Aug. 4, 2008

• Watch the CBS College Sports Preview of Tulane's Season

One year ago the Tulane Green Wave was picked to finish dead last in the Conference USA race under first-year head coach Bob Toledo. In fact, many publications doubted TU's ability to even crack the win column during its 12-game schedule. But Toledo, a 35-year veteran coach in the collegiate game, tweaked the Tulane offense and defense and brought the team to within nine points of posting a seven-win season. Tulane came up short in three very close games last season and just missed out on the school's first bowl trip since 2002. The Green Wave posted a 4-8 overall record, but finished third despite preseason predictions in the C-USA West Division race with a 3-5 mark.

Toledo hopes to build off last season's late success that saw the Green Wave win two out of its last three games, but the team will have to do it without All-America tailback Matt Forte, who thrived in Toledo's West Coast offense by cracking the 2,000-yard rushing barrier and scoring 23 touchdowns.

The 2008 campaign marks the 114th season of Tulane football, and the Green Wave is in good shape with 47 letterwinners (23 offense; 21 defense; 3 specialty) returning, including 17 starters (7 on offense and defense; 3 specialty), 16 redshirts, two squad members and the team welcomes a 20-member freshmen class to its Uptown campus. Among the Green Wave's returners on both sides of the ball are a total of 35 players who have seen time as regular starters or part time starters during their careers.

Tulane returns key offensive leaders in receptions, along with the bulk of its receiving corps, four of its starting offensive linemen and both starting fullbacks. On the defensive side, four of the team's top leaders in tackles returns, along with the entire linebacker unit and the team's top three interception leaders. On special teams, the Wave returns its kicker, punter and deep snapper.

Although Tulane lost just eight total starters, the biggest gaps to fill will be on offense with the departure of Forte to graduation and Anthony Scelfo, TU's starter at quarterback in eight games last season, to minor league baseball, while the Wave defense will have to replace two defensive linemen and two defensive backs lost to graduation.

With one season, two spring campaigns and two recruiting classes under his belt at Tulane, Toledo and his staff will look to build on last season's victories, near misses and late season success in 2008.

"We have a better understanding of our players, and they know what our expectations are as a staff," Toledo said. "We went into last season with a lot of question marks as a staff. Now we have a very good grasp of what we can and cannot do. Our goals each season are always the same: win a Conference USA Championship and represent Tulane in a bowl game. A particular goal we have for this year is to finish. We want to play every game until the last play and make sure we finish."

OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
For the second straight year, Tulane will enter fall camp with an untested quarterback. Last season, Scott Elliott (6-2, 210) opened fall drills as the starter and maintained that role for the first three games of the year before giving way to Anthony Scelfo. With Scelfo's departure to pursue a professional baseball career, the Green Wave's 2008 signal caller will once again be decided in a preseason battle.

Tulane returns two veteran quarterbacks in Elliott and sophomore Kevin Moore (6-5, 229), while redshirt freshman Joe Kemp (6-4, 210) will see the first action of his collegiate career in 2008.

Elliott is a three-year letterwinner who has played in 19 career games with six starts. His career numbers include 103 completions on 210 (.490) attempts for 1,154 yards and six touchdowns. In his three starts last season, he threw for almost 400 yards and two touchdowns, and concluded the year with 507 yards in six total appearances. He is the most experienced quarterback on Tulane's 2008 roster.

Moore did not start a game last season as a redshirt freshman, but did see action in eight contests and completed 30-of-54 attempts for 432 yards and two touchdowns. He finished with the highest quarterback rating (134.98) among TU's three quarterbacks that played last season, and he did not throw an interception. Moore put together a strong spring campaign and secured the starting spot on the depth chart entering fall camp. He is the tallest among TU's quarterbacking corps and has a strong arm.

Kemp spent last season running the scout team offense for Tulane's weekly opponents, but burst on the scene in the spring with an impressive overall performance and will enter the fall as the Green Wave's back-up quarterback. He is the second tallest quarterback on the roster and possesses a strong arm, but his quickness and speed is what differentiates him from the rest of the group.

The lone newcomer to the quarterback unit is highly-touted freshman Ryan Griffin (6-4, 211), who hails from Westlake Village, Calif. Griffin rated as the No. 21 prep quarterback by ESPN.com and was a member of Rivals.com's California Top 100 Team. During his final two seasons, he combined for 5,495 yards and 53 touchdowns against just 13 interceptions.

Running Backs
Perhaps the biggest shoes to fill in school history will be passed on to the starting running back of the 2008 season. Last year, Forte rushed for 2,127 yards and paced the Green Wave ground attack to 2,412 yards, which marked to the second most rushing yardage in school history. The do-it-all back also led the TU running backs in receptions with 32, which ranked as the second-most on the team.

The heir-apparent to Forte is junior Andre Anderson (6-0, 216), a two-year letterwinner who has played in 15 career games and has rushed 32 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Although Anderson has played in Forte's shadow the last two seasons, he proved he was capable of carrying the load in Toledo's offense with a solid spring camp. With just two healthy backs, Anderson earned most of the carries and showed no ill-effects in the spring game when he rushed 19 times for 136 yards and a touchdown. Last season in limited action, he played in nine games and finished third on the team in rushing with 14 carries for 91 yards and scored his lone touchdown of the season on an end-around against No. 2 LSU, and he notched the longest carry of his career with a 43-yard gallop vs. UTEP.

Backing up Anderson will be redshirt freshman J.T. McDonald (5-9, 216), who spent last season on the scout team and settled in as the backup in the spring.

A pair of newcomers will compete for playing time this fall, including Nathan Austin (6-1, 206) and Albert Williams (5-11, 190). Austin is a versatile player who hails from Lake Charles, La. As a senior, he saw time at running back, wide receiver and linebacker. He averaged 6.3 yards per rush with 641 yards and scored five touchdowns during his final prep season.

A native of Beaumont, Texas, Williams rushed for 1,336 yards, scored 16 touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 110 yards as a junior. He was rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com before suffering a season-ending knee injury midway through his senior year.

When Toledo took the reins of the Green Wave football program, he reintroduced the fullback to the offensive formations and promised the group would be utilized.

Last season, a trio of backs took turns leading the way for Tulane's high-octane rushing attack. All three fullbacks return this season and will continue to diversify the position in the offense.

After starting six of eight games last season, Jeremy McKinney (6-0, 207) was sidelined for several games with injuries last season, and those injuries also forced him to miss the entire spring campaign. When he was healthy a year ago, McKinney was used primarily as a blocker and receiver. He did not carry the ball but did record seven receptions for 45 yards, and scored a touchdown in the season opener against Mississippi State.

A pair of sophomores returns after playing significant time last season. Jordan Stephany (6-0, 248) and Cody Blackwelder (6-2, 224) enter fall camp as the Green Wave's starter and back-up, respectively.

Stephany is a returning letterwinner, who could see time as a running back as well this fall. During his rookie season, he played in nine games and rushed five times for 11 yards and caught three passes for 29 yards.

Blackwelder is also a returning letterwinner, but is a true fullback. He played in nine games as a freshman and earned two starts. He carried the ball twice for eight yards with both carries coming at SMU and caught his lone pass of the year at Rice for six yards.

The lone newcomer at fullback this season is Kasey Stelly (6-1, 231), who hails from Lafayette, La. Stelly ran for 125 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries and hauled in one pass for another seven yards through the air during his final prep season.

Receivers
Tulane returns all but one receiver from last season's squad, and appears to be one of the Green Wave's most experienced groups with five returning letterwinners, including three starters. TU's receiving unit combined for 114 receptions for 1,884 yards and nine touchdowns.

Leading the way is junior Jeremy Williams (6-1, 201), who led the Wave with 46 catches for 773 yards and five scores a year ago, and exploded in the spring game with a 34-yard touchdown reception, and he returned the opening kick-off 100-yards for a score. A freshman All-American in 2006, Williams is a two-year letterwinner and one-year starter who has played in 23 games with 12 starts. He owns receiving numbers of 86 receptions for 1,257 yards and seven touchdowns, and enters fall drills as the starter at flanker for the second straight season.

Backing up Williams will be senior Michael Batiste (6-3, 188), who secured the second spot in spring drills. Last season, Batiste played in all 12 games and earned one starting assignment. He is a two-year letterwinner who has played in 26 games with two career starts and has career numbers of 27 receptions for 363 yards and one touchdown. Last season, he hauled in 13 catches for 215 yards.

Senior Brian King (6-1, 188) returns to the Tulane line-up this fall as a starter at split end for the second straight year. King is a three-year letterwinner and returning starter who has played in 35 career games with 12 starts, and has career numbers of 61 receptions for 907 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, he started nine of 12 games at split end and finished third on the team in receptions (30), second for yards (446) and hauled in two touchdowns.

Junior Chris Dunn (6-2, 215) begins fall drills as the backup to King at split end. Dunn is a two-year letterwinner who has played in 24 games with three starts and his career receiving numbers include 19 receptions for 225 yards and one touchdown. Last season, Dunn caught four passes for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Looking to regain a foothold on valuable playing time and perhaps a starting spot is sophomore Casey Robottom (5-11, 178), who might be TU's most sure-handed receiver. Last year, Robottom started seven of 12 games and grabbed 11 passes for 182 yards and finished with the second-best average-per-catch (16.5) on the team.

A pair of underclassmen will continue their battle for a spot in the line-up when fall camp begins. Sophomore Alan Mitchell (6-3, 165) and redshirt freshman Taylor Echols (6-2, 180) both had productive spring campaigns. Mitchell has good speed and quickness, while Echols stood out last season on the scout team.

Also competing for playing time will be a pair of redshirt freshmen in Charles Gaspard (6-1, 173) and Chandler Davis (6-2, 177).

Tight Ends
The tight ends are another group that returns virtually intact. The Green Wave lost just one player to graduation and will have plenty of experience and depth to shore up any shortcomings well before the season begins.

Tulane returns two letterwinners in senior Justin Kessler (6-4, 251) and sophomore Tyler Helm (6-5, 242), while redshirt freshman Antoine Duplessis (6-3, 247) begins his first season of full time service in 2008. Making the move from the defensive side of the ball to tight end this season will be sophomore Cody Sparks (6-4, 232), while the lone newcomer to the group will be freshman Troy Wainwright (6-3, 230).

Kessler is three-year letterwinner who has played in 34 career games with three starts, and begins fall camp as the starter at tight end. Last season, he played in all 12 games with three starts and caught one pass for seven yards. Kessler is the team's primary blocking tight end.

Helm started four of 10 games played as a true freshman, and caught three passes for 18 yards, including a career-best 10-yard reception at East Carolina. He enters fall camp as the backup at tight end.

Duplessis is coming off an injury he sustained during preseason drills last August, but turned in a productive spring season. Sparks played his first 14 career games playing either on the defensive line or at linebacker, but will make the switch to offense this fall. Prior to Tulane, Sparks played split end during his prep career.

A native of Lake Charles, La., Wainwright played on both sides of the ball, but did catch 45 passes for 714 yards and 11 touchdowns during his final season as a tight end.

Offensive Line
One season after leading the charge for Forte's run into NCAA history with his 2,000-yard rushing performance, the Green Wave's offensive line returns four of five starters, and includes several key players who saw significant playing time last year. In all, the Wave returns nine letterwinners and one squad member and will feature three redshirt freshman and three newcomers that should once again pave the way for the Tulane offense.

Tulane's returning starters includes the senior tandem of Troy Kropog (6-6, 296) and Michael Parenton (6-2, 292), along with junior Tyler Rice (6-4, 302) and sophomore Andrew Nierman (6-1, 294). The lone loss from last year's offensive line was center Aryan Barto to graduation.

Tulane's left side of the line is sold with a pair of all-conference performers in Kropog and Parenton. Kropog is a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter who has played in 31 games with 25 starts and retained his role as the starting left tackle entering fall camp. Last season, he started 11 games, missing one game due to a shoulder injury.

Backing up Kropog will be junior Travis Olexa (6-4, 304), who is two-year letterwinner and has played in seven career games with one start. Last season, he appeared in four games and earned a start at UAB in Kropog's absence.

A three-time All C-USA performer, Parenton is perhaps Tulane's most versatile player on the offensive line. He spent time as a right tackle during his freshman season, played every game at center as a sophomore and started every game as a junior at right guard. This season, he enters fall camp as the starter at left guard where he spent the majority of spring drills. Parenton is a three-year letterwinner and starter who has started 34 of 37 career games.

Playing behind Parenton will be sophomore Oscar Ponce de Leon (6-2, 314), who sat out last season after making the transition from the offensive line from the defensive line where he played as a true freshman in 2006.

Another player on the move on the offensive line is Nierman, who settled into the center position after holding down the left guard spot during his true freshman campaign. He started every game and earned Freshman All-America honors by The Sporting News, and was named to the All C-USA Freshman Team.

After a lengthy battle to find a backup center during the spring season, redshirt freshman Joey Ray (6-2, 304) emerged as the team's No. 2 snapper.

Rice played in every game last season, but proved to be a key asset when injuries beset the offensive line and he was forced into a starting role at SMU. He played well enough in the overtime win and started the next four straight games. Rice continued his steady play in spring drills and locked down the starting spot at right guard.

A mainstay on Tulane's special team field goal and PAT units, junior John Landa (6-3, 318) worked his way into a back-up role at right guard during the spring campaign. He is a two-year letterwinner who has played in 16 career games.

The battle for the right tackle position has been ongoing for a year with junior Nick Landry (6-7, 288) and sophomore Pete Hendrickson (6-7, 280) fighting for more than just playing time. However, Landry will get the nod as the starter entering the fall camp.

Landry is a two-year letterwinner who has played in 19 career games with two starts. Last season, he saw action in 11 games and earned starts at UAB and East Carolina. Hendrickson started the first two games of the season at right tackle, but injuries limited him to five total games.

Sophomore Kevin Leary (6-2, 292) will look to make a push for playing time, as will a pair of redshirt freshmen including Andrew Higgins (6-3, 270) and Duke Krause (6-5, 310), while three newcomers will look to break into the rotation, including Harris Howard (6-4, 288), Eric Jones (6-6, 290) and Rafael Vazquez (6-5, 321).

A native of Alpharetta, Ga., Howard was a three-year letterman and saw time along the offensive and defensive lines, and was ranked No. 74 offensive guard by Scout.com. He posted 92 pancake blocks during his prep career.

Jones comes to Tulane from Hoover, Ala., where he was a four-year letterman and rated as the No. 91 offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN.com and No. 106 by Scout.com.

Vazquez, who hails from Orlando, Fla., was a three-year letterman where he saw action at offensive guard, offensive tackle and defensive tackle, and was ranked as the No. 83 offensive guard by Scout.com.

DEFENSE
Tulane's defense made large strides in 2007 and will be under the leadership of first-year coordinator, O'Neill Gilbert, who spent last season coaching the Wave's defensive line. TU returns 21 letterwinners, including seven starters, for the 2008 campaign and will have six redshirt freshmen to fight for playing time and provide depth. The Green Wave signed 11 defensive newcomers during the national signing day for high school players last spring.

Last season, TU's defensive unit improved from the ninth-best team in Conference USA in rushing defense in 2006 to the league leader in the same category in 2007. The Green Wave also ranked third in total sacks and was fourth in total defense among C-USA teams last season.

Defensive Line
A big reason for last year's defensive success was in the trenches, where TU's defensive linemen combined for 212 tackles (122 solo) and 26 of the team's 28 quarterback sacks. However, the group lost two starters-- Antonio Harris and Avery Williams-- and Frank Morton a top reserve, to graduation, while Sean Carney was lost to injury.

The Wave returns two starters to the defensive line, but will fill in the gaps with six returning letterwinners, three redshirt freshmen and four newcomers.

Leading the way is a pair of solid bookends for the Green Wave in senior Reggie Scott (6-4, 270) and junior Adam Kwentua (6-3, 259).

Scott is a two-year letterwinner and returning starter, who has played in 21 career games with 12 starts despite several injuries. An all-conference performer a year ago, Scott enters fall camp as the starter at left defensive end. Last season, he started all 12 games at left end and accounted for 27 tackles (18 solo), including nine stops for lost yardage, four sacks, three forced fumbles and was responsible for two PBUs.

Kwentua missed the spring campaign with injuries, but started 10 of 12 games and notched 20 tackles (16 solo), including five tackles for minus 30 yards and four sacks for minus 29 yards. He is a two-year letterwinner and returning starter who has played in 24 career games with 10 starts.

Backing up Scott on the left side will be junior Troy Wilson (6-2, 237), a two-year letterwinner who has played in 22 career games with one start. Last season, Wilson played in 11 games and earned his first collegiate start at strongside linebacker against No. 2 LSU. He completed the season with four tackles.

Junior Logan Kelley (6-2, 237) will enter fall camp behind Kwentua on the right side. During his sophomore campaign, Kelley played in 11 games and was very productive with 17 tackles (12 solo), five takedowns for minus 28 yards, three quarterback sacks and one forced fumble and recovery. He is a two-year letterwinner who has played in 22 career games.

Dissecting the middle of the Tulane defense will be tough for opponents with three returning lettermen, including senior Julian Shives-Sams (6-3, 291) and sophomore Justin Adams (5-11, 259) at nose tackle and sophomore Tony Bryant (6-3, 261) at the defensive tackle spot.

Shives-Sams, who earned the starting nod at nose tackle in the spring, is a two-year letterwinner who has played in 30 career games with one start. Last season, he saw action in 10 games and contributed nine tackles, including two takedowns for lost yardage.

Adams made an immediate impact a year ago and was rewarded with playing time as a true freshman. He saw action in 11 games and produced 14 tackles (7 solo), including a half tackle for lost yardage and a half sack.

Manning the defensive tackle spot will be Bryant, a returning letterwinner who emerged from spring drills as the starter. He saw action in seven games last season.

Redshirt freshman Cedric Wilson (6-2, 265) is the lone newcomer to the rotation after he battled his way into the backup role behind Bryant heading into fall camp.

Tulane's returners will be pushed by an influx of talent almost immediately as the redshirt freshmen duo of defensive end Brooks Cunningham (6-2, 236) and defensive tackle Josh Smith (6-2, 240) will compete for playing time.

The Green Wave coaching staff bolstered its loss on the front lines with the signing of four newcomers, including Chris Asumnu (6-1, 271), Emmanuel Aluko (6-3, 280), Rich Bell (6-1, 270) and Casey Blum (6-2, 245).

Asumnu and Aluko are a pair of Houston natives from Alief Elsik High School. Asumnu was a three-year letterman who played on both the offensive and defensive lines. He posted 84 tackles, including 34 tackles for loss and seven sacks during his senior campaign. Aluko also spent time on both the offensive and defensive lines. During his senior campaign, he amassed 86 tackles, including a single-game high of 16, six sacks and three forced fumbles.

A native of Menden, Mass., Bell was a five-year letterman and saw time at center and nose guard. He accounted for 126 tackles during his final two prep seasons and was rated the No. 22 prep center by ESPN.com and No. 30 by Scout.com, and was the No. 9 rated prospect in Connecticut according to Rivals.com.

Blum comes to Tulane from Moorpark, Calif., where he was a three-year letterman at Moorpark High and saw time at both tight end and defensive end. On the defensive side of the ball during his senior campaign, he registered 78 tackles, including 20 for loss and eight sacks.

Linebackers
The Tulane linebacking corps is perhaps the deepest and most talented group with seven returning letterwinners, including four players who earned starting assignments a year ago, two redshirt freshmen and three newcomers. The position did not lose a player and was actually bolstered during the spring with addition of senior David Skehan (6-0, 222), who started 21 of his last 24 games at safety.

Tulane's linebackers now boast the team's top two tackles leaders from the last two seasons. Skehan led the team with 80 in 2006, while senior Evan Lee (6-1, 230) registered a team high 99 stops last year.

Heading up the group at middle linebacker is junior David Kirksey (6-1, 220), who edged out Lee during the spring for the starting spot heading into fall camp. Last season, Kirksey started six of 10 games, including five games at strongside linebacker, while lining up at weakside backer vs. Southeastern Louisiana. He accounted for 27 tackles (17 solo) and two stops for lost yardage.

Lee and Kirksey will battle for the starting position once again during fall drills. Lee started all 12 games and was a force for the Green Wave in the middle a year ago, and received honorable mention All C-USA honors after he finished ninth among C-USA players in total tackles.

Skehan proved to be a natural fit at linebacker during the spring and enters the fall as the starter at strongside position. Last season, he started 11 of 12 games and was an honorable mention All-Conference USA selection after leading the team in interceptions for the second straight season with four, and was fourth on the team in tackles with 66, giving him 165 stops over the last seasons.

Backing up Skehan will be senior Jordan Ellis (6-1, 216), who has played in 23 games over the last two seasons. He played in all 12 contests a year ago with four starts and was credited with 22 stops.

Holding down the starting position on the weakside will be junior Travis Burks (6-0, 215), who made the move from defensive back to linebacker during the 2007 spring season. Last fall, he played in 11 games and accounted for 20 tackles. He fought his way into a starting role with a productive spring showing.

A starter in six of his nine games played last season, senior James Dillard (6-2, 227) missed the spring season with an injury, but enters fall camp as the backup to Burks. Last season, Dillard was responsible for 39 tackles, including 16 stops in the season opener vs. Mississippi State.

One of the best attributes of this year's linebackers is that the group is interchangeable, which gives the Green Wave ample versatility with the position.

Several players will be fighting for playing time this fall, including returning letterwinner James McMurchy (6-1, 226), who played in 10 games a year ago, along with a pair of redshirt freshmen in Logan CoBell (5-10, 222) and Adam Podet (5-10, 212).

David Allen (6-2, 200), Darryl Farley (5-11, 228) and Sule Osagiede (6-0, 190) are a trio of newcomers who will each figure to come in and challenge for playing time.

Allen was a four-year letterman at South Pasadena (Calif.) High where he saw action at fullback, tight end and linebacker, and accounted for 145 tackles, tallied three sacks and picked off a pass on defense and hauled in 19 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 35 times for 124 yards and six scores as a senior.

Farley, who was a four-year letterman at Atlanta's Grady High School where he played both running back and linebacker, rated the No. 53 middle linebacker in the nation by Scout.com and No. 79 inside linebacker by ESPN.com. He posted 95 tackles, five sacks and two blocked punts, and finished 10 touchdowns on the ground as the team's second-leading rusher.

Another two-way player in high school among the group is Osagiede who was a four-year letterman at Houston's Lamar Consolidated High School where he played linebacker and fullback. He tallied 111 tackles as a senior and led his team to a combined 37-4 record during his final three prep seasons.

Defensive Backs
Tulane's secondary is another position with questions entering fall camp. The Green Wave lost the services of Joe Goosby, Carlis Jackson and Louis Thomas to graduation, and also lost Skehan with his move to linebacker. TU returns seven letterwinners, two players who sat out last season and will feature three newcomers. The secondary will be one position where a newcomer may have the opportunity to compete for playing time right away.

Holding down the right cornerback spot is senior Josh Lumar (5-10, 179), the Wave's most experience player in the defensive backfield. Lumar, who has played in 34 career games, started 10 of 12 contests during his junior year and finished third on the team in tackles with 73 and was second for interceptions with two, and was responsible for 13 pass breakups.

Redshirt freshman Dominique Dade (5-9, 183) is a versatile player who can play either cornerback or safety. He is the backup behind Lumar at cornerback and is also the backup at free safety entering fall camp.

On the left side will be sophomore Phillip Davis (5-10, 164), who earned the starting nod coming out of the spring campaign. Last season, Davis played in 11 games with four starts, and registered 32 tackles and two pass breakups.

Junior Charles Harris (6-3, 178) is the No. 2 cornerback behind Davis. A year ago, Harris started two of seven games and responded with 11 tackles, including one stop for lost yardage, and three pass breakups.

A pair of players will be pushing for playing time this fall, including junior Matt Harding (5-10, 171), a speedster who played in 11 games and posted 14 tackles last season, and sophomore Alex Wacha (6-0, 182), who suffered a season-ending injury during fall camp and was forced to sit out the 2007 campaign. Wacha played in 10 games and earned one start during his freshman year in 2006.

The Green Wave's safeties will be an area the team will look to add depth during fall drills. Tulane returns just three players, none of which started more than three games last season.

TU's most experienced returner is junior Chinonso Echebelem (6-1, 201), who started three of 12 games and ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 61, and also notched one interception and three forced fumbles. Despite missing the spring with a back injury, Echebelem enters the fall as the starter at free safety.

Junior Corey Sonnier (5-10, 190) did not start a game last season, but played well enough this past spring to nail down the starting spot at strong safety. Sonnier played in nine contests during his sophomore year.

Backing up Sonnier will be sophomore Devin Holland (6-0, 196), an All C-USA Freshman Team performer as a true freshman in 2007. Holland played in 10 games with one start and recorded 24 tackles.

The freshmen trio of Ian Harson (5-11, 175), Alex Lauricella (6-0, 180) and Kristofar Rhymes (6-0, 200) will look to break into the rotation this fall at either the cornerback or safety positions.

Harson is a versatile player who was a four-year letterman at Iowa (La.) High School where he saw action as at wide receiver, defensive back and return specialist and helped the Yellow Jackets to a combined 31-10 record.

A standout at nearby John Curtis High School, Lauricella led the Patriots to a combined 60-3 record, including three 2A State Championships, and posted five interceptions along with added 43 tackles.

Rhymes was a three-year letterman at Houston's Lamar Consolidated and Thurgood Marshall High School, where he saw time at running back, tight end, linebacker and strong safety, and was rated No. 84 safety in the nation by Scout.com. He registered 49 tackles and a pair of pass breakups as a senior.

Special Teams
Tulane's special teams play should be in good hands this season with the return of its punter, place kicker and deep snapper. The lone loss to the group was Scelfo, who handled the holding duties on field goal and point after attempts for the past two seasons.

Heading up the Green Wave's place kicking duties for the third straight year will be junior Ross Thevenot (6-0, 182). Last season, Thevenot played in all 12 games and converted 13-of-18 field goals, and nailed all 34 PATs. He connected on 6-of-8 field goal attempts on the year inside the Superdome, and was a perfect 4-of-4 on his attempts from 40+ yards.

Sophomore Darren deRochemont (5-9, 193) shared punting duties to open the season with Thevenot, but eventually settled into the role. DeRochemont played in 10 games and punted 30 times for 1,162 yards for an average of 38.7. He placed nine punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line and recorded a career-best 57-yard punt at SMU. DeRochemont also handled kickoff duties in seven games, averaging 56.6 yards on 31 kickoffs.

One of the most dependable players on the team is senior deep snapper Craig Gelhardt (6-3, 239), who has played in all 35 games during his career and enters his final season at Tulane as a two-time All C-USA performer. Last season, Gelhart played in all 12 games and was once again the primary deep snapper for punts and place kicks.

Handling kickoff return duties this season will be Jeremy Williams and Travis Burks, each of whom enter their first season as full-time returners. Williams gave TU fans a glimpse of his ability when he returned the opening kickoff in the spring game 100 yards for a touchdown.

Aside from playing either cornerback or safety, Dominique Dade will also hold down punt return duties for the Green Wave during his first playing season.