Spring Game Saturday
Tulane will hold its final scrimmage and practice of the semester, 10:00 am, Yulman Stadium
Good morning, Green Wave fans. We have made it to the end of spring practice and our squad wraps up today with this morning’s 10:00 a.m. spring game, which is of course will be held at Yulman Stadium and is open to the public. John Burrows attended last Saturday’s scrimmage, and has written the below detailed-report for all of you. We hope that this serves as an excellent primer for everyone heading uptown to attend, this morning. There are so many exciting new names and faces to learn.
Be on the lookout soon for our subscribers-only website and an exciting new line of merchandise, in a partnership with our wonderful friends at Campus Connection!
Have a great Saturday, and Roll Wave!
-Jake
The Burrows Report: Scrimmage #2
If you head out to Yulman, this morning, one day, you can say you were there for Coach Sumrall’s first spring game at Tulane. I know that I’m excited. I hope to see y’all, there!
Scrimmage Risers:
Makhi Hughes (RB, R-So.): I’m convinced that Makhi Hughes has gotten way better, which says a lot. On the first drive of the day, the offense was in a 3rd and about 15 at midfield when Joe Craddock called on Hughes for a draw. Hughes went on to break three tackles before easily winning a foot race to the endzone. After practice last week, he told me that he felt like he had gained a lot of speed over the summer, which was clearly evident by this breakaway run.
Shazz Preston (WR, So.): Shazz Preston has a real chance to be the best receiver ever to put on a Tulane uniform when it’s all said and done. After Chris Brazzell transferred to Tennessee last December, Tulane had a need at receiver. After adding Shazz Preston among others, receiver looks to be the deepest position on offense, with Preston as the number one option. During the scrimmage, Preston caught a short out route in traffic on the left sideline, and before I knew it, he was racing down the field alone. Preston is explosive on every level. What I mean by that is that he is capable of taking the top off of a defense but also capable of turning a shorter route into a big play after the catch. I have a feeling that Preston will introduce himself in a big way to the Tulane fanbase during the spring game.
Shaun Nicholas (WR, Fr.): It absolutely blows my mind that Shaun Nicholas should still be taking high school classes right now. The early enrollee continues to show flashes of greatness, using his 6’4” frame to go up and make plays on the ball against more experienced defenders. On the first play of seven-on-seven before the scrimmage began, Nicholas snagged a ball with just one hand deep down the right sideline as his other hand was being interfered with. I’m buying all the Shaun Nicholas stock I can before it becomes too expensive.
Makai Williams (LB, So.): Makai Williams spent the entire scrimmage blowing up plays before they could develop and being an overall nuisance to anyone lined up on offense. While Williams only recorded two tackles last season, I expect a significant increase in playing time for him this year. At one point during the scrimmage, Williams recorded two sacks in just five plays.
Jack Tchienchou (S, Fr.): Jack Tchienchou is one of the players who followed Coach Sumrall from Troy and has stood out to me as both a leader and a playmaker. Jack’s energy is contagious. He’s constantly making plays, exchanging words with the offense, hyping up his teammates when they make plays, and making difficult tackles in the box look routine. While Jalen Geiger and Bailey “Slim” Despanie will likely be the two starting safeties, I would be shocked if Tchienchou didn’t receive significant playing time.
Kevin Adams III (S, So.): Kevin Adams had a great scrimmage. I think our safety room is the deepest group on defense at this point in camp. Early in the day, Adams made a diving effort to intercept Ty Thompson on a batted pass. The very next play, Adams jumped a checkdown for a clean pass breakup. Make sure to keep an eye on Adams in this morning’s spring game to see if his hot streak can continue.