DEFENSIVE LINE (14)
With Tulane likely staying in a 3-man front, there is some discrepancy as to what constitutes an end and a tackle, so I am grouping both positions together. I consider both guys on each side of the nose as ends, but Tulane listed Aruna as a tackle this fall because the rush end/OLB usually lined up outside of him.
Cameron Sample and Robert Kennedy, who both played left end in the fall, are the likely starters, with Kennedy probably moving to the spot Aruna occupied. They should be a good duo. Patrick Johnson and Peter Woullard provide quality depth. Michael Scott, Torri Singletary and Nick Kubiet will get a chance to prove themselves along with incoming freshmen Juan Monjarres and Carlos Hatcher.
The race at nose guard will be wide open. De'Andre Williams, who could play outside or inside, and Braynon Edwards are the returners. Freshmen Davon Wright. enrolled for the spring, Jeffery Johnson, who hopes to enroll for the spring, and Jamiran James will get an immediate chance to show what they can do.
LINEBACKER (6)
This is easily Tulane's thinnest position. The only clear starter is Zach Harris at one of the inside spots. Larry Bryant is the holdover at OLB but did not do enough to be secure that he will take over as a starter with the departure of Quinlan Carroll and Luke Jackson. Marvin Moody, Lawrence Graham, and KJ Vault will be in the mix for key roles, with two of them having a good chance to start somewhere. Quentin Brown also is available, and I did not get any read on him in the fall as he redshirted. What the coaches decide at the three linebacker spots will be the most interesting development during the spring and summer. The Wave did not sign a pure linebacker in December. Two players likely will be moved to LB from safety or DE--Chase Kuerschen seems like a good candidate, and Chase Napoleon got some reps there this fall--and they may sign someone in February.
CORNRBACKS/NICKEL (10)
The starters probably will be Donnle Lewis and Thakarius Keyes at CB and P.J. Hall at nickel, but Hall could end up at one of the safety spots. The holdover backup corners are Jaylon Monroe, Stephon Lofton (played in two games) and Willie Langham (redshirted). Incoming freshmen Damien Tate, Chris Joyce and Larry Brooks will get an opportunity to show what they can do. Joyce will be there for the spring. Tate was named the Advocate's Class 4A and the Louisiana Sportswriter's Association Defensive Player of the Year. Brooks, who also might play safety, is an excellent athlete. Tirise Barge backs up Hall and has potential.
SAFETY (9)
The coaches have some decisions to make here. Rod Teamer will be the starting strong safety and Taris Shenall is the likely starter at free safety, but Tulane really needs more speed in the back end. Kuerschen started seven times this fall but his lack of speed got exposed as a true freshman. He is a natural tackler who plays better closer to the the line of scrimmage. Will Harper and Sean Harper got passed on the depth chart in their second year and did not show much, nor did Napoleon. Eric Lewis has been invisible for two years. That quartet needs to prove it is not dead wood. It would be nice if Dorian Camel, a three-star signee out of Scotlandville in Baton Rouge, makes an immediate impact. Macon Clark is the other incoming safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS (4)
Freshman Ryan Wright will try to beat out three-year starter Zach Block at punter. Walk-on Merek Glover has the edge on scholarship kicker Coby Neenan. Geron Eatherly is an excellent long snapper.
With Tulane likely staying in a 3-man front, there is some discrepancy as to what constitutes an end and a tackle, so I am grouping both positions together. I consider both guys on each side of the nose as ends, but Tulane listed Aruna as a tackle this fall because the rush end/OLB usually lined up outside of him.
Cameron Sample and Robert Kennedy, who both played left end in the fall, are the likely starters, with Kennedy probably moving to the spot Aruna occupied. They should be a good duo. Patrick Johnson and Peter Woullard provide quality depth. Michael Scott, Torri Singletary and Nick Kubiet will get a chance to prove themselves along with incoming freshmen Juan Monjarres and Carlos Hatcher.
The race at nose guard will be wide open. De'Andre Williams, who could play outside or inside, and Braynon Edwards are the returners. Freshmen Davon Wright. enrolled for the spring, Jeffery Johnson, who hopes to enroll for the spring, and Jamiran James will get an immediate chance to show what they can do.
LINEBACKER (6)
This is easily Tulane's thinnest position. The only clear starter is Zach Harris at one of the inside spots. Larry Bryant is the holdover at OLB but did not do enough to be secure that he will take over as a starter with the departure of Quinlan Carroll and Luke Jackson. Marvin Moody, Lawrence Graham, and KJ Vault will be in the mix for key roles, with two of them having a good chance to start somewhere. Quentin Brown also is available, and I did not get any read on him in the fall as he redshirted. What the coaches decide at the three linebacker spots will be the most interesting development during the spring and summer. The Wave did not sign a pure linebacker in December. Two players likely will be moved to LB from safety or DE--Chase Kuerschen seems like a good candidate, and Chase Napoleon got some reps there this fall--and they may sign someone in February.
CORNRBACKS/NICKEL (10)
The starters probably will be Donnle Lewis and Thakarius Keyes at CB and P.J. Hall at nickel, but Hall could end up at one of the safety spots. The holdover backup corners are Jaylon Monroe, Stephon Lofton (played in two games) and Willie Langham (redshirted). Incoming freshmen Damien Tate, Chris Joyce and Larry Brooks will get an opportunity to show what they can do. Joyce will be there for the spring. Tate was named the Advocate's Class 4A and the Louisiana Sportswriter's Association Defensive Player of the Year. Brooks, who also might play safety, is an excellent athlete. Tirise Barge backs up Hall and has potential.
SAFETY (9)
The coaches have some decisions to make here. Rod Teamer will be the starting strong safety and Taris Shenall is the likely starter at free safety, but Tulane really needs more speed in the back end. Kuerschen started seven times this fall but his lack of speed got exposed as a true freshman. He is a natural tackler who plays better closer to the the line of scrimmage. Will Harper and Sean Harper got passed on the depth chart in their second year and did not show much, nor did Napoleon. Eric Lewis has been invisible for two years. That quartet needs to prove it is not dead wood. It would be nice if Dorian Camel, a three-star signee out of Scotlandville in Baton Rouge, makes an immediate impact. Macon Clark is the other incoming safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS (4)
Freshman Ryan Wright will try to beat out three-year starter Zach Block at punter. Walk-on Merek Glover has the edge on scholarship kicker Coby Neenan. Geron Eatherly is an excellent long snapper.
