Tulane began practicing for the Gasparilla Bowl against Florida with a one-hour session on Wednesday morning at Yulman Stadium, and I was there for the whole thing to see what players were still around. The big news is Mario Williams will play in his hometown of Tampa rather than opting out, giving Tulane a marquee receiving option. I don't know what his draft status will be--hands were an issue at times and he does not make many contested catches--but these days I just assume guys with a possible NFL future will skip bowl games. Williams is coming off the best game of his season against Army and will try to add on to it with Ty Thompson as his quarterback.
Here is what I saw at each position:
Quarterback
Ty Thompson, Kellen Tasby and walk-ons Dagan Bruno and Jaxson Judge are the four quarterbacks. Thompson will get a chance to start for the first time in his four-year college career.
Running back
Makhi Hughes, Shaadie Clayton-Johnson, Arnold Barnes and Jamauri McClure practiced today. That does not mean all of them will stay on the team--Sumrall said he is willing for guys who intent to transfer to play in the bowl game as long as they prove they are focused on the here and now and not their future--but it bodes well. Hughes, of course, also could decide to apply for the draft after the game. Clayton-Johnson is out of eligibility.
Tight end
Alex Bauman, Reggie Brown and Anthony Miller practiced. Josh Goines has entered the portal. I did not see Blake Gunter.
Wide receiver
Dontae Fleming, Williams, Yulkeith Brown, Shazz Preston, Sidney Mbanasor, Zycarl Lewis, Shaun Nicholas and Bryce Bohanon practiced. Phat Watts was not there, but Sumrall said he was excused because he just became a father and he will be available for the bowl.
Offensive line
Shadre Hurst, Vincent Murphy, Rashad Green, Derrick Graham,, Josh Remetich and Caleb Thomas practiced along with Tristan Fortenberry, Gabe Fortson, Elijah Baker, Reese Baker and Jayce Mitchell. I did not see Dominic Steward, Landry Cannon or Darion Reed and will check on them again tomorrow.
Defensive tackle
Patrick Jenkins, Terrell Allen, Elijah Champaigne, Eric Hicks and Adonis Friloux practiced. Parker Petersen entered the portal and is gone.
Defensive end/bandit
Adin Huntington, DeShaun Batiste. Gerrod Henderson, Javon Carter and Shi'Keem Laister practiced. Kam Hamilton is out with a leg injury, but Sumrall said he would be fine for the game. Matthew Fobbs-White is gone. Michael Lunz, Jah'Rie Garner and Geordan Guidry are hurt.
Linebacker
Tyler Grubbs, Sam Howard, Chris Rodgers, Dickson Agu, Mandel Eugene and Makai Williams practiced. I did not see Jean Claude Joseph. Jesus Machado did not practice and I can't imagine any reason for him to try to play in the game.
Nickeback
Caleb Ransaw and Jayden Lewis practiced. I did not see Javion White but was told he also just became a father, thought I did not get it confirmed by Sumrall.
Cornerback
Micah Robinson, Johnathan Edwards, Lu Tillery, Jaheim Johnson and Rishi Rattan practiced. Rayshawn Pleasant is injured and did rehab work in the stands with something that happened in the AAC title game that he did not realize was a problem until later. Sumrall expects him to be ready for the game, too. I did not see Armani Cargo or E'Zaiah Shine.
Safety
Jalen Geiger, Bailey Despanie, Kevin Adams, Jack Tchienchou and Joshua Moore practiced. I did not see Chase Green.
Special teams
Everyone was there, including Ethan Head, who has entered the transfer portal.
Sumrall, Mario Williams and Ty Thompson talked to me after practice. I will get their interviews up later.
Here is what I saw at each position:
Quarterback
Ty Thompson, Kellen Tasby and walk-ons Dagan Bruno and Jaxson Judge are the four quarterbacks. Thompson will get a chance to start for the first time in his four-year college career.
Running back
Makhi Hughes, Shaadie Clayton-Johnson, Arnold Barnes and Jamauri McClure practiced today. That does not mean all of them will stay on the team--Sumrall said he is willing for guys who intent to transfer to play in the bowl game as long as they prove they are focused on the here and now and not their future--but it bodes well. Hughes, of course, also could decide to apply for the draft after the game. Clayton-Johnson is out of eligibility.
Tight end
Alex Bauman, Reggie Brown and Anthony Miller practiced. Josh Goines has entered the portal. I did not see Blake Gunter.
Wide receiver
Dontae Fleming, Williams, Yulkeith Brown, Shazz Preston, Sidney Mbanasor, Zycarl Lewis, Shaun Nicholas and Bryce Bohanon practiced. Phat Watts was not there, but Sumrall said he was excused because he just became a father and he will be available for the bowl.
Offensive line
Shadre Hurst, Vincent Murphy, Rashad Green, Derrick Graham,, Josh Remetich and Caleb Thomas practiced along with Tristan Fortenberry, Gabe Fortson, Elijah Baker, Reese Baker and Jayce Mitchell. I did not see Dominic Steward, Landry Cannon or Darion Reed and will check on them again tomorrow.
Defensive tackle
Patrick Jenkins, Terrell Allen, Elijah Champaigne, Eric Hicks and Adonis Friloux practiced. Parker Petersen entered the portal and is gone.
Defensive end/bandit
Adin Huntington, DeShaun Batiste. Gerrod Henderson, Javon Carter and Shi'Keem Laister practiced. Kam Hamilton is out with a leg injury, but Sumrall said he would be fine for the game. Matthew Fobbs-White is gone. Michael Lunz, Jah'Rie Garner and Geordan Guidry are hurt.
Linebacker
Tyler Grubbs, Sam Howard, Chris Rodgers, Dickson Agu, Mandel Eugene and Makai Williams practiced. I did not see Jean Claude Joseph. Jesus Machado did not practice and I can't imagine any reason for him to try to play in the game.
Nickeback
Caleb Ransaw and Jayden Lewis practiced. I did not see Javion White but was told he also just became a father, thought I did not get it confirmed by Sumrall.
Cornerback
Micah Robinson, Johnathan Edwards, Lu Tillery, Jaheim Johnson and Rishi Rattan practiced. Rayshawn Pleasant is injured and did rehab work in the stands with something that happened in the AAC title game that he did not realize was a problem until later. Sumrall expects him to be ready for the game, too. I did not see Armani Cargo or E'Zaiah Shine.
Safety
Jalen Geiger, Bailey Despanie, Kevin Adams, Jack Tchienchou and Joshua Moore practiced. I did not see Chase Green.
Special teams
Everyone was there, including Ethan Head, who has entered the transfer portal.
Sumrall, Mario Williams and Ty Thompson talked to me after practice. I will get their interviews up later.
