Portal House Rebuild Rides on Baylor Hayes as Tre Lamb Enters Year Two at Tulsa
Tulsa finished 4-8 (1-7 in the American) in 2025, marginal progress from a 3-9 mark the year before and a fourth consecutive losing season under a third head coach. The defining offseason story was recruiting rather than results: second-year coach Tre Lamb turned an upscale off-campus rental into a trademarked "Portal House," using it to host staff and transfers during the January window. The stunt drew rave reviews and hauled in roughly 25 transfers, with a class ranked as high as the top 20 nationally. The real measure, of course, is what shows up on the field.
Offense
Lamb is handing the keys to baby-faced sophomore Baylor Hayes, whom he originally recruited to East Tennessee State before the quarterback followed him to Tulsa. Hayes made nine starts as a redshirt freshman, including the final six, and coaches rave about his "It Factor," a trait on display in the 19-12 upset at Oklahoma State. He threw for 2,158 yards with 12 touchdowns against six interceptions at 59 percent, but his running threat, credited with 376 yards before sacks, is what makes him the right fit for a mobile-minded scheme. A full year of reps should sharpen him.
Behind him is senior Dexter Williams II, who owns starting experience at Indiana and Kennesaw State and will push for snaps.
The Hurricane must replace its top three pass catchers, so the room was rebuilt in the portal. Josh Smith is the headliner, a 6-4, 225-pound sophomore Lamb has called NFL-caliber; he flashed with nine grabs for 201 yards. Oregon State transfer David Wells Jr. brings experience after 44 receptions for better than 500 yards, while Javon Ross (Bethune-Cookman) and Tulane transfer Jimmy Calloway add proven production. Slot man Oran Singleton, a well-traveled senior, and returnee Grayson Tempest round out a deeper group. At tight end, Jewlyen Roberts and Grant McAtee lead a thin position.
Tulsa loses its top three rushers, including a 1,000-yard back, but Lamb believes this could be his best unit. Old Dominion transfer Trequan Jones headlines it after 792 yards at a gaudy 7.5 per carry with a 93-yard score; he is quick, shifty and exactly the game-breaker the staff wanted. Auburn transfer Damari Alston brings 809 career yards at 5.0 a pop, and D.J. McKinney (New Mexico) and Seth Davis (Mississippi State) add carries. Sevion Morrison, once of Nebraska and Kansas, is working back from a torn Achilles.
The line should be a relative strength, anchored by returning senior tackles Cam East and JaQuan Adams, a pair of experienced 330- and 300-pounders. The interior features new pieces, with South Alabama transfer Malachi Preciado and heavyweight guard Hunter Erb (Texas A&M) in the mix alongside junior-college addition Alan Pond, a two-time all-conference selection. Ian Mayes, Brody Duffel and Will Morris give the front bodies that combined for meaningful game action a year ago.
Defense
The front was overhauled through the portal after six linemen departed, and Lamb says he now has four ends of all-conference caliber, which should mean more pressure than last year's 23 sacks. Interior anchor Tai Newhouse is the lone significant returnee, a 320-pound nose with a dozen career starts. Around him come edge rushers Thomas Davis (Appalachian State), Arias Nash (Virginia Tech by way of Mercer) and Kyran Duhon (Oklahoma State), plus disruptive tackle Jaylen George (Nebraska and East Tennessee State). Dailen Howard adds depth.
The biggest hole sits in the middle, where American-leading tackler Ray Coney and his 129 stops left for Texas A&M. Seventh-year senior Chris Thompson Jr., a 2025 captain who broke his ankle in fall camp and missed the year, returns to steady the group. UAB transfer Devin Hightower, an 81-tackle producer, takes over as a leader, and William Alexander is back after an ACL injury. C.J. Turner and Dax Collins provide competition.
This is the strength of the defense and the best reason for optimism after the unit surrendered nearly 29 points per game. Cornerback Elijah Green, the preseason conference Defensive Player of the Year, is a long, athletic playmaker who led the league with five interceptions as a true sophomore and carries genuine all-star billing. Safety Zach Williams returns after 73 tackles, seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles, and senior corner J.D. Drew (76 tackles) and hybrid STAR Devin Robinson give the secondary four returning starters. Newcomers such as Willie Goodwyn and Korbyn Green should bolster the depth.
Tulsa spent the spring auditioning at both specialist spots after losing its kicker and punter. Mississippi State transfer Marlon Hauck, formerly a kickoff man with just two career extra-point tries, emerged as the placekicker, though freshman Owen Carey arrives with a decorated prep resume. At punter, the Hurricane again tapped an Australian pipeline, with Bethune-Cookman transfer Max Tulen and his 44.6-yard average stepping in. Trequan Jones handles kick returns and Singleton fields punts.
Overview and Prediction
The schedule offers early tests, opening against Oklahoma State and visiting Arkansas, with a three-game stretch of option looks featuring trips to Navy and dates with Army mixed among American play against North Texas, Tulane, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte and a road finale at UTSA. The nonconference slate rates on the softer side.
The preseason consensus is skeptical, projecting Tulsa near the bottom third of the American, somewhere around 10th to 13th, and outside the national top 100. There is a more hopeful counter-read, too: with 15 starters back, a year-two jump in the offense and power ratings that point toward a bowl in the six-to-10-win range, this is a more experienced team than the record suggests. The make-or-break is clear. If Hayes takes the expected step and a few Portal House additions play up to their billing, Tulsa could be a pleasant surprise; if not, the feel-good story ends at the door.