The Tulane Green Wave are approaching their 2024 season opener and are preparing to play against Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central Time and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Tulane’s defense was one of the best in the American Athletic Conference last season, as the unit allowed just 20.5 points per game, which was good enough to rank 23rd in the FBS nationally. The unit hopes to improve in pass defense, where it allowed 228.6 yards per game, which was good enough to rank 72nd in the FBS.
But the unit that put up those numbers has definitely changed. Only four of last season’s top 12 tackles are no longer at Tulane. There’s also only one returning starter in the secondary.
Here are the defensive players on both teams to watch ahead of Thursday’s game.
DT Patrick Jenkins
If there’s one player who can set the tone for a unit in transition, it’s Jenkins. The senior and New Orleans native, who transferred from TCU to Tulane after two seasons, was named an All-AAC first-team selection last season. He had 35 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Phil Steele Magazine considered Jenkins the third-best NFL talent in the AAC. With another great season, he can put himself in position to get drafted — and help the Green Wave remain a conference contender.
LB Jesus Machado
Only four tacklers return in last season’s top 12, but Machado was the Green Wave’s best defender in that category last season. He was named to the All-AAC Second Team after setting a career-high with 98 tackles, including 56 solo tackles and 42 assists. He had three tackles for loss and the first interception of his career. He has made 150 tackles in his four-year college career. Like Jenkins, he is positioning himself for a possible NFL career.
FS Bailey Despaine
The former three-star recruit and graduate of Lafayette, Louisiana, enters his fourth season of college football as the leader of a secondary that doesn’t have much proven talent. But Despaine is a player who can lead the Green Wave. Last year, he had 67 tackles, including 45 solo, with 5.5 tackles and an interception, which is a career high.
LB Donte’ Daniels
Daniels should be a full-time Lions player this year, as he only played in eight games due to injury and had just 29 tackles. SE Louisiana will hope he can recapture his form from 2022, when he was named All-Southland Conference after making 87 tackles for the SLC champions this season. Coaches remember his performances in 2022, as they named him to the All-SLC selection in the preseason.
DB Coryell Price
He shined in his first year as a full-time starter for the Lions, finishing the year with 48 tackles (23 solo), four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one pass defense. Before that, the two-way high school star was a rotation player in 2021-22. If he makes a big jump this season, it will help the Lions rebound from last year’s 3-8 debacle.
DL Shemar Pearl
The Lions will rotate a lot of players on offense, but the third-year lineman from Southeast Louisiana could make a big jump after a solid season last year. He finished the season with 23 tackles in 11 games (seven starts), including two tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, he’ll be tough for any offensive lineman to handle.
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