Spring practice starts tomorrow. Assuming the workouts are open to reporters, look for reports each day.
I am still working on getting the Kyle Speer interview, which will happen either today as I promised or later this week but definitely will happen.
QUARTERBACK
Projected starter: Justin McMillan
Backups: Keon Howard, Dane Ledford, Christian Daniels
Overview: The coaches were not totally happy with McMillan at times last year, but he cemented his status with his performance on the winning drive and 2-point conversion against Navy and with his solid bowl game. The bottom line is he won five of his six starts and, for the most part, looked good doing it. It will be interesting to see if Ledford or Daniels lines up at receiver, although Daniels might not be healthy to practice.
RUNNING BACK
Projected starters: Darius Bradwell, Corey Dauphine
Backups: Stephon Huderson, Amare Jones, Cameron Carroll
Overview: Bradwell and Dauphine don't have anything to prove in the spring, although players always can get better. More significant will be the development of Jones and Carroll, who both have a lot of potential, and whether Huderson can exhibit more explosiveness. Other were down on him more than I was last year, but his 4.1 yards per carry were considerably lower than the other guys in the rotation.
WIDE RECEIVER
Projected starters: Darnell Mooney, Jalen McCleskey, Jaetavian Toles
Backups: Jacob Robertson, Ygenio Booker, Jorrien Vallien, Kevin LeDee, Sorrell Brown
Overview: Will McCleskey line up on the outside, in the slot or rotate between both spots? Regardless, he will be fun to watch. Tulane needs something from a guy outside of the M&M duo. Toles' seven catches were the most from the group. The health status of Vallien, LeDee and Brown is unclear.
TIGHT END
Projected starter: Tyrick James or Will Wallace
Backup: James or Wallace
Overview: Depth is coming in the fall, but James and Wallace are the only scholarship tight ends on the spring roster. They combined for seven catches last year, but the coaches were not afraid to send James deep down the hash. He appeared to have more potential as a receiving threat, but spring ball will help answer that question. New offensive coordinator Will Hall was the tight ends coach at Memphis last year, and the Tigers' top two tight ends combined for 34 catches last year. When he ran the offense at ULL in 2017, the Cajuns' tight ends had eight catches.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Projected starters: Keyshawn McLeod and Joey Claybrook at tackle, Corey Dublin and Cameron Jackel at guard, Christian Montano at center.
Backups: Tyler Johnson, Stephen Lewerenz, Nik Hogan, Michael Remondet
Overview: The coaches have more work to do here than anywhere else after losing three starters up front. I'm not sure what to make of this group. From all indications, Montano will play center, with Dublin moving back to guard, his spot as a freshman. The tackle spots are wide open, with Claybrook becoming a starter late last year and McLeod and Johnson losing their starting spots during the season. Jackel was a backup all last season. Lerewenz, Hogan and Remondet were non-factors and will want to make an impact.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Projected starters: Cameron Sample at DE, De'Andre Williams at DT, Jeffery Johnson at NT, Patrick Johnson at OLB
Backups: Juan Monjarres, Carlos Hatcher, Alfred Thomas, Davon Wright, Jamiran James, Torri Singletary, Nick Kubiet
Overview: This can be a dominant unit. Johnson squatted 630 pounds recently and should be ready to improve on a promising freshman year. Williams was the surprise of the defense last fall. Sample and Johnson should be All-Conference performers. Monjarres and Hatcher showed plenty of potential, and Thomas earned some playing time. The development of James, who was sidetracked by a hand injury, will be interesting. That's nine likely contributors in a group of 11.
LINEBACKERS
Projected starters: Marvin Moody and Lawrence Graham
Backups: KJ Vault, Keitha Jones, Quentin Brown, Nick Anderson
Overview: Moody and Graham are certain starters, but developing depth is important. The players to watch are the backups. Nick Anderson has a year of junior college experience and squatted 610 pounds recently, so he figurers to be in the mix right away. Vault has ability but made only one tackle as a reserve a year ago, one more than Jones in a limited role.
SECONDARY
Projected starters: Chase Kuerschen at strong safety, P.J. Hall at free safety, Will Harper at nickelback, Thakarius Keyes and Jaylon Monroe at cornerback
Backups: Willie Langham and Chris Joyce at CB, Tirise Barge and Larry Bryant at NB, Larrry Brooks, Macon Clark, Sean Harper and Kanyon Walker at S.
Overview: Competition will be intense. Kuerschen got lost in the shuffle a bit as a sophomore after making a lot of tackles as a true freshman but getting exposed in coverage. The coaches have not found the perfect fit for him. Hall was good but not great at free safety. Clark and Brooks will have a chance to make an impact. All four cornerbacks are potential starters at a position that should be a strength. Barge and Bryant got significant time at nickel behind Harper. Nothing is set in the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Projected first-teamers: Merek Glover at PK, Ryan Wright at punter, Geron Eatherly at long snapper.
Backups: No one of consequence.
Overview: Wright needs to work on his consistency. He has the leg to excel in college. Kicker Coby Neenan, a scholarship player, is still on the roster but never has been a factor. Randy Harvey is the likely second-team PK. The coaches have to settle on a kickoff specialist after departed punter Zach Block handled the role well last year.
I am still working on getting the Kyle Speer interview, which will happen either today as I promised or later this week but definitely will happen.
QUARTERBACK
Projected starter: Justin McMillan
Backups: Keon Howard, Dane Ledford, Christian Daniels
Overview: The coaches were not totally happy with McMillan at times last year, but he cemented his status with his performance on the winning drive and 2-point conversion against Navy and with his solid bowl game. The bottom line is he won five of his six starts and, for the most part, looked good doing it. It will be interesting to see if Ledford or Daniels lines up at receiver, although Daniels might not be healthy to practice.
RUNNING BACK
Projected starters: Darius Bradwell, Corey Dauphine
Backups: Stephon Huderson, Amare Jones, Cameron Carroll
Overview: Bradwell and Dauphine don't have anything to prove in the spring, although players always can get better. More significant will be the development of Jones and Carroll, who both have a lot of potential, and whether Huderson can exhibit more explosiveness. Other were down on him more than I was last year, but his 4.1 yards per carry were considerably lower than the other guys in the rotation.
WIDE RECEIVER
Projected starters: Darnell Mooney, Jalen McCleskey, Jaetavian Toles
Backups: Jacob Robertson, Ygenio Booker, Jorrien Vallien, Kevin LeDee, Sorrell Brown
Overview: Will McCleskey line up on the outside, in the slot or rotate between both spots? Regardless, he will be fun to watch. Tulane needs something from a guy outside of the M&M duo. Toles' seven catches were the most from the group. The health status of Vallien, LeDee and Brown is unclear.
TIGHT END
Projected starter: Tyrick James or Will Wallace
Backup: James or Wallace
Overview: Depth is coming in the fall, but James and Wallace are the only scholarship tight ends on the spring roster. They combined for seven catches last year, but the coaches were not afraid to send James deep down the hash. He appeared to have more potential as a receiving threat, but spring ball will help answer that question. New offensive coordinator Will Hall was the tight ends coach at Memphis last year, and the Tigers' top two tight ends combined for 34 catches last year. When he ran the offense at ULL in 2017, the Cajuns' tight ends had eight catches.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Projected starters: Keyshawn McLeod and Joey Claybrook at tackle, Corey Dublin and Cameron Jackel at guard, Christian Montano at center.
Backups: Tyler Johnson, Stephen Lewerenz, Nik Hogan, Michael Remondet
Overview: The coaches have more work to do here than anywhere else after losing three starters up front. I'm not sure what to make of this group. From all indications, Montano will play center, with Dublin moving back to guard, his spot as a freshman. The tackle spots are wide open, with Claybrook becoming a starter late last year and McLeod and Johnson losing their starting spots during the season. Jackel was a backup all last season. Lerewenz, Hogan and Remondet were non-factors and will want to make an impact.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Projected starters: Cameron Sample at DE, De'Andre Williams at DT, Jeffery Johnson at NT, Patrick Johnson at OLB
Backups: Juan Monjarres, Carlos Hatcher, Alfred Thomas, Davon Wright, Jamiran James, Torri Singletary, Nick Kubiet
Overview: This can be a dominant unit. Johnson squatted 630 pounds recently and should be ready to improve on a promising freshman year. Williams was the surprise of the defense last fall. Sample and Johnson should be All-Conference performers. Monjarres and Hatcher showed plenty of potential, and Thomas earned some playing time. The development of James, who was sidetracked by a hand injury, will be interesting. That's nine likely contributors in a group of 11.
LINEBACKERS
Projected starters: Marvin Moody and Lawrence Graham
Backups: KJ Vault, Keitha Jones, Quentin Brown, Nick Anderson
Overview: Moody and Graham are certain starters, but developing depth is important. The players to watch are the backups. Nick Anderson has a year of junior college experience and squatted 610 pounds recently, so he figurers to be in the mix right away. Vault has ability but made only one tackle as a reserve a year ago, one more than Jones in a limited role.
SECONDARY
Projected starters: Chase Kuerschen at strong safety, P.J. Hall at free safety, Will Harper at nickelback, Thakarius Keyes and Jaylon Monroe at cornerback
Backups: Willie Langham and Chris Joyce at CB, Tirise Barge and Larry Bryant at NB, Larrry Brooks, Macon Clark, Sean Harper and Kanyon Walker at S.
Overview: Competition will be intense. Kuerschen got lost in the shuffle a bit as a sophomore after making a lot of tackles as a true freshman but getting exposed in coverage. The coaches have not found the perfect fit for him. Hall was good but not great at free safety. Clark and Brooks will have a chance to make an impact. All four cornerbacks are potential starters at a position that should be a strength. Barge and Bryant got significant time at nickel behind Harper. Nothing is set in the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Projected first-teamers: Merek Glover at PK, Ryan Wright at punter, Geron Eatherly at long snapper.
Backups: No one of consequence.
Overview: Wright needs to work on his consistency. He has the leg to excel in college. Kicker Coby Neenan, a scholarship player, is still on the roster but never has been a factor. Randy Harvey is the likely second-team PK. The coaches have to settle on a kickoff specialist after departed punter Zach Block handled the role well last year.