After a couple of off days late last week, Tulane's receivers have been sharper this week. In my opinion, they are the biggest question mark on the team because none of them is a proven, productive Division I player, so I have been monitoring their development closely in preseason practice.
Tyrek Presley, who struggled mightily in the first two weeks of camp, made a nice catch on the sideline in individual drills on Tuesday. If you looked at the receivers standing in a row, Presley would stand out as having the best body, but he has been working with the third team because of his inattention to detail. The light may be coming on for him. We'll see.
Sorrell Brown, who missed his first two years with separate ACL tears, sat out practice for I believe the first time. He was on the field and kept studying a sheet that probably was a list of plays, so he remained involved and this looks like a precautionary move.
Jha'Quan Jackson is back full time, though, after missing a week with an arm injury. He runs crisp routes and is the quickest of the receivers in and out of cuts.
7-on-7
The first play of seven on seven produced a touchdown--for the defense. Keon Howard threw too far to the inside on an out route for Jacob Robertson, and Kyle Meyers was all over it, catching it in stride and heading to the end zone. That was the worst throw and decision I've seen from Howard this preseason, but he bounced back to find Jackson on the sideline for 17 yards and Duece Watts underneath on his next two snaps. Watts likes to go deep, but he has some versatility and looks like he will be dangerous in the open field. On a later series, Howard made a nice back shoulder throw to Jackson.
Michael Pratt looked for the home run on his first snap and connected with Tyjae Spears on a deep corner route, beating freshman cornerback Kevaris Hall. Spears, who appears headed for a huge year, had a rare flub a little later when he dropped a short pass as he turned the corner, forgetting to look it in as he tried to accelerate.
Justin Ibieta could not find anyone open on his first snap, eventually running. He completed a pass to Mykel Jones a little later, but he threw an interception on the last play of the drill, throwing an ill-advised floater for Phat Watts in the middle of the field that safety Cornelius Dyson picked off easily. Dyson, a do-it-all player in high school, has a good nose for the ball.
Ygenio Booker returned to practice in a no-contact jersey and made a reception after missing more than a week.
11 on 11
Howard started slowly again, having a too high pass for tight end Tyrick James glance off his fingertips in the middle of the field. He then hit Jackson for a short gain and threw wide of Jacob Robertson near the sideline.
Pratt entered and handed off to Spears, who exploded through a nice hole in the middle. Pratt followed with a completion to Spears and deep pass to Dane Ledford down the sideline. Ledford was not open against Kiland Harrison but played the ball better to make the grab. Harrison has struggled a bit in the last two practices, at least in the parts I watched.
Howard returned and threw a pretty pass to Amare Jones on a deep out. The versatility of the running backs will really help the passing game because they are capable of running a variety of routes rather than just catching the ball on swing passes. Howard finished 3 of 3 on the segment with a completion to Robertson.
Ibieta entered and completed a pass to Cameron Carroll, who also looks good. He scrambled on the next play and ended the day with a pass over the middle to Presley, who made a leaping catch he likely would not have made a week ago.
Freshman Adonis Friloux got some reps with the first unit at defensive tackle in place of Eric Hicks. It has not been a good camp for Jeffery Johnson to this point. He had a hand injury early on and continues to practice with the second unit. Willie Fritz praised Hicks' conditioning after Monday's practice, and I'm not sure Johnson returned in tip-top shape this summer. He is not noticeably heavier than in the past, but no one would have predicted him practicing with the second team.
NOTES
Jaylon Monroe did not practice. In seven-on-seven, Harrison replaced him, with Willie Langham lining up at nickelback, but Harrison was on the second team in 11-on-11 witth Langham playing cornerback and Ajani Kerr at nickelback.
The Wave is down two tight ends, with Keshon Williams joining Reggie Brown on the sideline. James, Will Wallace and Christian Daniels are the top three.
Walk-on Josh Coltrin, who made a long catch last week as a backup quarterback filling in a receiver, has moved to receiver full time and no longer is wearing a red QB jersey. The five quarterbacks available for individual drills were the three scholarship guys, Josh Holl and Cameron Dartez. Dartez never gets reps in 7 on 7 or 11 on 11. Holl occasionally does.
Josh Remetich is practicing after not being available at the beginning of preseason camp. Lining up at right guard, he was part of a backup line that had fellow true freshman Rashad Green at left guard and Trey Tuggle at right tackle. Michael Remondet was the center for that group, with Nik Hogan at left tackle. The other five reserve linemen getting reps are freshmen Joseph Solomon and Matt Lombardi, second-team center Caleb Thomas, Cameron Jackel and Stephen Lewerenz. I'd put walk-on Timothy Shafter and Colby Orgeron next, meaning Tulane has 17 available linemen. I don't think Jackson Fort is practicing.
Tyrek Presley, who struggled mightily in the first two weeks of camp, made a nice catch on the sideline in individual drills on Tuesday. If you looked at the receivers standing in a row, Presley would stand out as having the best body, but he has been working with the third team because of his inattention to detail. The light may be coming on for him. We'll see.
Sorrell Brown, who missed his first two years with separate ACL tears, sat out practice for I believe the first time. He was on the field and kept studying a sheet that probably was a list of plays, so he remained involved and this looks like a precautionary move.
Jha'Quan Jackson is back full time, though, after missing a week with an arm injury. He runs crisp routes and is the quickest of the receivers in and out of cuts.
7-on-7
The first play of seven on seven produced a touchdown--for the defense. Keon Howard threw too far to the inside on an out route for Jacob Robertson, and Kyle Meyers was all over it, catching it in stride and heading to the end zone. That was the worst throw and decision I've seen from Howard this preseason, but he bounced back to find Jackson on the sideline for 17 yards and Duece Watts underneath on his next two snaps. Watts likes to go deep, but he has some versatility and looks like he will be dangerous in the open field. On a later series, Howard made a nice back shoulder throw to Jackson.
Michael Pratt looked for the home run on his first snap and connected with Tyjae Spears on a deep corner route, beating freshman cornerback Kevaris Hall. Spears, who appears headed for a huge year, had a rare flub a little later when he dropped a short pass as he turned the corner, forgetting to look it in as he tried to accelerate.
Justin Ibieta could not find anyone open on his first snap, eventually running. He completed a pass to Mykel Jones a little later, but he threw an interception on the last play of the drill, throwing an ill-advised floater for Phat Watts in the middle of the field that safety Cornelius Dyson picked off easily. Dyson, a do-it-all player in high school, has a good nose for the ball.
Ygenio Booker returned to practice in a no-contact jersey and made a reception after missing more than a week.
11 on 11
Howard started slowly again, having a too high pass for tight end Tyrick James glance off his fingertips in the middle of the field. He then hit Jackson for a short gain and threw wide of Jacob Robertson near the sideline.
Pratt entered and handed off to Spears, who exploded through a nice hole in the middle. Pratt followed with a completion to Spears and deep pass to Dane Ledford down the sideline. Ledford was not open against Kiland Harrison but played the ball better to make the grab. Harrison has struggled a bit in the last two practices, at least in the parts I watched.
Howard returned and threw a pretty pass to Amare Jones on a deep out. The versatility of the running backs will really help the passing game because they are capable of running a variety of routes rather than just catching the ball on swing passes. Howard finished 3 of 3 on the segment with a completion to Robertson.
Ibieta entered and completed a pass to Cameron Carroll, who also looks good. He scrambled on the next play and ended the day with a pass over the middle to Presley, who made a leaping catch he likely would not have made a week ago.
Freshman Adonis Friloux got some reps with the first unit at defensive tackle in place of Eric Hicks. It has not been a good camp for Jeffery Johnson to this point. He had a hand injury early on and continues to practice with the second unit. Willie Fritz praised Hicks' conditioning after Monday's practice, and I'm not sure Johnson returned in tip-top shape this summer. He is not noticeably heavier than in the past, but no one would have predicted him practicing with the second team.
NOTES
Jaylon Monroe did not practice. In seven-on-seven, Harrison replaced him, with Willie Langham lining up at nickelback, but Harrison was on the second team in 11-on-11 witth Langham playing cornerback and Ajani Kerr at nickelback.
The Wave is down two tight ends, with Keshon Williams joining Reggie Brown on the sideline. James, Will Wallace and Christian Daniels are the top three.
Walk-on Josh Coltrin, who made a long catch last week as a backup quarterback filling in a receiver, has moved to receiver full time and no longer is wearing a red QB jersey. The five quarterbacks available for individual drills were the three scholarship guys, Josh Holl and Cameron Dartez. Dartez never gets reps in 7 on 7 or 11 on 11. Holl occasionally does.
Josh Remetich is practicing after not being available at the beginning of preseason camp. Lining up at right guard, he was part of a backup line that had fellow true freshman Rashad Green at left guard and Trey Tuggle at right tackle. Michael Remondet was the center for that group, with Nik Hogan at left tackle. The other five reserve linemen getting reps are freshmen Joseph Solomon and Matt Lombardi, second-team center Caleb Thomas, Cameron Jackel and Stephen Lewerenz. I'd put walk-on Timothy Shafter and Colby Orgeron next, meaning Tulane has 17 available linemen. I don't think Jackson Fort is practicing.
