The Tulane Green Wave looks to be very strong in the trenches, but one thing could lead to that unraveling

Tulane Green Wave Offensive Line Could Be Best Program Has Had, With One Caveat

The Tulane Green Wave has introduced many new players on offense this season. With 2023 AAC Player of the Year, quarterback Michael Pratt, now playing for the Green Bay Packers, there have been significant changes in the skill positions as well.

The wide receiver corps has lost key contributors, including graduates Lawrence Keys and Jha’Quan Jackson, and Chris Brazzell, who transferred to Tennessee. While Tulane has effectively used the transfer portal to replace some of that talent, uncertainties remain regarding the passing game’s performance.

To start the season, there is no clarity on who will be the starting quarterback for the opener against Southeastern Louisiana. However, one definite strength of the offense lies in the offensive line.

Regardless of who is at quarterback, they will be protected by an experienced offensive line. The Green Wave made significant additions via the transfer portal, bringing in left tackle Derrick Graham and center Vincent Murphy.

Graham previously played under new head coach Jon Sumrall at Troy, and both players are excited to reunite on the field. Vincent is familiar with the strong program Sumrall established at Troy from his time at Western Kentucky, where he played against them.

The rest of the starting offensive line includes Shadre Hurst at left guard, Josh Remetich at right guard, and Rashad Green at right tackle, with Caleb Thomas as the top interior backup. Sumrall has expressed strong confidence in this unit.

“I like our O-line. Somebody showed me a stat that they are among the top 10 in the nation for career starts in college,” Sumrall said, according to Guerry Smith of NOLA.com.

Experience is a major asset for this group, as the top six offensive linemen collectively have 132 starts in college, with five of them in at least their fifth year of play. The Green Wave field a line filled with seasoned players, potentially facing opponents significantly younger than them. Guerry believes this could be Tulane’s best offensive line in years, but warns that injuries could severely impact their performance.

“If the group stays healthy, this should be Tulane’s best blocking unit in a long time… However, if a starting tackle gets hurt, or if there are multiple injuries, things could change fast. Except for Thomas, all eight scholarship backups are true freshmen or redshirt freshmen. While coaches appreciate their potential, they need more time to develop,” Smith noted.

Should an injury occur on the offensive line, particularly not on the interior, Sumrall may need to alter his game plan. Inserting an unprepared freshman or redshirt freshman would pose significant challenges.

For now, Tulane is expected to rely on their strength in the trenches and star running back Makhi Hughes as they sort out the quarterback situation and develop their passing game.