Tulane QB Injured Ahead of Season Opener Against Northwestern
Tulane is still undecided on its starting quarterback for the upcoming season opener against Northwestern. Meanwhile, Northwestern has already named SMU transfer Preston Stone as its Week 1 starter. Head coach David Braun confirmed Stone as the Wildcats’ leader at Big Ten Media Days, and the powerful-armed QB will aim to bring more explosiveness to the team.
In contrast, Tulane’s starting QB position remains up for grabs. The Green Wave brought in four transfer quarterbacks this offseason: redshirt sophomore Kadin Semonza (Ball State), redshirt junior Donovan Leary (Illinois), graduate student Brendan Sullivan (Iowa), and late addition Jake Retzlaff (BYU).
Retzlaff, who helped lead BYU to an 11-2 record last season, is considered the most talented passer, but having only joined Tulane in late July, he might not be fully integrated into the system in time for the opener. As a result, Sullivan, who has past experience at Northwestern (2021-2023), was seen as the likely candidate to start.
However, Sullivan’s chances took a hit on Thursday when he sustained a lower leg injury during practice. According to Tulane reporter Guerry Smith of The Times-Picayune, Sullivan limped off the field after a goal-line drill and was later diagnosed with a bone bruise and ankle sprain. Fortunately, surgery is not required.
Sullivan is expected to miss at least a week of action, though head coach Jon Sumrall was unsure if he would be healthy enough to play in the season opener. “It’s tough for him because he’s had a great camp and performed at a high level,” Sumrall said. “But we’re doing what’s best for him in the long run.” If Sullivan is unavailable, Retzlaff and Semonza are expected to take the lead during Tulane’s scrimmage on Saturday.
Tulane started the 2024 season with a 9-2 record but ended the year on a three-game losing streak, including losses in the American Championship and the Gasparilla Bowl. Starting QB Darian Mensah transferred to Duke, while backup Ty Thompson switched to tight end during the spring.
Sullivan, who made 13 appearances at Northwestern, completed 68.7% of his passes for 1,303 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. He transferred to Iowa in 2024, where he led the Hawkeyes to a 40-14 win over Northwestern and a Music City Bowl appearance.
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