DEFENSIVE TACKLES (8) [/B]This is another position where Tulane is likely to take only one guy barring significant attrition from the current roster. The top five are all tremendous, highly regarded prospects. We're unlikely to sign any of them but I'd take up to three of them in a heartbeat no matter how small our class. Last year (2015 signing class), Louisiana contributed four DT's to P5 schools, four to G5 schools, and eleven to FCS schools.
1. Edwin Alexander 6'3" 328# St. Thomas Aquinas[/B] Alexander is one of the top two or three most heralded players in Louisiana for the signing class of 2016, rated a 4 or 5 star by everyone. On his highlights, he's double teamed on virtually every play, yet still busts through to make tackles. Along with everyone else in America, Tulane has offered him, for what that is worth. Truthfuly, we probably don't have a chance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gwx_MWBIEA
2. Rashad Lawrence 6'2" 307# Neville [/B]In Neville's 3-4 scheme, Lawrence plays nose tackle. Because they spread the two ends out wider than the offensive tackles, he almost always takes on two and even three blockers. Yet, he's still effective, even dominant. He's not quite as big and maybe not quite as quick as Alexander, but he's a heck of a prospect. Tulane apparently hasn't offered him but virtually all the big name P5 schools (LSU, Alabama, etc.) have. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2610296/rashard-lawrence
3. Glen Logan 6'4" 290# Destrehan[/B] Logan actually plays DE in Destrehan's 3-4 but would be a DT for most teams, even those running the 3-4. He's big, quick for his size, and another highly sought after prospect with offers from virtually everyone including Tulane. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2800848/glen-logan
4. Briston Guidry 6'3" 275# Rummel[/B] Guidry was an early commit to Mississippi State but has since de-committed and received offers from all the usual suspects at the top of the food chain including Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, etc. In high school he lined up at DE almost as much as DT, probably due to his speed. He's a little smaller than some of the top defensive tackles in this class but also quicker. Rummel even uses him on kick coverage teams and he gets down field with the best of them. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2588775/highlights/167606378/v2
5. Mastephon (Stephon) Taylor 6'5" 275# McDonough 35[/B] I don't think Taylor is quite in the class as the first four but he's not far off. He's big and strong and has the potential to put on another 20-30 pounds. He, too, has offers from all the top SEC schools (Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, etc.) and many more, including the Wave. We'd be very lucky to get him. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2954998/highlights/197384375/v2
6. Gerald Wilbon 6'3" 305# Destrehan[/B] Wilbon is the other big Defensive lineman from Destrehan in this class. He plays NG in their 3-4 alignment and is clearly a load. He hasn't received near the offers as some of the others with Arizona State and Texas Tech his only ones from P5 schools and Texas Tech's offer is apparently as an Offensive Guard. I haven't seen any film of him on offense but that may be his better position; I don't know. Tulane hasn't offered and though I'd take him if we couldn't sign some of the others, I probably wouldn't grab him up as a second DT this year. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2954998/highlights/197384375/v2
7. Tyrus Butler 6'4" 275# Riverdale[/B] Butler has an offer from Tulane as well as Mississippi State, but I wouldn't make him a high priority until the others I've listed are "off the table" or recognized as unlikely to join the Wave. That said, he's a good prospect with size, strength and quickness. Riverdale even uses him occasionally in a "Refrigerator" Perry role to run the ball in short yardage situations. Watching him rumbled down the field with 3-4 tacklers on his back provides for an entertaining highlight. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3723162/tyrus-butler
8. Ronald Cherry 6'4" 280# Washington-Marion.[/B] Cherry has a Tulane offer, but has generated little interest elsewhere. He lined up all along the defensive line but played mostly DE as a junior. He's a good pass rusher and seems to be equally adept at stopping the run. I think he plays a little high, but that can probably be fixed. He's already pretty big for a DE so I'm guessing as he matures, he'll move to DT, where, for what it's worth, I've assigned him. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4284096/highlights/214529379/v2
1. Edwin Alexander 6'3" 328# St. Thomas Aquinas[/B] Alexander is one of the top two or three most heralded players in Louisiana for the signing class of 2016, rated a 4 or 5 star by everyone. On his highlights, he's double teamed on virtually every play, yet still busts through to make tackles. Along with everyone else in America, Tulane has offered him, for what that is worth. Truthfuly, we probably don't have a chance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gwx_MWBIEA
2. Rashad Lawrence 6'2" 307# Neville [/B]In Neville's 3-4 scheme, Lawrence plays nose tackle. Because they spread the two ends out wider than the offensive tackles, he almost always takes on two and even three blockers. Yet, he's still effective, even dominant. He's not quite as big and maybe not quite as quick as Alexander, but he's a heck of a prospect. Tulane apparently hasn't offered him but virtually all the big name P5 schools (LSU, Alabama, etc.) have. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2610296/rashard-lawrence
3. Glen Logan 6'4" 290# Destrehan[/B] Logan actually plays DE in Destrehan's 3-4 but would be a DT for most teams, even those running the 3-4. He's big, quick for his size, and another highly sought after prospect with offers from virtually everyone including Tulane. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2800848/glen-logan
4. Briston Guidry 6'3" 275# Rummel[/B] Guidry was an early commit to Mississippi State but has since de-committed and received offers from all the usual suspects at the top of the food chain including Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, etc. In high school he lined up at DE almost as much as DT, probably due to his speed. He's a little smaller than some of the top defensive tackles in this class but also quicker. Rummel even uses him on kick coverage teams and he gets down field with the best of them. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2588775/highlights/167606378/v2
5. Mastephon (Stephon) Taylor 6'5" 275# McDonough 35[/B] I don't think Taylor is quite in the class as the first four but he's not far off. He's big and strong and has the potential to put on another 20-30 pounds. He, too, has offers from all the top SEC schools (Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, etc.) and many more, including the Wave. We'd be very lucky to get him. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2954998/highlights/197384375/v2
6. Gerald Wilbon 6'3" 305# Destrehan[/B] Wilbon is the other big Defensive lineman from Destrehan in this class. He plays NG in their 3-4 alignment and is clearly a load. He hasn't received near the offers as some of the others with Arizona State and Texas Tech his only ones from P5 schools and Texas Tech's offer is apparently as an Offensive Guard. I haven't seen any film of him on offense but that may be his better position; I don't know. Tulane hasn't offered and though I'd take him if we couldn't sign some of the others, I probably wouldn't grab him up as a second DT this year. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2954998/highlights/197384375/v2
7. Tyrus Butler 6'4" 275# Riverdale[/B] Butler has an offer from Tulane as well as Mississippi State, but I wouldn't make him a high priority until the others I've listed are "off the table" or recognized as unlikely to join the Wave. That said, he's a good prospect with size, strength and quickness. Riverdale even uses him occasionally in a "Refrigerator" Perry role to run the ball in short yardage situations. Watching him rumbled down the field with 3-4 tacklers on his back provides for an entertaining highlight. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3723162/tyrus-butler
8. Ronald Cherry 6'4" 280# Washington-Marion.[/B] Cherry has a Tulane offer, but has generated little interest elsewhere. He lined up all along the defensive line but played mostly DE as a junior. He's a good pass rusher and seems to be equally adept at stopping the run. I think he plays a little high, but that can probably be fixed. He's already pretty big for a DE so I'm guessing as he matures, he'll move to DT, where, for what it's worth, I've assigned him. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4284096/highlights/214529379/v2