Since CJ told me last week he expected a signing class of 17 to 20 next year, I did some numbers crunching on the makeup of the 2016 roster, counting the 12 possible commitments already in the fold (although I doubt Sci Martin will remain committed now that he has an offer from LSU and Tulane may already have cut ties with Kwanzi Jackson after his arrest in Florida).
Obviously, there will be attrition between now and then for a variety of reasons, but as of this moment, Tulane has 74 returning scholarship players for 2016, so CJ in anticipating the departure of between six and nine players before the 2016 season. Asterisks are for commitments.
NOTE: edited for accuracy in response to posts below.
QB (4)
Devin Powell
Tanner Lee
Glen Cuillette
*Jack Abraham
Comment: Nola.com reported that 6-7 Alexandria QB Matthew Beck was drawing interest from Tulane, but unless the Wave coaches really, really like him or expect one of the three returners to leave, I don't see them adding another QB. It's hard to find practice time for five scholarship guys.
RB (8)
Sherman Badie
Josh Rounds
Dontrell Hilliard
Lazedrick Thompson
Sergio Medina
Nigel Anderson
Devin Glenn
*Darius May
Comment: You can never have enough good running backs. If the Wave finds another one it likes, it won't pass him up. Thompson and Rounds will be seniors in 2016.
TE (3)
Trey Scott
Charles Jones
Kendall Ardoin
Comment: All three tight ends are entering their second year (Ardoin as a redshirt freshman), so this not an an area of need.
WR (7)
Devon Breaux
Teddy Veal
Terren Encalade
Leondre James
Andrew Hicks
Darius Williams
Rickey Preston
Comment: The numbers will be too low this year. Tulane needs two good commitments after getting three signees for the fall. I'm taking CJ at his word that James will be back in 2016 if he does the right things. If not, the need is even greater.
OL (16)
Brandon Godfrey
Junior Diaz
Colton Hanson
Nathan Shienle
Anthony Taylor
Jason Stewart
John Leglue
Devon Johnson
Chris Taylor
Todd Jacquet
Kenneth Santa Marina
Leeward Brown
Keyshawn Mcleod
Keeyon Smart
*Jamal Crawford
*Keenan Forbes
Comment: Continued talent upgrade on the offensive line is important. Hanson, Shienle and Jacquet will be seniors in 2016, so bringing in at least two OL makes sense.
DT (10)
Braynon Edwards
Tanzel Smart
Eldrick Washington
Sean Wilson
Eric Bell
Calvin Thomas
John Washington
Brian Webb
*Ronald Cherry
*Tyarise Stevenson
Comment: Smart, Washington and Thomas will be seniors in 2016. Good DTs are hard to find, and Tulane already has picked up two commitments.
DE (9)
Luke Jackson
Quinlan Carroll
Peter Woullard
Ade Aruna
Daren Williams
Robert Kennedy
*Jonathan Wilson
*Sci Martin
*Kwanzi Jackson
Comment: This was the No. 1 priority for the 2016 class. The numbers are low after Tulane got shut out in the 2015 class, but Martin's commitment is a question mark now that LSU has offered him. Maybe he will decide Tulane is the perfect place for him, but history indicates otherwise, and the new cost of attendance allowances will make it even harder for non P5 schools to beat out P5 schools for recruits. The Wave needs at least one more DE and maybe two pending Martin's and Jackson's status.
LB (10)
Edward Williams
Nico Marley
Rene Fleury
Zachery Harris
Eric Thomas
Eric Bowie
Rae Juan Marbley
*Kazmi Antoine
*Kenny Hebert
*Giovanni LaFrance
Comment: Williams, Marley and Thomas will be seniors in 2016, and Tulane already has three commitments, including a big-time recruit in LaFrance.
CB (9)
Parry Nickerson
Donnie Lewis
Richard Allen
Stephon Lofton
Jeremie Francis
Douglas Henry
Taris Shenall
Dedrick Shy
*Eric Lewis
Comment: Although it is a long shot, Nickerson could turn pro if he has another big year, particularly considering his injury history. He is a third-year sophomore. I'm not sure Lewis projects as a corner or a safety, but his size says corner. The need here hinges on what the coaches thing of the four-man class they just signed.
S (8)
Leonard Davis
William Townsend
Jarrod Franklyn
Tristan Cooper
Carlton Williams
Darius Black
Malik Eugene
Roderic Teamer
Comment: Tulane just signed three, but the numbers are a little low and none of the returners is a surefire starter down the road. Davis will be a senior in 2016.
ST (3)
Andrew DiRocco
Michael Lizanich
Zach Block
Comment: Tulane will sign another kicker or punter if Block and/or DiRocco struggle. If one of them does well there is no need here. But that's a big if.
It is interesting that Tulane has 46 potential defensive players on scholarship for 2016 as of now and 38 potential offensive players. That shows where the emphasis likely will be as the staff fills out this recruiting class--offense.
Obviously, there will be attrition between now and then for a variety of reasons, but as of this moment, Tulane has 74 returning scholarship players for 2016, so CJ in anticipating the departure of between six and nine players before the 2016 season. Asterisks are for commitments.
NOTE: edited for accuracy in response to posts below.
QB (4)
Devin Powell
Tanner Lee
Glen Cuillette
*Jack Abraham
Comment: Nola.com reported that 6-7 Alexandria QB Matthew Beck was drawing interest from Tulane, but unless the Wave coaches really, really like him or expect one of the three returners to leave, I don't see them adding another QB. It's hard to find practice time for five scholarship guys.
RB (8)
Sherman Badie
Josh Rounds
Dontrell Hilliard
Lazedrick Thompson
Sergio Medina
Nigel Anderson
Devin Glenn
*Darius May
Comment: You can never have enough good running backs. If the Wave finds another one it likes, it won't pass him up. Thompson and Rounds will be seniors in 2016.
TE (3)
Trey Scott
Charles Jones
Kendall Ardoin
Comment: All three tight ends are entering their second year (Ardoin as a redshirt freshman), so this not an an area of need.
WR (7)
Devon Breaux
Teddy Veal
Terren Encalade
Leondre James
Andrew Hicks
Darius Williams
Rickey Preston
Comment: The numbers will be too low this year. Tulane needs two good commitments after getting three signees for the fall. I'm taking CJ at his word that James will be back in 2016 if he does the right things. If not, the need is even greater.
OL (16)
Brandon Godfrey
Junior Diaz
Colton Hanson
Nathan Shienle
Anthony Taylor
Jason Stewart
John Leglue
Devon Johnson
Chris Taylor
Todd Jacquet
Kenneth Santa Marina
Leeward Brown
Keyshawn Mcleod
Keeyon Smart
*Jamal Crawford
*Keenan Forbes
Comment: Continued talent upgrade on the offensive line is important. Hanson, Shienle and Jacquet will be seniors in 2016, so bringing in at least two OL makes sense.
DT (10)
Braynon Edwards
Tanzel Smart
Eldrick Washington
Sean Wilson
Eric Bell
Calvin Thomas
John Washington
Brian Webb
*Ronald Cherry
*Tyarise Stevenson
Comment: Smart, Washington and Thomas will be seniors in 2016. Good DTs are hard to find, and Tulane already has picked up two commitments.
DE (9)
Luke Jackson
Quinlan Carroll
Peter Woullard
Ade Aruna
Daren Williams
Robert Kennedy
*Jonathan Wilson
*Sci Martin
*Kwanzi Jackson
Comment: This was the No. 1 priority for the 2016 class. The numbers are low after Tulane got shut out in the 2015 class, but Martin's commitment is a question mark now that LSU has offered him. Maybe he will decide Tulane is the perfect place for him, but history indicates otherwise, and the new cost of attendance allowances will make it even harder for non P5 schools to beat out P5 schools for recruits. The Wave needs at least one more DE and maybe two pending Martin's and Jackson's status.
LB (10)
Edward Williams
Nico Marley
Rene Fleury
Zachery Harris
Eric Thomas
Eric Bowie
Rae Juan Marbley
*Kazmi Antoine
*Kenny Hebert
*Giovanni LaFrance
Comment: Williams, Marley and Thomas will be seniors in 2016, and Tulane already has three commitments, including a big-time recruit in LaFrance.
CB (9)
Parry Nickerson
Donnie Lewis
Richard Allen
Stephon Lofton
Jeremie Francis
Douglas Henry
Taris Shenall
Dedrick Shy
*Eric Lewis
Comment: Although it is a long shot, Nickerson could turn pro if he has another big year, particularly considering his injury history. He is a third-year sophomore. I'm not sure Lewis projects as a corner or a safety, but his size says corner. The need here hinges on what the coaches thing of the four-man class they just signed.
S (8)
Leonard Davis
William Townsend
Jarrod Franklyn
Tristan Cooper
Carlton Williams
Darius Black
Malik Eugene
Roderic Teamer
Comment: Tulane just signed three, but the numbers are a little low and none of the returners is a surefire starter down the road. Davis will be a senior in 2016.
ST (3)
Andrew DiRocco
Michael Lizanich
Zach Block
Comment: Tulane will sign another kicker or punter if Block and/or DiRocco struggle. If one of them does well there is no need here. But that's a big if.
It is interesting that Tulane has 46 potential defensive players on scholarship for 2016 as of now and 38 potential offensive players. That shows where the emphasis likely will be as the staff fills out this recruiting class--offense.
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