If what the players told Willie Fritz before departing for Christmas break proves accurate, here's what Tulane's scbolarship roster will look like next fall if there is no more attrition (which there will be) and no more additions (which there will be). I count 87 at the moment, two over the previous limit, although the NCAA figures to give schools some relief there after granting everyone an extra year of eligibility due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
QUARTERBACK (3)
Starter: Michael Pratt
Backups: Justin Ibieta, Kai Horton
Comment: Barring injury, this is deep enough for the short term. Pratt is entrenched as the starter, and Ibieta will be better than Keon Howard if he develops at all.
RUNNING BACK (5 or 6)
Starter: not clear.
Players: Stephon Huderson, Cameron Carroll, Tyjae Spears, Ygenio Booker, Iverson Celestine
Possible: Corey Dauphine
Comment: If Spears is healthy, he is the top guy here, but it usually takes more than 12 months for players to recover their full ability from an ACL injury. Dauphine would be the first seventh-year senior I've ever heard of.
WIDE RECEIVER (12)
Starters: Duece Watts,. Jha'Quan Jackson, Phat Watts
Backups: Cyron Sutton Jaetavian Toles, Tyrek Presley, Dane Ledford, Sorrell Brown, Ryan Thompson, TJ Huggins, Jeff Nwankwo, Bryce Bohanon
Comment: McNeese State transfer Sutton is an important addition. Other than Toles and Thompson, I would not count on any of the 2019 backups returning. Presley and Ledford are potential transfer portal guys and Brown might give up football because of his knees. This is a position that needs a serious upgrade in quality depth.
TIGHT END (6)
Starter: Tyrick James
Backups: Will Wallace, Christian Daniels, Keitha Jones, Reggie Brown, Tyler Lamm
Comment: James ended the year like he was supposed to begin it. Wallace came on, too. Daniels has potential. Jones was used a lot as a blocker. Lamm, from ULM and Holy Cross High, tweeted his transfer today. He had 12 catches in 2020.
OFFENSIVE LINE (16)
Starters: Joey Claybrook at LT, Corey Dublin at LG, Sincere Haynesworth at C, Josh Remetich at RG, Trey Tuggle at RT
Backups: Caleb Thomas, Timothy Shafter, Rashad Green, Cameron Jackel, Michael Remondet, Joseph Solomon, Matt Lombardi, Stephen Lewerenz, Jackson Fort, Hayden Shook, Hutson Lillibridge
Comment; This is the same starting lineup Tulane opened with in 2020. Green, Thomas, Solomon, Lombardi, Jackel , Shafter and Remondet likely will be vie for top backups.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE (8)
Starters: Jeffery Johnson, Adonis Friloux
Backups: Eric Hicks, Noah Seiden, Davon Wright, Alfred Thomas, Nik Hogan, Colby Orgeron
Comment: The starters should be very good, but this is a thin position, particularly since Wright and Thomas underperformed in 2020 and may not be happy. There were no DTs in the early signing class.
DEFENSIVE END (10)
Starters: Angelo Anderson, Darius Hodges
Backups: Carlos Hatcher, Noah Taliancich, Armoni Dixon, Torri Singletary, Elijah Champaigne, Michael Lunz, Parker Peterson, Devean Deal
Comment: Hatcher will compete with Hodges for a starting spot. Anderson is a rising star at Joker. The rest are unproven.
LINEBACKER (8)
Starters: Dorian Williams, Nick Anderson
Backups: Marvin Moody, Kevin Henry, Jesus Machado, Matthew Hightower, Mandel Eugene, Corey Platt
Comment: If Moody and Henry return as they indicated at this loaded position, it likely will be to backup roles after Williams' outstanding year and Anderson's very solid one. Machado will be a factor, too.
CORNERBACK (9)
Starters; Jaylon Monroe, Kevaris Hall
Backups: Willie Langham, Kiland Harrison, Reggie Neely, Levi Williams, Jadon Canady, Bailey Despanie, Kolby Phillips
Comment: Canady had a sensational senior year in high school and could make an immediate impact at a spot that needs a playmaker.
SAFETY (5)
Starters: Larry Brooks, Cornelius Dyson
Backups: Lance Robinson, Shi'Keem Laister, Kanyon Walker
Comment: The starters are fine, but there is zero depth if Robinson, who played primarily at cornerback for Kansas State after being rated a 3-star safety coming out of De La Salle, winds up at cornerback, which also is a need despite the superior depth there. Walker has not been able to practice for two years due to a lingering injury. This is a spot that must be addressed in the late signing period or through transfers.
NICKELBACK (2)
Starter: Macon Clark
Backups: Langham, KJ Vault
Comment: Clark has promise. KJ Vault has been no factor.
KICKER (2)
Starter: Merek Glover
Backup: Kriston Esnard
Comment: Glover has improved his leg strength but never has become truly reliable.
PUNTER (1)
Starter: Ryan Wright
Comment: it is interesting that Phil Steele left Wright off his first, second- and third-team All-American Athletic Conference
LONG SNAPPER (2)
Starter: Ethan Hudak
Backup: Matt Smith
QUARTERBACK (3)
Starter: Michael Pratt
Backups: Justin Ibieta, Kai Horton
Comment: Barring injury, this is deep enough for the short term. Pratt is entrenched as the starter, and Ibieta will be better than Keon Howard if he develops at all.
RUNNING BACK (5 or 6)
Starter: not clear.
Players: Stephon Huderson, Cameron Carroll, Tyjae Spears, Ygenio Booker, Iverson Celestine
Possible: Corey Dauphine
Comment: If Spears is healthy, he is the top guy here, but it usually takes more than 12 months for players to recover their full ability from an ACL injury. Dauphine would be the first seventh-year senior I've ever heard of.
WIDE RECEIVER (12)
Starters: Duece Watts,. Jha'Quan Jackson, Phat Watts
Backups: Cyron Sutton Jaetavian Toles, Tyrek Presley, Dane Ledford, Sorrell Brown, Ryan Thompson, TJ Huggins, Jeff Nwankwo, Bryce Bohanon
Comment: McNeese State transfer Sutton is an important addition. Other than Toles and Thompson, I would not count on any of the 2019 backups returning. Presley and Ledford are potential transfer portal guys and Brown might give up football because of his knees. This is a position that needs a serious upgrade in quality depth.
TIGHT END (6)
Starter: Tyrick James
Backups: Will Wallace, Christian Daniels, Keitha Jones, Reggie Brown, Tyler Lamm
Comment: James ended the year like he was supposed to begin it. Wallace came on, too. Daniels has potential. Jones was used a lot as a blocker. Lamm, from ULM and Holy Cross High, tweeted his transfer today. He had 12 catches in 2020.
OFFENSIVE LINE (16)
Starters: Joey Claybrook at LT, Corey Dublin at LG, Sincere Haynesworth at C, Josh Remetich at RG, Trey Tuggle at RT
Backups: Caleb Thomas, Timothy Shafter, Rashad Green, Cameron Jackel, Michael Remondet, Joseph Solomon, Matt Lombardi, Stephen Lewerenz, Jackson Fort, Hayden Shook, Hutson Lillibridge
Comment; This is the same starting lineup Tulane opened with in 2020. Green, Thomas, Solomon, Lombardi, Jackel , Shafter and Remondet likely will be vie for top backups.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE (8)
Starters: Jeffery Johnson, Adonis Friloux
Backups: Eric Hicks, Noah Seiden, Davon Wright, Alfred Thomas, Nik Hogan, Colby Orgeron
Comment: The starters should be very good, but this is a thin position, particularly since Wright and Thomas underperformed in 2020 and may not be happy. There were no DTs in the early signing class.
DEFENSIVE END (10)
Starters: Angelo Anderson, Darius Hodges
Backups: Carlos Hatcher, Noah Taliancich, Armoni Dixon, Torri Singletary, Elijah Champaigne, Michael Lunz, Parker Peterson, Devean Deal
Comment: Hatcher will compete with Hodges for a starting spot. Anderson is a rising star at Joker. The rest are unproven.
LINEBACKER (8)
Starters: Dorian Williams, Nick Anderson
Backups: Marvin Moody, Kevin Henry, Jesus Machado, Matthew Hightower, Mandel Eugene, Corey Platt
Comment: If Moody and Henry return as they indicated at this loaded position, it likely will be to backup roles after Williams' outstanding year and Anderson's very solid one. Machado will be a factor, too.
CORNERBACK (9)
Starters; Jaylon Monroe, Kevaris Hall
Backups: Willie Langham, Kiland Harrison, Reggie Neely, Levi Williams, Jadon Canady, Bailey Despanie, Kolby Phillips
Comment: Canady had a sensational senior year in high school and could make an immediate impact at a spot that needs a playmaker.
SAFETY (5)
Starters: Larry Brooks, Cornelius Dyson
Backups: Lance Robinson, Shi'Keem Laister, Kanyon Walker
Comment: The starters are fine, but there is zero depth if Robinson, who played primarily at cornerback for Kansas State after being rated a 3-star safety coming out of De La Salle, winds up at cornerback, which also is a need despite the superior depth there. Walker has not been able to practice for two years due to a lingering injury. This is a spot that must be addressed in the late signing period or through transfers.
NICKELBACK (2)
Starter: Macon Clark
Backups: Langham, KJ Vault
Comment: Clark has promise. KJ Vault has been no factor.
KICKER (2)
Starter: Merek Glover
Backup: Kriston Esnard
Comment: Glover has improved his leg strength but never has become truly reliable.
PUNTER (1)
Starter: Ryan Wright
Comment: it is interesting that Phil Steele left Wright off his first, second- and third-team All-American Athletic Conference
LONG SNAPPER (2)
Starter: Ethan Hudak
Backup: Matt Smith
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