Examining Tulane's football depth chart entering spring
Exactly 57 days after its pulsating Cotton Bowl comeback victory against USC, American Athletic Conference champion Tulane will begin spring practice intent on doing what breakthrough Green Wave teams have failed to do in the past — staying on top.
Although transcendent running back Tyjae Spears is gone — along with star linebackers Dorian Williams and Nick Anderson, plus three key members of the secondary — plenty of key contributors return in what should be a weakened AAC with the departure of Cincinnati, Houston and Central Florida to the Big 12.
Here is a position-by-position look at the Wave entering spring drills:
Quarterback
Starter: Michael Pratt
Backups: Kai Horton, Carson Haggard
Injured: Justin Ibieta
Pratt’s decision to return instead of seeking a bigger NIL deal elsewhere was huge. He will be on top of all the preseason All-AAC lists entering his fourth year as a starter. Ibieta is recovering from his second torn labrum in as many years.
Running back
Starter: Shaadie Clayton-Johnson or Iverson Celestine
Backups: Makhi Hughes, Arnold Barnes
Spears is irreplaceable, but Clayton-Johnson — a former Warren Easton star — improved substantially after a slow start after transferring from Colorado. Celestine had some tough runs in the early-season upset of Kansas State. The cupboard is by no means empty.
Wide receiver
Starters: Jha’Quan Jackson, Lawrence Keys
Backups: Chris Brazzell, Bryce Bohanon, Jalen Rogers, Yulkeith Brown, Dontae Fleming
Injured: Phat Watts
There will be three starters, but it is unclear who the third guy will be to replace Shae Wyatt. Texas A&M transfer Yulkeith Brown and UL transfer Dontae Fleming join the mix. Brazzell (one catch) has plenty of potential. Watts could be held out as he continues to rehab the ACL he tore in September.
Tight end
Starter: Alex Bauman
Backups: Reggie Brown, Blake Gunter, Chris Carter
Bauman gets the starter designation based on catching the winning touchdown against USC. Clearly, he already is one of the most trusted players on the team. Brown had four catches for 16 yards. Carter, a transfer, rarely was used as a receiver at South Florida.
Offensive line
Starters: Cameron Wire, Prince Pines, Sincere Haynesworth, Josh Remetich, Rashad Green
Backups: Trey Tuggle, Caleb Thomas, Shadre Hurst, Matt Lombardi, Sully Burns, Keanon McNally
This is a projection for Wire, an LSU transfer who could fill the spot vacated by Joey Claybrook at left tackle. The other four starters return. Haynesworth pulled a pre-Cotton Bowl surprise when he announced he would come back for a fifth year at center after participating in senior day ceremonies.
Defensive line
Starters: Darius Hodges (joker), Patrick Jenkins (DT), Eric Hicks (NG), Keith Cooper (DE)
Backups: Angelo Anderson, Devean Deal, Noah Taliancich, Kameron Hamilton, Michael Lunz, Parker Peterson, Elijah Champaigne, Gerrod Henderson, Isaiah Boyd, Maxie Baudoin
Injured: Adonis Friloux
Friloux will start next to Jenkins whenever he is recovered from the torn ACL he suffered less than a week before the 2022 season opener. Tulane has good depth up front with Anderson, Deal, Taliancich and Hamilton already proving they can play at this level. The only significant loss was Tylo Phillips, who had 25 tackles.
Linebackers
Starters: Jesus Machado, and either Corey Platt or Tyler Grubbs
Backups: Mandel Eugene, Taylor Love, Jean Claude Joseph
Replacing the leadership and playmaking ability of Williams and Anderson will be tough, but this still should be one of the better units in the AAC. Machado and Platt made a real impression as backups a year ago. Grubbs had 244 tackles in three years at Louisiana Tech and was a two-time, second-team All-Conference USA pick.
Defensive backs
Starters: Jarius Monroe (CB), Lance Robinson (CB), DJ Douglas (S), Bailey Despanie (S), A.J. Hampton (nickelback)
Backups: Shi’Keem Laister, Kiland Harrison, Tyrek Presley, T.J. Huggins, Kentrell Webb, Rayshawn Pleasant, Cadien Robinson, Darius Swanson, Andre Sam
Injured: Jadon Canady
The cornerbacks are set, although Canady is recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in October. The other spots are wide open with the loss of nickelback Macon Clark and safeties Larry Brooks and Lummie Young. The Wave went heavy into the transfer portal for Division II All-America Darius Swanson (Nebraska-Kearney), McNeese State’s Andre Sam and Northwestern’s A.J. Hampton.
Special teams
Starters: Valentino Ambrosio (kicker), Casey Glover (punter), Ethan Hudak (snapper)
