The Tulane Green Wave football team is experiencing significant roster turnover, the highest in four years. The players who are leaving brought invaluable experience gained from overcoming challenges in college football.
Following the first practice of spring camp, Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall addressed reporters and, although he’s only in his second year at the helm, he recognized the importance of losing leadership and veteran players.
“There’s a lot of change,” Sumrall said. “It’s exciting and fun, but it’s also a bit scary with some uncertainty. It’s enjoyable to see the guys energized. By the time we get to week seven or eight of the offseason program, you start wondering when we’ll get to practice football. I like what we have in several areas. We have a long way to go, but it’s a solid start.”
On the field, Sumrall believes the team has improved, especially with the defensive players acquired through the transfer portal. This is quite different from the previous season when five defensive starters joined the team in June right before the opening game.
However, the team is younger this year and lacks many proven starters from the last season.
Many of the seniors who departed after the 2024 season had been with the team since the rough 2-10 season. They learned what was necessary to achieve the largest single-season turnaround in college football history and recognized the progress toward leaving a two-win season behind.
Wide receiver Bryce Bohanon remains as one of the few veterans, and Sumrall highlighted him as a key figure in fostering a player-led team.
“Bryce Bohanon is a remarkable leader,” Sumrall stated. “Shadre Hurst is also a fantastic leader. We’ve added some newcomers who are natural leaders too. Offensively, Maurice Turner stands out as very mature. I joked with our staff that Maurice might be more mature than half the coaches. He’s a real standout. Defensively, Sam Howard, despite being new, along with Slim Despanie, both exemplify proven leadership. I’ve seen Adonis Friloux take steps forward this offseason and lose some weight, though he could still improve further.”
All eyes will be on the quarterback position, as natural leaders often excel in that role, but a strong overall team presence could relieve some of the pressure on the competitors.
The positive culture established last season continues to thrive, which has been fundamental to the success of the Green Wave program over the past four years. As the players have fully embraced this culture, it will be crucial to observe who steps up as leaders to guide the team through challenging times.
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