The Tulane Green Wave is a team that many people will be keeping a close eye on in the 2024 season. Over the last two seasons, they have turned things around and posted consecutive double-digit wins for the first time in program history.
They’re looking to extend that streak to three, and many new faces will help them do that. On the sidelines, Jon Sumrall will replace Willie Fritz, who has accepted the head coaching job in Houston.
Starting quarterback and 2023 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Michael Pratt is now playing in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers. He may be replaced by transfer Ty Thompson, a former five-star recruit who began his career at Oregon.
Thompson isn’t the only transfer Tulane has brought in from a Power 5 school. Wide receiver Shazz Preston began his career at Alabama before coming to New Orleans for the 2024 season. He’s joined by former Oklahoma and USC wide receiver Mario Williams.
On defense, Sumrall can rely on a familiar face in the secondary. Cornerback Caleb Ransaw spent the first three seasons of his career with Sumrall at Troy before following him to the Green Wave.
Sumrall takes over a team full of veterans and talent. Despite Fritz’s departure, Tulane was able to retain many key players from the 2023 roster. Troy Perlowitz of the College Football Network highlighted the best of those returning players.
The above transfers all made the list, with tight end Alex Bauman being the first Green Wave member for 2023. Bauman was already named to the John Mackey Award watch list for 2024 before the season and could have a breakout season ahead of him.
Last season, he was second on the team with 35 catches and five touchdowns for 286 yards. He is joined on the offensive side of the ball by tackle Rashad Green and running back Makhi Hughes.
Green has made the most of his position change, moving from guard to outside linebacker. With 36 games of experience, he’s a reliable anchor in the trenches of the offensive line. He’ll create gaps for Hughes to run through all season long.
Hughes is only a sophomore but has a bright future after an incredibly productive freshman year, rushing for 1,378 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground and will be the centerpiece of the offense in 2024.
When the team relies on him, it succeeds. When he rushed for 100 yards, Tulane went 7-0. In the three games in which he didn’t rush for 15 yards, the Green Wave lost twice.
On defense, Tulane will return some of its key players. Safety Bailey Despanie had 67 total tackles, including 5.5 for loss. He has transformed his body since arriving on campus, dropping from 160 pounds to over 200 pounds by the start of his third year.
On the second line of defense, Sumrall will have two tough hitters in Tyler Grubbs and Jesus Machado, although Machado is out with an injury and there is no timeframe for a return. They feature all over the field and ranked second and first, respectively, in tackles last season. In Machado’s absence, the team has Sam Howard, Dickson Agu and Chris Rodgers.
Grubbs stayed in the opposing backfield and recorded 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. Machado was active all over the field and made plays with 98 tackles, one interception and one pass defensed.
The Green Wave’s best returning player is none other than star defensive tackle Patrick Jenkins. Expectations are high for Jenkins entering the season, as he was named a preseason first-team All-American and AAC Player of the Year by the College Football Network.
If he can repeat his 2023 performance, he will take home some accolades this season. In 14 games, he recorded 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
