(RB Makhi Hughes – AP Photo)
Key Players Returning:
RB Makhi Hughes, OG Shadre Hurst, OT Rashad Green, DT Kameron Hamilton, DT Patrick Jenkins, LB Tyler Grubbs, LB Jesus Machado, SS Bailey Despanie, and PT Will Karoll.
Key Players Departing:
QB Michael Pratt (Packers R7), WR Chris Brazzell II (Tennessee transfer), WR/PR Jha’Quan Jackson (Titans R6), WR/KR Lawrence Keys III, OC Sincere Haynesworth, OG Prince Pines, OT Cameron Wire, DE Keith Cooper Jr., DE Devean Deal, DE Darius Hodges, LB Jared Small, CB Jarius Monroe, CB Kam Pedescleaux, CB Lance Robinson, FS DJ Douglas, KR Shedro Louis, and PK Valentino Ambrosio.
(WR Mario Williams – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: WR Mario Williams (USC Transfer), CB Jayden Lewis (Anniston, Alabama), and OT Dominic Steward (Atlanta, Georgia).
3 Star Recruits: LB Sam Howard (Austin Peay transfer), QB Ty Thompson (Oregon transfer), WR Shazz Preston (Alabama transfer), WR Zycari Lewis (Venice, Florida), CB Armani Cargo (Marrero, Louisiana), and WR Khai Prean (LSU transfer).
2023 Results:
G01 SOUTH ALABAMA W 27-17
G02 #20 OLE MISS L 20-37
G03 @ Southern Miss W 21-3
G04 NICHOLLS W 36-7
G05 UAB W 35-23
G06 @ Memphis W 31-21
G07 NORTH TEXAS W 35-28
G08 @ Rice W 30-28
G09 @ East Carolina W 13-10
G10 TULSA W 24-22
G11 @ FAU W 24-8
G12 UTSA W 29-16
AAC SMU L 14-26
BOWL vs. Virginia Tech L 20-41
Misc. Team Information:
2023 Record: 11-3 (2nd in AAC)
Home: 6-2
Away: 5-0
Neutral: 0-1
AAC: 8-0
Non-AAC: 3-3
Head Coach: Willie Fritz
Tulane: 54-48
Career: 208-117
Bowls: 4-2
(LB Jesus Machado – Tulane University Athletics)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Kai Horton (44-82, 604 yards, 53.7%, 8.5 avg., 22 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: Makhi Hughes (258 car.,1378 yards, 5.3 avg., 7 TD)
Receiving: Alex Bauman (35 rec., 286 yards, 8.2 avg., 5 TD)
TDs Scored: Makhi Hughes (7)
Sacks: Patrick Jenkins (5.5)
Tackles: Jesus Machado (98)
Tackles For Loss: Patrick Jenkins (11.5)
Interceptions: Bailey Despanie/Jesus Machado (1)
Pass Deflections: Bailey Despanie (2)
Forced Fumbles: Matthew Fobbs-White (2)
Kick Returns: Bryce Bohanon (3 ret., 41 yards, 13.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Dontae Fleming (3 ret., 9 yards, 3.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Will Karoll (43 punts, 1894 yards, 44.0 avg., 11 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 7 Ty Thompson (RS JR/TR)
RB: 21 Makhi Hughes (RS SO)
WR: 6 Shazz Preston (RS SO/TR)
WR: 5 Yulkeith Brown (SR/TR)
WR: 4 Mario Williams (SR/TR)
TE: 87 Alex Bauman (JR)
LT: 76 Derrick Graham (RS JR/TR)
LG: 56 Shadre Hurst (RS SO)
OC: 64 Vincent Murphy (GR/TR)
RG: 68 Josh Remetich (SR)
RT: 69 Rashad Green (RS SR)
KR: 83 Bryce Bohanon (RS JR)
PK: 35 Jacob Barnes (RS SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 45 Adin Huntington (SR/TR)
DT: 0 Patrick Jenkins (SR/TR)
NT: 94 Eric Hicks Jr. (RS SR)
DE: 35 Matthew Fobbs-White (SO)
LB: 13 Tyler Grubbs (SR/TR)
LB: 99 Jesus Machado (SR)
NB: 7 Caleb Ransaw (JR/TR)
CB: 10 Lu Tillery (SR/TR)
CB: 8 Jonathan Edward (SR/TR)
FS: 2 Jalen Geiger (GR/TR)
SS: 32 Bailey Despanie (RS JR)
PR: 1 Dontae Fleming (SR/TR)
PT: 49 Will Karoll (SO)
(DT Patrick Jenkins – AP Photo)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: A
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: A
Schedule:
08/31 SE LOUISIANA LIONS | Tulane leads the series 7-0. The Green Wave won (35-20) the last meeting between schools in 2014.
09/07 KANSAS STATE WILDCATS | Tulane leads the series 2-0. The Green Wave won (17-10) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
09/14 @ Oklahoma Sooners | Tulane trails the series 0-2. The Green Wave lost (35-40) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/21 @ Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns | Tulane leads the series 23-6. The Green Wave won (41-24) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/28 USF BULLS | Tulane leads the series 3-1. The Green Wave won (45-31) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
10/05 @ UAB Blazers | The series is tied 6-6. The Green Wave won (35-23) last season’s meeting between schools, and they lost (21-28) the prior meeting in 2021.
10/19 RICE OWLS | Tulane trails the series 16-20-1. The Green Wave won (30-28) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (13-17) was at the prior meeting in 2013.
10/26 @ North Texas Mean Green | Tulane leads the series 2-0. The Green Wave won (35-28) last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (24-21) the inaugural meeting in 2013.
10/31 @ Charlotte 49ers | First meeting between schools.
11/09 TEMPLE OWLS | Tulane trails the series 2-4. The Green Wave won (38-3) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/16 @ Navy Midshipmen | The series is tied 12-12-1. The Green Wave lost (24-27) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/28 MEMPHIS TIGERS | Tulane trails the series 15-24-1. The Green Wave are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series loss (28-33) was in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Road: 2-5
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 3-5
Non-AAC: 2-2
Overall: 5-7 (9th in AAC)
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