Spring Practice: Week Two Wrap-Up
Tulane heads into spring break healthy, looking to build on progress
Tulane Football wrapped up its second week of spring practice, yesterday. The Wave now head into spring break with ten (10) more practices to go, once the calendar turns to April. I encourage everyone to mark their calendars for the Spring Game, which will be held on April 20 at Yulman Stadium, and is open to the public.
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Here’s John Burrows’ report after attending each session during the second week of spring practice:
The Burrows Report: Emerging Team Leaders
It’s no secret that Tulane is losing multiple star players to the NFL for the second consecutive season, a sign of a healthy program. Because of this, spring provides the opportunity for new leaders to emerge. During the second week of practice, I paid particular attention to which players took it upon themselves to be more vocal. Below are the players that have caught my attention.
Emerging Team Leaders
Kai Horton (QB, R-Jr.): For the second week in a row, I was impressed by Kai Horton. From my experience, Kai is more humble and reserved off the field, always saying and doing what you want from your quarterback. As soon as he steps on the field, however, he becomes an entirely different person, and I mean that in the best way possible. Kai is extremely confident but not arrogant. He knows how to light a fire under the team when needed and is one of the most competitive athletes I have ever been around. He understands the playbook and makes frequent checks at the line of scrimmage, even in seven-on-seven. Expect Kai to make a substantial jump this season, if/when called upon.
Mario Williams (WR, Jr.): Mario Williams is what I like to call a “fire starter.” You can hear him even before he walks onto the field, and he remains vocal throughout the entire practice. He loves to compete and is equally excited to see his teammates compete. Whenever another receiver makes a play, he’s always the first to celebrate with them, and when he feels like enough plays aren’t being made, he makes it known. He picks up his teammates when they fall and lifts them when they succeed.
Yulkeith Brown (WR, Sr.): Yulkeith Brown played his first season at Tulane last year after transferring from Texas A&M, but has fit right into the team’s culture. Even more so, I would say he is a big reason why the team’s culture is what it is, today. He has pulled guys over to the side during drills multiple times to coach them up and leads by example.
Jack Tchienchou (S, Fr.): I’m not sure if I have been more impressed by a player than Jack Tchienchou, partially because he’s only a freshman. Jack spent this season at Troy with Coach Jon Sumrall, which may be part of the reason he’s so comfortable, but Jack has also easily been the most vocal on defense. Even better, he makes plays. Jack Tchienchou has a nose for the football and his is a name you’ll want to remember.
Bailey “Slim” Despanie (S, R-Jr.): Slim had a great season last year and has stepped up as a leader this spring. He’s calling things out pre-snap and is one of the more vocal players while on the sideline. I am still waiting to see who jumps out in the front seven, although it is still early in the season. The secondary, however, seems to have its early captains.
Jake’s Notes: One of the great things about the spring is that there are competitions within most, if not all, position groups. Tulane enjoys and has enjoyed depth that didn’t exist here in 2003 or 2011, or even 2019. There are multiple starting-caliber players fighting for spots, across the board. For example, Jack Tchienchou, Kevin Adams, Bailey Despanie, and Jalen Geiger, just to name a few, are in a fierce competition at safety.
On Monday, Coach Sumrall re-affirmed that all three of Ty Thompson, Kai Horton, and Darian Mensah are in the mix at quarterback, and cautioned strongly against sleeping on any member in that group. Mensah has clearly made strides from last August, and Thompson looks healthy after he suffered a minor foot injury that was followed by a clean-up procedure, earlier this spring.