The University of Tulsa football program has added 11 transfer players, according to coach Philip Montgomery. The list of transfers total 10 from FBS institutions and one junior college newcomer.
“Over the course of the last few months we’ve been able to make some additions to our roster that has enabled us to strengthen our team. The offensive line and secondary were two main areas that we needed to add numbers and depth. For the most part, we have added players with multiple years of eligibility remaining and guys who can contribute immediately,” said Montgomery.
Eight players on offense and three defensive players join the Golden Hurricane roster. On offense, Tulsa added five linemen, one running back, one receiver and one tight end. Defensively, the Hurricane added one lineman and two defensive backs.
Among the FBS transfers, three are from SEC schools, two transfers each from the Big 10 and ACC and one newcomer from the Big 12, Pac 12 and Mountain West schools.
Offensively, the five linemen include Kai-Leon Herbert (6-2, 300) from Miami (Fla.), Darrell Simpson (6-8, 348) from Oklahoma, Tai Marks (6-2, 300) from Colorado State, Brody Wisecarver (6-5, 300) from Illinois and Chris Akporoghene (6-3, 310) from Tennessee.
Tight end Colby Powers (6-4, 234) transfers to Tulsa after one season at Arizona as does Virginia Tech running back transfer Tahj Gary (5-8, 220) and Trinity Valley Community College receiver Carl Chester (6-4, 200)
Tulsa’s three transfers on the defensive side of the ball include lineman Izuchukwu King Ani (6-4, 265), who comes to Tulsa from Mississippi State, as well as defensive backs Jehlen Cannady (6-0, 180) from Georgia and Donte Burton (6-0, 185) from Wisconsin.
A Miami (Fla.) transfer, Kai Leon Herbert spent five seasons with the Hurricanes. He has just the 2021 season of eligibility remaining.
Tai Marks spent two seasons at Colorado State and played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2021. Marks has three years of eligibility remaining.
Darrell Simpson spent four years and saw action in one game last season at Oklahoma. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Brody Wisecarver has four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting as a true freshman last season at Illinois.
Chris Akporoghene, who moved to the United States from Warri, Nigeria, in 2016, played in a total of seven career games as a reserve offensive lineman and special team’s contributor at Tennessee. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Colby Powers, the younger brother of Tulsa nickel safety Bryson Powers, did not see playing time in his only season at Arizona in 2021 and has four seasons of eligibility remaining. He played quarterback, tight end and handled punting duties at Klein Collins High School. Gary has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
JUCO transfer Carl Chester caught nine passes for 104 yards and an 11.6 average per reception with one touchdown in nine games at Trinity Valley last season. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
A native of Enugu State, Nigeria, Izuchukwu King Ani spent three seasons with the Mississippi State Bulldogs and has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
As a prep senior, he was selected as the No. 5 recruit in Tennessee by ESPN after totaling 80 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in his high school career.
Donte Burton played in 27 games and had five starts in four seasons at Wisconsin while totaling 26 tackles, five pass breakups and one interception.
Jehlen Cannady spent two seasons at Georgia and played in two games in the Bulldogs’ national championship season of 2021. Burton has two years of eligibility remaining and Cannady has three seasons remaining to play.