Tulane conducted its first spring practice in nice weather this morning as it begins the process of building off last year's Cure Bowl win that occurred 87 days ago.
I finally had my interview with Kyle Speer after practice today, and he was very good. I'm swamped with work right now, so I can't make any promises as to exactly when I will transcribe it, but count on seeing it sometime within the next two weeks. He talked about the refurbished weight room that will debut some time this summer, but he thinks the biggest improvement is the cafeteria that opened in Yulman Stadium last fall. It has made it much easier to control what players eat because just about everything served there is healthy, unlike Bruff, and even the cookies come individually so they don't overload on the junk. After turning the tape recorder off, Spear and I discussed some individual players. and he is fine with my printing the positive stuff. To answer a WaveOn question earlier this week, Speer is high on the potential of all three of the offensive linemen who have not played yet-- Lerewenz, Hogan and Remondet. Although he does not think they will be ready this year, he expects them to be key contributors in the future, adding it takes longer for offensive linemen than any other position to develop.
Speer also singled out Thakarius Keyes for praise after I turned off the tape recorder, saying he was so much bigger and stronger than the rail-thin guy who arrived on campus in the summer of 2017. I'll add he is really positive about the outlook for this team this year. The rest I'll leave for the future.
The Virginia transfer the coaches cannot talk about until he is officially enrolled--Ben Knutson--watched practice today, and he is huge in a good way. Insiders are excited about him joining the offensive line in the fall and expect him to start.
Donnie Lewis also was at practice. Tulane's Pro Day is March 21, and he is the top prospect of the eligible Green Wave players.
As for practice, wide receiver Kevin Ledee dressed out but did not get any reps., wearing a big brace on his left knee. He ran patterns after practice and is not 100 percent. I asked Willie Fritz about guys who would miss the spring after practice, and he said he did not want to comment until talking with the trainers.
Dane Ledford is practicing with the wide receivers. The five QBs today were Justin McMillan, Keon Howard, Christian Daniels, Josh Holl and P.J. Hurst, with McMillan and Howard getting almost all of the reps.
Obviously the way the team lines up on day 1 of spring ball is no proof of what will happen at the beginning of the season, but there was only one surprise on the depth chart. Redshirt freshman Macon Clark was the first-team free safety ahead of Chase Kuerschen. I mentioned in a preseason report last August that former Tulane DB Derrick Strozier loved Clark's natural ability when he watched an early practice.
The rest of the first-team defense had Cam Sample, Jeffery Johnson, De'Andre Williams and Patrick Johnson up front, Lawrence Graham and Marvin Moody at inside linebacker, Tirise Barge at nickelback, Jaylon Monroe and Thakarius Keyes at cornerback and P.J. Hall and Clark at safety.
The second-team defense had Davon Wright at left end, Carlos Hatcher at joker, Jamiran James and Alfred Thomas inside, Quentin Brown and walk-on Sam Bruchaus at inside linebacker (newcomers Dorian Williams and Nick Anderson got reps together later), Will Harper at nickelback, Chris Joyce and Willie Langham at cornerback and Kuerschen and Larry Brooks at safety. Sean Harper got some reps with the second unit at safety later on, and K.J. Vault had some reps at nickelback. One player I did not see was Keitha Jones, so I will check on his status Thursday. I also did not see Kanyon Walker.
On offense, the first-team receivers were Jalen McCleskey, Darnell Mooney and Jaetavian Toles. McCleskely lined up wide right, with Mooney wide left and Toles in the slot. Darius Bradwell was at running back, with Will Wallace at tight end. The starting linemen were Tyler Johnson at left tackle. Corey Dublin at left guard, Christian Montano at center, Cameron Jackel at right guard and Joey Claybrook at right tackle.
The second-team line was Remondet at left tackle. walk-on Ben Bratcher at left guard, Lewerenz at center, Hogan at right guard and Keyshawn McLeod at right tackle with Tyrick James at tight end.
The second-team wide receivers were Jacob Robertson, Ledforsd and Jorien Vallien. Sorrell Brown, who suffered a season-ending injury in preseason camp, dressed out to my surprise, but I did not see him getting reps.
McCleskey, wearing jersey No. 1, looked explosive running patterns. I would have known who he was without ever seeing him before just because of his obvious ability.
The execution in the practice was a little ragged, which is understandable on the first day of new offensive coordinator Will Hall. Justin McMillan miscommunicated with his receivers a couple of times when he tried to improvise, but the workout still looked smoother than the first day of spring in the past under Fritz. They ratcheted up the tempo, a Hall priority that Fritz has signed off on.
I expect Joyce to make a significant jump at cornerback this year. He jumped a route against a backup QB (I did not see which one) and dropped an interception that would have gone for a touchdown in a live drill, and he just appears quick reacting out there.
Ryan Wright is one of the biggest punters I've ever seen. He is listed at 6-3, 245 pounds and looks every bit that big. He stayed after practice to punt, with Joyce fielding the punts, and got off some boomers.
We talked to Fritz, Hall, McMillan and McCleskey after practice today. I will post those interviews as soon as I can.
I finally had my interview with Kyle Speer after practice today, and he was very good. I'm swamped with work right now, so I can't make any promises as to exactly when I will transcribe it, but count on seeing it sometime within the next two weeks. He talked about the refurbished weight room that will debut some time this summer, but he thinks the biggest improvement is the cafeteria that opened in Yulman Stadium last fall. It has made it much easier to control what players eat because just about everything served there is healthy, unlike Bruff, and even the cookies come individually so they don't overload on the junk. After turning the tape recorder off, Spear and I discussed some individual players. and he is fine with my printing the positive stuff. To answer a WaveOn question earlier this week, Speer is high on the potential of all three of the offensive linemen who have not played yet-- Lerewenz, Hogan and Remondet. Although he does not think they will be ready this year, he expects them to be key contributors in the future, adding it takes longer for offensive linemen than any other position to develop.
Speer also singled out Thakarius Keyes for praise after I turned off the tape recorder, saying he was so much bigger and stronger than the rail-thin guy who arrived on campus in the summer of 2017. I'll add he is really positive about the outlook for this team this year. The rest I'll leave for the future.
The Virginia transfer the coaches cannot talk about until he is officially enrolled--Ben Knutson--watched practice today, and he is huge in a good way. Insiders are excited about him joining the offensive line in the fall and expect him to start.
Donnie Lewis also was at practice. Tulane's Pro Day is March 21, and he is the top prospect of the eligible Green Wave players.
As for practice, wide receiver Kevin Ledee dressed out but did not get any reps., wearing a big brace on his left knee. He ran patterns after practice and is not 100 percent. I asked Willie Fritz about guys who would miss the spring after practice, and he said he did not want to comment until talking with the trainers.
Dane Ledford is practicing with the wide receivers. The five QBs today were Justin McMillan, Keon Howard, Christian Daniels, Josh Holl and P.J. Hurst, with McMillan and Howard getting almost all of the reps.
Obviously the way the team lines up on day 1 of spring ball is no proof of what will happen at the beginning of the season, but there was only one surprise on the depth chart. Redshirt freshman Macon Clark was the first-team free safety ahead of Chase Kuerschen. I mentioned in a preseason report last August that former Tulane DB Derrick Strozier loved Clark's natural ability when he watched an early practice.
The rest of the first-team defense had Cam Sample, Jeffery Johnson, De'Andre Williams and Patrick Johnson up front, Lawrence Graham and Marvin Moody at inside linebacker, Tirise Barge at nickelback, Jaylon Monroe and Thakarius Keyes at cornerback and P.J. Hall and Clark at safety.
The second-team defense had Davon Wright at left end, Carlos Hatcher at joker, Jamiran James and Alfred Thomas inside, Quentin Brown and walk-on Sam Bruchaus at inside linebacker (newcomers Dorian Williams and Nick Anderson got reps together later), Will Harper at nickelback, Chris Joyce and Willie Langham at cornerback and Kuerschen and Larry Brooks at safety. Sean Harper got some reps with the second unit at safety later on, and K.J. Vault had some reps at nickelback. One player I did not see was Keitha Jones, so I will check on his status Thursday. I also did not see Kanyon Walker.
On offense, the first-team receivers were Jalen McCleskey, Darnell Mooney and Jaetavian Toles. McCleskely lined up wide right, with Mooney wide left and Toles in the slot. Darius Bradwell was at running back, with Will Wallace at tight end. The starting linemen were Tyler Johnson at left tackle. Corey Dublin at left guard, Christian Montano at center, Cameron Jackel at right guard and Joey Claybrook at right tackle.
The second-team line was Remondet at left tackle. walk-on Ben Bratcher at left guard, Lewerenz at center, Hogan at right guard and Keyshawn McLeod at right tackle with Tyrick James at tight end.
The second-team wide receivers were Jacob Robertson, Ledforsd and Jorien Vallien. Sorrell Brown, who suffered a season-ending injury in preseason camp, dressed out to my surprise, but I did not see him getting reps.
McCleskey, wearing jersey No. 1, looked explosive running patterns. I would have known who he was without ever seeing him before just because of his obvious ability.
The execution in the practice was a little ragged, which is understandable on the first day of new offensive coordinator Will Hall. Justin McMillan miscommunicated with his receivers a couple of times when he tried to improvise, but the workout still looked smoother than the first day of spring in the past under Fritz. They ratcheted up the tempo, a Hall priority that Fritz has signed off on.
I expect Joyce to make a significant jump at cornerback this year. He jumped a route against a backup QB (I did not see which one) and dropped an interception that would have gone for a touchdown in a live drill, and he just appears quick reacting out there.
Ryan Wright is one of the biggest punters I've ever seen. He is listed at 6-3, 245 pounds and looks every bit that big. He stayed after practice to punt, with Joyce fielding the punts, and got off some boomers.
We talked to Fritz, Hall, McMillan and McCleskey after practice today. I will post those interviews as soon as I can.
