Ready for More
Coach Jon Sumrall led his football team to win nine games last season to appear in the Green Wave's third straight American Conference championship game.
Last year was the third consecutive season Tulane won at least nine games—a remarkable achievement for a program that suffered 17 losing seasons between 1999 and 2021, never winning more than eight games in that span.
Sumrall's first squad in Uptown New Orleans was a heartbreaking Kansas State loss away from a 10-win season but churned out an impressive year behind quarterback Darian Mensah's breakout performance and a stout defense. Mensah has since transferred, and Tulane returns only five starters; however, optimism is high for the Green Wave.
Tulane will have a new look this season with around 60 new players on the roster, including four transfer quarterbacks, but that's the new reality Group of Five programs, especially successful ones, face each year.
Offense: New Quarterback Under Center
The Green Wave are in search of a new quarterback, and Tulane has four transfer options to replace Mensah. Kadin Semonza (Ball State), Donovan Leary (Illinois), Brendan Sullivan (Iowa), and Jake Retzlaff (BYU) will battle for the starting job this season.
Leary and Sullivan played sparingly for their previous teams. Semonza threw for over 2,900 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions last season for a Ball State team that finished 3-9. Retzlaff's 2024 season numbers are similar (2,974 yards, 20 passing touchdowns, six rushing scores, 12 interceptions), but he led BYU to an 11-2 record, displaying poise during several clutch situations that resulted in wins for the Cougars.
Tulane will also be looking for a new starting running back to replace Makhi Hughes, who transferred to Oregon. Arnold Barnes III could be the next man up for the Green Wave this season. Barnes rushed for over 400 yards and six touchdowns last season. Other potential options in the backfield include transfers Zuberi Mobley (Florida Atlantic) and Maurice Turner (Louisville) or returning redshirt freshman Jamauri McClure. Though low on production, there is plenty of potential talent in the backfield for the Green Wave.
There will also be several new faces in the Tulane receiving corps, as well, as the Green Wave lost most of its wide receiving production from last season. Transfer Omari Hayes (Florida Atlantic) had a solid season for the Owls in 2024, hauling in 39 catches for 590 yards and three touchdowns. He'll be joined by fellow transfer Anthony Brown-Stephens (Kentucky) and returning Tulane receivers Shazz Preston and Bryce Bohannon.
Former quarterback Ty Thompson converted to tight end in the offseason. This experiment will be fascinating to watch, as the six-foot-four Thompson could be a tough matchup for opposing defenses if he is able to learn the position. Transfer Justyn Reid (Southern Mississippi) is another possible weapon at tight end.
Fortunately, the Green Wave's offensive line does feature some returning starters, including first team all-conference selections Derrick Graham (tackle) and Shadre Hurst (guard).
The quarterback battle will grab the headlines this offseason, but it's up to Sumrall and his staff to get many new players to gel as quickly as possible for the season opener against Northwestern.
Defense: Consistency is Key
The Tulane defense was one of the best units in the American Conference last year, holding opponents to less than 21 points per game. Much like the offense, Sumrall is going to have to incorporate several new faces into the mix to field another ferocious unit.
Expect to see a lot of action from transfer edge rushers Santana Hopper (App State) and Mo Westmoreland (UTEP). Santana had 8.5 sacks and 70 tackles during his last two seasons for the Mountaineers. Westmoreland was even more prolific for the Miners, amassing 15.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss during the last two years in El Paso. The new pair will be joining returning all-conference defensive line selection Kameron Hamilton, Adonis Friloux, and transfer Derrick Shepard (UAB).
The linebacker corps should feature senior Sam Howard, who finished second on the team in tackles with 63 last year and set a school record with five fumble recoveries. Dickson Agu (34 tackles in 2024) and Chris Rogers could play a big part for the linebacking unit, as well.
Tulane picked up a pair of transfer corners to help shore up the secondary. Cornerbacks KC Eziomume (Albany) and Isaiah Wadsworth (Wofford) will be joining a trio of returning safeties in the Green Wave defensive backfield. Bailey Despanie, Jack Tchienchou, and Kevin Adams combined for 143 tackles last season, playing key roles in Tulane's defensive success.
If the Green Wave's defense can remain consistent and get off to a strong start, it will help buy precious time for the new-look offense to get acclimated early in the season.
Prediction
Weathering the early non-conference schedule, which features games against Power Four opponents Northwestern, Duke, and at Ole Miss, will be key for Tulane's season. If the Green Wave emerge without a losing record, they may be able to pull off a 10-win regular season. Unfortunately, the three toughest conference games on the slate are within a month of each other, including back-to-back trips to Texas-San Antonio and Memphis. Tulane should make the conference title game again, but how well the new quarterback shines will determine if the Green Wave can win it and possibly make a case for the College Football Playoff.
Tulane: 12-3, American Conference Champions, Birmingham Bowl
