, he has rushed for 600 yards on 122 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, and has also added nine receptions for 52 yards.
In 2023, Jackson played in all 12 games, rushing for 414 yards with a 4.5-yard average.
7) NuNu Campbell, CB
Now in his third year at Tulsa, NuNu Campbell has played in 13 career games, recording 23 tackles and three pass breakups. In 2023, Campbell saw action in 10 games, starting four.
Known for his speed, Campbell is a solid defender and a dangerous kick return specialist who can punish teams that underestimate his quickness.
Campbell can run with any opposing wide receiver in coverage and potentially force some turnovers if opposing offenses ignore his ability to break on the football.
6) Ethan Hall, TE
Ethan Hall, a sixth-year tight end standing 6’3″ and weighing 246 pounds, has consistently contributed to Tulsa’s offense, recording 27 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns over his five seasons with the team. A four-year letter winner and three-year starter, Hall has played in 49 career games, starting 33 of them.
Last season, Hall made seven receptions for 37 yards, but Tulsa is now more committed to involving the tight end position in the passing game.
Tulsa will look to utilize Hall’s versatility as a hybrid fullback/tight end while molding him into a more pass-catching threat on offense.
5) Dayne Hodge, S
If the Tulsa secondary will improve in 2024, it starts with Dayne Hodge. He’s a fearless safety who plays with energy and a relentless motor.
A two-year letter winner and returning starter, Hodge enters his third season after earning a scholarship following the 2023 campaign. Originally a walk-on, he has played in 17 career games with eight starts, amassing 57 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one interception.
In 2023, Hodge played in all 12 games, starting eight of them. He recorded 57 tackles, finishing third on the team, and added two forced fumbles and one interception.
4) Cardell Williams, QB
Cardell Williams is in a certified quarterback competition this summer in Tulsa, but he comes into camp with the most experience in the Tulsa offense. He’s competing with returner Kirk Francis and Utah State transfer Cooper Legas.
Williams appeared in nine games in 2023, starting four, before missing the final three due to injury. During the season, Williams completed 79 of 132 passes (59.8%) for 1,149 yards, throwing 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Additionally, Williams showcased his mobility, rushing for 202 yards and five touchdowns.
Williams is a true dual-threat quarterback with big-time arm talent. If he can improve his decision-making and consistently protect the football in 2024, he could lead the Golden Hurricane’s offense in 2024.
3) Owen Ostroski, Edge
Owen Ostroski made a strong impact in his first season as a starter, recording 31 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks.
A two-year letter winner, Ostroski has played in 24 career games, earning nine starts. Over his career, he has accumulated 55 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
In 2023, Ostroski played and started in nine games. He started the first four games of the season but missed the matchups against Temple and FAU due to injury and the season finale at East Carolina. Considering his missed time, Ostroski finished this season with very good numbers.
Tulsa’s pass rush starts and ends with Ostroski. If the team is going to pressure the quarterback and provide some relief on their secondary, Ostroski will have to create havoc in the offensive backfield.
2) Anthony Watkins, RB
Leading rusher Anthony Watkins returns for the 2024 season after a standout year in which he ran for 889 yards and four touchdowns.
A three-year letter winner and returning starter, Watkins transferred from Missouri before the 2020 season and has since played in 33 career games, with all nine of his starts coming in 2023.
The Tulsa offense is going to rely heavily on Watkins in 2024.
Watkins enters the 2024 season with 1,544 career rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 290 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He has recorded five career 100-yard rushing games, three of which came during the 2023 season.
1) Kamden Benjamin, WR
Kamden Benjamin emerged as Tulsa’s top receiving option last season and remains a key player heading into his sixth year. A former walk-on, Benjamin has played in 34 career games, tallying 50 receptions for 751 yards and six touchdowns.
Benjamin also has two 100-yard receiving games to his name, along with 22 punt returns for 123 yards and 11 kickoff returns for 224 yards, averaging 20.4 yards per return.
In 2023, Benjamin played in all 12 games, starting the final seven. He led the team with 47 receptions for 727 yards and six touchdowns.
Impressively, he caught 45 passes for 720 yards and all six touchdowns in the season’s final ten games. In the season finale against East Carolina, Benjamin had a standout performance, recording 143 yards and one touchdown on six receptions.
Benjamin emerged as an elite pass-catching threat in 2023 and will need a big year to pace the Tulsa offense in 2024.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest news and analysis, rankings, transfer portal information, top 10 returning players, the 2024 college football season schedule, and much more!