Media Day starts at noon today with Willie Fritz speaking at 12:30, but here's a quick report on practice. I arrived around 8:50 when they were still doing individual position work and watched the last hour.
The first play of the first 11-on-11 drill, which pitted the ones against each other, was a handoff to Amare Jones, who figures to be Tulane's breakout star this year. He accelerated through a nice hole. The short series ended with a bullet pass from Justin McMillan to slot receiver Jaetavian Toles on a slant. Toles needs to build on his terrific catch and run for the touchdown that led to the winning 2-point conversion against Navy last year and give the Wave a viable No. 3 receiver to complement Darnell Mooney and Jalen McCleskey.
Keon Howard went in next with the twos against the twos and connected with Jorien Vallien on a deep post. Howard still needs to be more consistent with his throws, but he was on the money with that one. I believe Vallien beat Chris Joyce on the play, but it might have been Willie Langham.
Christian Daniels went in with the threes against the threes and did not do anything notable.
On McMillan's next series, he threw a late floater for Toles and got what he deserved, as Chase Kuerschen roved over for an easy interception. McMillan rebounded with a completion to a leaping McCleskey on the sideline (McCleskey is a natural) and then threw a gorgeous deep ball to Jones in the end zone, leading him perfectly. In the surprise of the day, Jones dropped it and was beside himself. He did five up and downs without any prompting from the coaches after returning to the sideline.
Ygenio Booker, who I kept listing as a receiver in the spring but Fritz referred to as a running back at the end of drills, is going to be involved in the passing game regardless of where he lines up. He was a frequent target today, although he dropped one short pass from Howard he should have caught. New offensive coordinator Will Hall is much more interested in getting the ball to playmakers in space than Doug Ruse was.
The only changes at the top of the depth chart I noticed from the end of spring were Jaylon Monroe lining up at first-team cornerback instead of Willie Langham and redshirt senior Keyshawn McLeod lining up as the first-team right guard instead of Cameron Jackel. The rest of the line was as expected, with Tyler Johnson, Corey Dublin, Christian Montano and Joey Claybrook. Ben Knutson was the second-team right guard. I did not see Jackel taking any reps, although he was in uniform when the team left the field, so he might have a minor injury.
As Fritz promised at the end of spring, a healthy Kuerschen was the first-team strong safety ahead of Macon Clark, the first-teamer in the spring while Kuerschen practiced in a no-contact jersey to protect an injury. Tirise Barge was the starting nickelback, and Larry Bryant ran with the 2s.
Mike Hinton worked with the second-team D, as did Larry Brooks at free safety. Patrick Johnson is wearing No. 7 this year, giving Tulane a pair of single-digit outside rushers with fellow starter Cam Sample switching from 55 to 5.
I am hearing the only player who had eligibility remaining who did not return is obscure walk-on running back James Poche, a Newman product who had zero chance to play. There were a few guys I did not spot today, but they may be injured, had an excused absence or were wearing a different jersey number than listed.
While Kevin Ledee is back, Sorrell Brown is not. I assume he still has not recovered sufficiently from the serious knee injury he sustained in preseason practice last year. All of the other wideouts practiced.
I did not see KJ Vault or Keitha Jones, whom I looked for at linebacker and tight end. I also did not see Cam Carroll, but I might have missed him in the logjam at running back. I will check on their status at practice tomorrow.
I did not notice anyone who was out of shape, but again, I will double-check tomorrow.
Justin Ibieta, the QB commit from Country Day, watched practice. He looks the part of a D1 QB physically.
A scout from the San Francisco 49ers was in attendance and talked to strength and conditioning coach Kyle Speer after practice.
I will post quotes tonight. There were no interviews directly after practice.
The first play of the first 11-on-11 drill, which pitted the ones against each other, was a handoff to Amare Jones, who figures to be Tulane's breakout star this year. He accelerated through a nice hole. The short series ended with a bullet pass from Justin McMillan to slot receiver Jaetavian Toles on a slant. Toles needs to build on his terrific catch and run for the touchdown that led to the winning 2-point conversion against Navy last year and give the Wave a viable No. 3 receiver to complement Darnell Mooney and Jalen McCleskey.
Keon Howard went in next with the twos against the twos and connected with Jorien Vallien on a deep post. Howard still needs to be more consistent with his throws, but he was on the money with that one. I believe Vallien beat Chris Joyce on the play, but it might have been Willie Langham.
Christian Daniels went in with the threes against the threes and did not do anything notable.
On McMillan's next series, he threw a late floater for Toles and got what he deserved, as Chase Kuerschen roved over for an easy interception. McMillan rebounded with a completion to a leaping McCleskey on the sideline (McCleskey is a natural) and then threw a gorgeous deep ball to Jones in the end zone, leading him perfectly. In the surprise of the day, Jones dropped it and was beside himself. He did five up and downs without any prompting from the coaches after returning to the sideline.
Ygenio Booker, who I kept listing as a receiver in the spring but Fritz referred to as a running back at the end of drills, is going to be involved in the passing game regardless of where he lines up. He was a frequent target today, although he dropped one short pass from Howard he should have caught. New offensive coordinator Will Hall is much more interested in getting the ball to playmakers in space than Doug Ruse was.
The only changes at the top of the depth chart I noticed from the end of spring were Jaylon Monroe lining up at first-team cornerback instead of Willie Langham and redshirt senior Keyshawn McLeod lining up as the first-team right guard instead of Cameron Jackel. The rest of the line was as expected, with Tyler Johnson, Corey Dublin, Christian Montano and Joey Claybrook. Ben Knutson was the second-team right guard. I did not see Jackel taking any reps, although he was in uniform when the team left the field, so he might have a minor injury.
As Fritz promised at the end of spring, a healthy Kuerschen was the first-team strong safety ahead of Macon Clark, the first-teamer in the spring while Kuerschen practiced in a no-contact jersey to protect an injury. Tirise Barge was the starting nickelback, and Larry Bryant ran with the 2s.
Mike Hinton worked with the second-team D, as did Larry Brooks at free safety. Patrick Johnson is wearing No. 7 this year, giving Tulane a pair of single-digit outside rushers with fellow starter Cam Sample switching from 55 to 5.
I am hearing the only player who had eligibility remaining who did not return is obscure walk-on running back James Poche, a Newman product who had zero chance to play. There were a few guys I did not spot today, but they may be injured, had an excused absence or were wearing a different jersey number than listed.
While Kevin Ledee is back, Sorrell Brown is not. I assume he still has not recovered sufficiently from the serious knee injury he sustained in preseason practice last year. All of the other wideouts practiced.
I did not see KJ Vault or Keitha Jones, whom I looked for at linebacker and tight end. I also did not see Cam Carroll, but I might have missed him in the logjam at running back. I will check on their status at practice tomorrow.
I did not notice anyone who was out of shape, but again, I will double-check tomorrow.
Justin Ibieta, the QB commit from Country Day, watched practice. He looks the part of a D1 QB physically.
A scout from the San Francisco 49ers was in attendance and talked to strength and conditioning coach Kyle Speer after practice.
I will post quotes tonight. There were no interviews directly after practice.