Spring practice starts Tuesday, with workouts each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for five weeks. With new coordinators on both sides of the ball, what happens will be more interesting than usual.
On defense, will Chris Hampton stick with the odd-man front former coordinator Jack Curtis went to in concert with Willie Fritz three years ago, or will Tulane go back to a 4-2-5 look? What other changes will Hampton, who was part of the staff until last year, make in the spring. Tulane's biggest problem under Curtis was third-and-long defense, which cost the Wave at least one game just about every year. Whether that was his fault is debatable, but the Wave simply cannot afford to give up multiple conversions on third-and-10 or more if it wants to contend for a conference championship.
By my count, Tulane has 34 scholarship defensive players available for spring practice, although that number could rise if there is an extra player or two taking advantage of the COVID rule for an extra year. I confirmed today that Marvin Moody and Kevin Henry are back, giving the Wave outstanding top-line depth at linebacker.
In the secondary, Tulane gained defensive backs Derrion Rakestraw (Colorado) and Lance Robinson (Kansas State) as grad transfers. The Wave lost potential starter Willie Langham and Ton'Quez Ball, whom I liked but never cracked the depth chart, to the transfer portal. Kyle Meyers, who quit the team midseason after transferring from FSU, is in the portal as well along with Tyler Judson, who was dismissed from school last offseason after being arrested in Baton Rouge for a fight.
Here is a breakdown by position:
DEFENSIVE END/JOKER
Returning: Angelo Anderson, Carlos Hatcher, Armoni Dixon, Darius Hodges, Noah Taliancich, Torri Singletary
New: Elijah Champaigne, Michael Lunz
Outlook: Anderson is a future star who will try to get on the fast track to success in the spring. Given his first start at Joker in the Potato Bowl in place of Patrick Johnson, he came up huge on an early goal-line stand and will try to build off that performance. Hodges and Hatcher figure to compete for the other starting spot, replacing Cameron Sample. Thomas, who can play inside as well, needs to show something after being a disappointment for three years. Taliancich, who was injured for most of his freshman year, Dixon and Singletary will get their first real opportunities.
All is going well if: Hodges or Hatcher looks ready for a starting job. We know Anderson is.
Sign of concern if: No one steps up to replace Sample. It's a tough task following in his footsteps, but someone needs to do it.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Returning: Jeffery Johnson, Adonis Friloux, Noah Seiden, Alfred Thomas, Eric Hicks, Colby Orgeron, Nik Hogan
Lost: Davon Wright, Brandon Brown
Outlook: Johnson, Friloux and Hicks are the clear top three. I found out Friloux had some passionate defenders on twitter when I said he was not ready for prime time against UCF last fall and promptly got besieged with angry responses. The angry people turned out to be right because he ended up having a pretty good game in a lost cause and should be significantly better in year 2. HIcks beat out DeAndre Williams for a starting spot in the second half of the season. Johnson still needs to watch his weight and show he is ready to be a force on every down instead of just part of the time. There are no other proven backups. Seiden, a natural end, had a few good moments inside last year but is undersized. Thomas, who also can play outside depending on his weight, needs to show something in the spring after being a disappointment for three years. Orgeron and Hogan are converted offensive linemen.
All is going well if: Johnson is healthy, Friloux continues to come on and Anderson impresses.
Sign of concern if: Any of the top three suffers a bad injury, the dropoff appears to be mammoth.
LINEBACKER
Returning: Dorian Williams, Nick Anderson, Marvin Moody, Kevin Henry, Jesus Machado, Matthew Hightower
Outlook: This should be the top group of linebackers in the AAC. Every significant player returns from what was a heck of a year. Moody and Henry are back for COVID-granted extra years but probably will lose their starting spots to Williams and Anderson, who were outstanding last season. Jesus Machado has potential, too.
All is going well if: Williams, who got my vote as defensive MVP last year, maintains the same high level.
Sign of concern if: Barring injury, there really are not any concerns. The Wave is loaded at linebacker.
CORNERBACK
Returning: Jaylon Monroe, Kevaris Hall, Kiland Harrison, Reggie Nealy, Levi Williams
Lost: Willie Langham
New: Lance Robinson
Outlook: Hampton was Tulane's secondary coach before leaving for Duke last season, and his No 1. charge as coordinator will be to improve the secondary play after a rough season without him. I like Monroe, but he did give up too many receptions in one-on-one jump balls last fall. Kevaris Hall showed promise as a true freshman, and Robinson started six times in his career at Kansas State. Those three figure to split the playing time now that Willie Langham has entered the transfer portal in a surprise move. Although Langham had the single-worst play of the year on defense, simply giving up while trailing a receiver over the middle in the opener against South Alabama, he is a conscientious guy whom Fritz praised for his work ethic.
All is going well if: Monroe plays with confidence and Robinson fares better than the grad transfers did last season.
Sign of concern if: Jha'Quan Jackson and the Watts twins keep making big catches despite being well covered. It would be good for the receivers' confidence but bad for what was a shaky secondary last year.
SAFETY
Returning: Larry Brooks, Cornelius Dyson, Macon Clark, Shi'Keem Laister, KJ Vault, Kanyon Walker
Gone: Ton'Quez Ball
New: Derrion Rakestraw
Outlook: The safety play should be upgraded significantly. Rakestraw, who also can play cornerback, started the last 15 games at Colorado and was viewed as a tremendous leader and steadying influence, making more than 100 career tackles. Brooks is a two-year starter and Dyson came on last season in his first time playing safety after being a jack of all trades in high school. Even Clark has starting experience, and either he or Rakestraw could end up as the starting nickel if Tulane keeps the same defense it had previously.
All is going well if: Rakestraw fits in seamlessly at nickel, allowing Brooks and Dyson to start at safety. That would appear to be the best use of personnel considering their skill sets, but it depends on where Rakestraw is the most comfortable.
Sign of concern if: the secondary continues to have breakdowns in coverage in critical situations. The Wave cannot afford to have any of the problems that plagued it last fall, even in the spring.
NOTE: I am not doing a preview of the special teams, but all of the scholarship players are returning--Merek Glover, back for a COVID year, Ryan Wright, Ethan Hudak and Matt Smith. That means 74 players will be scholarship for spring ball, more than the usual number because of the COVID rule.
On defense, will Chris Hampton stick with the odd-man front former coordinator Jack Curtis went to in concert with Willie Fritz three years ago, or will Tulane go back to a 4-2-5 look? What other changes will Hampton, who was part of the staff until last year, make in the spring. Tulane's biggest problem under Curtis was third-and-long defense, which cost the Wave at least one game just about every year. Whether that was his fault is debatable, but the Wave simply cannot afford to give up multiple conversions on third-and-10 or more if it wants to contend for a conference championship.
By my count, Tulane has 34 scholarship defensive players available for spring practice, although that number could rise if there is an extra player or two taking advantage of the COVID rule for an extra year. I confirmed today that Marvin Moody and Kevin Henry are back, giving the Wave outstanding top-line depth at linebacker.
In the secondary, Tulane gained defensive backs Derrion Rakestraw (Colorado) and Lance Robinson (Kansas State) as grad transfers. The Wave lost potential starter Willie Langham and Ton'Quez Ball, whom I liked but never cracked the depth chart, to the transfer portal. Kyle Meyers, who quit the team midseason after transferring from FSU, is in the portal as well along with Tyler Judson, who was dismissed from school last offseason after being arrested in Baton Rouge for a fight.
Here is a breakdown by position:
DEFENSIVE END/JOKER
Returning: Angelo Anderson, Carlos Hatcher, Armoni Dixon, Darius Hodges, Noah Taliancich, Torri Singletary
New: Elijah Champaigne, Michael Lunz
Outlook: Anderson is a future star who will try to get on the fast track to success in the spring. Given his first start at Joker in the Potato Bowl in place of Patrick Johnson, he came up huge on an early goal-line stand and will try to build off that performance. Hodges and Hatcher figure to compete for the other starting spot, replacing Cameron Sample. Thomas, who can play inside as well, needs to show something after being a disappointment for three years. Taliancich, who was injured for most of his freshman year, Dixon and Singletary will get their first real opportunities.
All is going well if: Hodges or Hatcher looks ready for a starting job. We know Anderson is.
Sign of concern if: No one steps up to replace Sample. It's a tough task following in his footsteps, but someone needs to do it.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Returning: Jeffery Johnson, Adonis Friloux, Noah Seiden, Alfred Thomas, Eric Hicks, Colby Orgeron, Nik Hogan
Lost: Davon Wright, Brandon Brown
Outlook: Johnson, Friloux and Hicks are the clear top three. I found out Friloux had some passionate defenders on twitter when I said he was not ready for prime time against UCF last fall and promptly got besieged with angry responses. The angry people turned out to be right because he ended up having a pretty good game in a lost cause and should be significantly better in year 2. HIcks beat out DeAndre Williams for a starting spot in the second half of the season. Johnson still needs to watch his weight and show he is ready to be a force on every down instead of just part of the time. There are no other proven backups. Seiden, a natural end, had a few good moments inside last year but is undersized. Thomas, who also can play outside depending on his weight, needs to show something in the spring after being a disappointment for three years. Orgeron and Hogan are converted offensive linemen.
All is going well if: Johnson is healthy, Friloux continues to come on and Anderson impresses.
Sign of concern if: Any of the top three suffers a bad injury, the dropoff appears to be mammoth.
LINEBACKER
Returning: Dorian Williams, Nick Anderson, Marvin Moody, Kevin Henry, Jesus Machado, Matthew Hightower
Outlook: This should be the top group of linebackers in the AAC. Every significant player returns from what was a heck of a year. Moody and Henry are back for COVID-granted extra years but probably will lose their starting spots to Williams and Anderson, who were outstanding last season. Jesus Machado has potential, too.
All is going well if: Williams, who got my vote as defensive MVP last year, maintains the same high level.
Sign of concern if: Barring injury, there really are not any concerns. The Wave is loaded at linebacker.
CORNERBACK
Returning: Jaylon Monroe, Kevaris Hall, Kiland Harrison, Reggie Nealy, Levi Williams
Lost: Willie Langham
New: Lance Robinson
Outlook: Hampton was Tulane's secondary coach before leaving for Duke last season, and his No 1. charge as coordinator will be to improve the secondary play after a rough season without him. I like Monroe, but he did give up too many receptions in one-on-one jump balls last fall. Kevaris Hall showed promise as a true freshman, and Robinson started six times in his career at Kansas State. Those three figure to split the playing time now that Willie Langham has entered the transfer portal in a surprise move. Although Langham had the single-worst play of the year on defense, simply giving up while trailing a receiver over the middle in the opener against South Alabama, he is a conscientious guy whom Fritz praised for his work ethic.
All is going well if: Monroe plays with confidence and Robinson fares better than the grad transfers did last season.
Sign of concern if: Jha'Quan Jackson and the Watts twins keep making big catches despite being well covered. It would be good for the receivers' confidence but bad for what was a shaky secondary last year.
SAFETY
Returning: Larry Brooks, Cornelius Dyson, Macon Clark, Shi'Keem Laister, KJ Vault, Kanyon Walker
Gone: Ton'Quez Ball
New: Derrion Rakestraw
Outlook: The safety play should be upgraded significantly. Rakestraw, who also can play cornerback, started the last 15 games at Colorado and was viewed as a tremendous leader and steadying influence, making more than 100 career tackles. Brooks is a two-year starter and Dyson came on last season in his first time playing safety after being a jack of all trades in high school. Even Clark has starting experience, and either he or Rakestraw could end up as the starting nickel if Tulane keeps the same defense it had previously.
All is going well if: Rakestraw fits in seamlessly at nickel, allowing Brooks and Dyson to start at safety. That would appear to be the best use of personnel considering their skill sets, but it depends on where Rakestraw is the most comfortable.
Sign of concern if: the secondary continues to have breakdowns in coverage in critical situations. The Wave cannot afford to have any of the problems that plagued it last fall, even in the spring.
NOTE: I am not doing a preview of the special teams, but all of the scholarship players are returning--Merek Glover, back for a COVID year, Ryan Wright, Ethan Hudak and Matt Smith. That means 74 players will be scholarship for spring ball, more than the usual number because of the COVID rule.
