2025 College Football Preview by The Advocate

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Brian Kelly

feels confident about LSU’s football team this season, and he explains why

BY WILSON ALEXANDER | Staff writer

Brian Kelly began feeling confident in LSU’s team this season before he ever watched a practice.

Sitting in his office before spring football began, Kelly said that if the players prepare the way they need to and do the right things throughout the course of a game, LSU is capable of winning the Southeastern Conference.

Kelly said at the time “regardless of how we played the game before, we would have needed help” to win, such as a lucky bounce or a fortunate call. He recognized that LSU did not have a good enough team to compete for a championship.

But now, Kelly believes that the Tigers can contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Explaining where the confidence came from, he said early in preseason camp that three years of teaching the players how he wants them to prepare, combined with improvements to the roster, can put LSU in contention.

“I was able to watch enough film of the guys that we brought in and spend enough time with them individually that I knew they were going to fit in terms of what our expectations were for them,” Kelly said.

“I think we were very intentional about the personalities that we were looking for. I could have been, clearly, more confident after the fact if I watched them practice, but I just felt so sure that we made the right decisions on these guys.”

Kelly has watched practice now, and he feels the same way he did months ago.

“When you know that you’re preparing your team the right way over a matter of months and years, that brings on a confidence,” Kelly said. “And then, when we addressed our shortcom ings within our roster, it wasn’t just about confidence in preparation. It was confidence in preparation, and we have a roster. It’s those two things coming together.”

Now entering his fourth season, Kelly needs everything to come together. He quickly turned around a team that went 11-12 over the final two years of the Ed Orgeron era, reaching the SEC championship game in his first year, but he has not taken LSU to the playoff. Kelly has a 29-11 record through three years. His three predecessors all won national champion ships by their fourth season.

In the midst of a 9-4 season last year, LSU began preparing to revamp the roster in the hopes of making a playoff run. It persuaded top donors to give more money for name, image and likeness pay ments, and the Tigers frontloaded deals ahead of the beginning of revenue sharing in July.

The money helped LSU retain key players and sign the No. 1 transfer portal class in the country, according to 247Sports. The highest percentage of the funds went toward player retention. Starters such as quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, running back Caden Durham and linebacker Whit Weeks, Kelly said, “are not free.”

“Clearly, whether you believe it or not, their agents are getting hit up by other schools saying, ‘We can give you X,’ ” Kelly said. “You have to protect your roster, too.”

LSU combined those returning players with 18 transfers, many of whom are expected to make an immediate impact. The transfers have a combined 262 career starts, and all but two of them played for another power conference team last season.

Throughout the offseason, Kelly has said LSU now has the best roster of his tenure because of its depth and high-level talent. Kelly used preseason position battles as an example, saying “we haven’t had that competition, quite frankly.”

And so he has not been shy about publicly hyping his team.

“I think it’s time, when you know that you’ve done the things necessary to prepare your team for a championship run, to let them know about it,”

Kelly said. “They listen to it more than anybody else. And sometimes, you don’t get a chance to articulate those things enough so your kids can hear what you think about them. I want them to hear what I thought.”

Many players agree with Kelly’s assessment of the talent level.

“It’s definitely the closest team I’ve been on at LSU, as far as a brotherhood standpoint,” Nussmeier said, “and obviously the most talented team as well.”

In the past, senior linebacker West Weeks said, offensive and defensive players mostly hung out with teammates on their side of the ball. There was a separation, which could be expected with such a large team. But he said that changed this year as some of the returning players, including Nussmeier and the Weeks brothers, helped recruit the transfers.

Team leaders joined the dinners when transfers took official visits, then brought the players back to their house to get to know one another. That had not happened before, West Weeks said. He thought there was a real benefit. Once the transfers signed with LSU, they already had a bond with their new teammates.

“I think it was pretty natural, and it kind of started when we were recruiting all those guys trying to get them here,” West Weeks said. “Everybody knew what pieces we needed, so we knew we

had to get those dudes. Trying to get them here in the wintertime, and then having them get here, it was already a natural connection and grew from there.”

Since then, LSU’s players say they have spent a lot of time together outside the facility. They played paintball one day and bowled at Surge Entertainment. Redshirt junior Bo Bordelon took some of his fellow offensive linemen on an alligator tour. Nussmeier brought the offensive line to Walk-On’s before fall camp, and they stuck him with an $800 bill.

the 2024 Texas Bowl.

“The mentality of this team is completely different than any other team that we had,” Guillory said.

There are screens throughout the football operations building that say “1-0” on them, visual reminders of the first goal LSU has this year. Trying to keep players focused on the task in front of them, Kelly even changed what the schedule on a wall in the team room looks like.

In the past, LSU listed every game ahead of the season, including the playoff sites and the national championship. But near the beginning of preseason camp, it took down everything except Clemson. The opponents will be uncovered weekby-week throughout the year. If LSU can get to the end, it would have a title to play

It all starts with the opener Aug. 30 against Clem son, the first time LSU has started the season with a top 10 matchup in a true road game. LSU has focused on the game throughout the offseason after five straight season-opening losses. Redshirt se nior defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory said the team began talking about it in January after

“We knew what the goal was,” West Weeks said. “That’s to be playing on

When you know that you’re preparing your team the right way over a matter of months and years, that brings on a confidence.

With Nussmeier’s return, LSU offense aims for consistency SOMETHING TO PROVE

BY KOKI RILEY | Staff writer

The decision for Garrett Nussmeier to return to LSU in 2025 boiled down to one thing.

Consistency.

“I feel like the product that I put out there for my teammates and for these coaches who have spent so much time on me, I feel like it wasn’t as consistent as I wanted it to be,” Nussmeier said in December. “And I feel like that there’s a whole other level that I could tap into.”

Nussmeier, the fifth-year senior quarterback who is entering his second season as the starter, played well in his first campaign as the leader of the offense last fall. He threw for over 4,000 yards, completed 64.2% of his passes and had nearly 30 touchdowns.

But his greatness only came in flashes. He also had 12 interceptions and failed to utilize his legs in situations where he needed to call his number.

“I don’t want to show flashes,” Nussmeier said. “... I think that this first year for me was a huge growth year and just kind of learning who I am as a player.”

Nussmeier returns to a program that’s shown an immaculate recent track record of developing quarterbacks as they enter their second year as starters. Joe Burrow in 2019 won a national championship. Jayden Daniels in 2023 put up historic numbers and, like Burrow, won the Heisman Trophy.

If Nussmeier can even come close to repli cating the success of Burrow and Daniels, LSU’s offense will have a chance of reach ing the highs of those two historic sea sons. The Tigers’ activity in the transfer portal, along with some key returning pieces, should allow him and the attack to flourish in 2025.

Quarterback

A case could be made that Nussmeier is the best quar terback in college football heading into this season. Few signal callers in the na tion possess the arm talent, confidence and accuracy that he has.

Backing up Nussmei er is another quarter back who started SEC games a year ago, Michael Van Buren. Now a sophomore, Van Buren trans-

ferred to LSU from Mississippi State over the winter after throwing for 1,886 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games.

Redshirt freshman Colin Hurley is the lone scholarship quarterback behind Van Buren. The Florida native has been a full participant in preseason practices after he was involved in a serious car crash in January.

Running back

Sophomore Caden Durham returns as the Tigers’ lead back. Last fall, he surpassed multiple veterans en route to earning a starting role. He had 753 rushing yards on a team-high 140 attempts as a freshman.

With veterans John Emery and Josh Williams no longer in the room, junior Kaleb Jackson will need to play a larger part in the backfield after struggling in limited action last season. Jackson flashed potential as a freshman but only averaged 3.4 yards per rush in 2024.

Competing with Jackson for reps will likely be freshmen Harlem Berry and JT Lindsey. Berry was one of LSU’s most heralded prospects, arriving in Baton Rouge as the No. 1 running back in the nation and a five-star recruit, per the 247Sports Composite. The Tigers’ fifth running back is on track to be sophomore Ju’Juan Johnson. After starting last year as a safety, Johnson transitioned to running back in Week 2 and has also worked at wide receiver and quarterback this preseason.

LSU’s wideout room features a strong blend of returning experience, youth and transfers who have the chance of making an immediate impact.

Redshirt junior Aaron Anderson, fifth-year senior Chris Hilton and senior Zavion Thomas are back for what will likely be their final seasons at LSU. Anderson led the Tigers in receptions a year ago, Hilton has the athleticism to be a difference maker, and Thomas’ speed makes him a useful weapon on offense and special teams.

Joining that group are Oklahoma transfer Nic Anderson, Florida State transfer Destyn Hill and Kentucky transfer Barion Brown. Anderson brings much-needed size to the room, while Hill is a New Orleans native

and Brown is a proven performer in the SEC with elite speed.

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A seventh name to keep an eye on who is also returning is redshirt sophomore Kyle Parker. The former four-star recruit showed promise last season before a torn triceps tendon prematurely ended his year.

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Tight end

With Mason Taylor off to the NFL, LSU turned to the transfer portal and added fifth-year senior Bauer Sharp from Oklahoma. Sharp led the wounded Sooners in receptions and receiving yards last year.

His exploits as a blocker make him the favorite to start, but LSU will have plenty of depth behind him. Sophomore Trey’Dez Green was a weapon in the red zone last season and has the size and athleticism to earn a bigger role in 2025. Texas A&M transfer Donovan Green was an impact freshman but has only played 23 snaps on offense since then, per PFF.

Offensive line

The majority of LSU’s question marks lie with this unit. The Tigers lost four three-year starters on the line to the NFL in April and return just one starter. Redshirt sophomore DJ Chester, last year’s center, is set to move over to left guard after LSU added Virginia Tech transfer Braelin Moore. Along with Moore, the Tigers also brought in Josh Thompson from Northwestern out of the portal. Thompson will likely start at right guard, but he can also play tackle.

Redshirt sophomore Tyree Adams, after missing time last season with a partial abdomen tear, is projected to slide in for Will Campbell at left tackle. Starting on his opposite side is likely redshirt freshman Weston Davis, a former top-115 recruit nationally.

LSU coach Brian Kelly insists that the Tigers haven’t settled on Adams, Davis, Thompson, Moore and Chester being their starting group. Redshirt sophomore Paul Mubenga, redshirt freshman Coen Echols, freshman Carius Curne and redshirt junior Bo Bordelon all have a chance to crack the starting five, according to Kelly.

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LSU OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART

13 GARRETT NUSSMEIER 6-1, 205, 5-SR.

11 Michael Van Buren 6-0, 190, SO.

29 CADEN DURHAM 5-9, 205, SO.

28 Kaleb Jackson 6-0, 234, JR.

1 AARON ANDERSON 5-8, 188, R-Jr.

12 Kyle Parker 5-11, 195, R-SO.

3 CHRIS HILTON 6-0, 190, 5-SR.

4 Nic Anderson 6-4, 208, R-JR.

4 NIC ANDERSON 6-4, 208, R-JR.

6 Barion Brown 5-11, 185, SR.

10 BAUER SHARP 6-5, 246, 5-SR.

14 Trey’Dez Green 6-7, 240, SO.

71 TYREE ADAMS 6-7, 310, R-SO.

57 Carius Curne 6-5, 320, FR.

79 DJ CHESTER 6-6, 315, R-SO.

65 Paul Mubenga 6-5, 317, R-SO.

61 BRAELIN MOORE 6-2, 300, R-JR.

79 DJ Chester 6-6, 315, R-SO.

56 JOSH THOMPSON 6-5, 315, 5-SR.

78 Coen Echols 6-4, 315, R-FR.

75 WESTON DAVIS 6-7, 317, R-FR.

67 Bo Bordelon 6-6, 305, R-JR.

What to expect from Blake Baker’s defense in his second year A WEAKNESS NO MORE

BY REED DARCEY | Staff writer

How do you rebuild a defense? Coach Brian Kelly’s search for an answer to that ques tion is now two years old. It started with an overhaul of his coaching staff, then evolved into a fundraising campaign for a necessary transfer-portal splurge.

Now LSU needs all the new defensive coaches and players it’s acquired across the past two offseasons to coalesce into something stronger — much stronger — than the historically porous unit that sunk the 2023 season.

“We weren’t good enough as a team,” Kelly said in July at Southeast ern Conference media days. “A lot of that had to do with addressing some shortcomings we had on defense. We think we’ve done that.”

Kelly began by poaching defensive coordinator Blake Baker from Missouri and making him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football. Last season, he helped the Tigers take a modest step for ward. LSU improved in both scoring defense (81st among FBS teams to 59th) and total defense (108th to 61st), but it still struggled to stop the run. Only four SEC teams last year fielded worse rushing defenses than the Tigers, who struggled to corral mobile quarterbacks all season.

It was a problem. So, LSU is enlisting a handful of transfers, a newly healthy pair of linebackers and a few returning underclassmen to solve it.

Harold Perkins (torn ACL) and Whit Weeks (broken fibula) began preseason camp fully recovered from the major injuries they suffered last season. When the Tigers line up for the first snap of the season on Aug. 30 at Clemson, they’ll patrol the heart of a defense expected to start as many as two transfers at safety, one at outside corner, another inside a rotation of defensive tackles and two (or possi bly three) on the edges.

That group of players is the foundation of the top transfer class in the country.

“We needed to give (Baker) some more tools,” Kelly said. Now LSU’s hoping he can use them to finish off the repairs.

Defensive line

The hallmark of a Baker-coached defense is havoc. Edge rushers flushing opposing quarterbacks out of the pocket. Disguised blitzes. Push from the interior. It’s all geared toward creating disruptive plays, such as sacks, fumbles and tackles for loss.

And LSU can’t, of course, create disruptive plays without a disruptive front. Its top four edge rushers are sophomore Gabe Reliford and three transfers: Florida’s Jack Pyburn, Florida State’s Patrick Payton and Nebraska’s Jimari Butler. Pyburn is a run stopper who flashed a nose for the backfield early in camp. Payton is the prototypical pass rush er — tall, long and strong — who recorded seven sacks as a redshirt sophomore in 2023 before his numbers declined in 2024. He’s now a fifth-year senior who wants to parlay another successful season into an NFL career.

LSU has a four-man rotation on the interior. Ahmad Breaux and Dominick McKinley — a pair of true sophomores who saw action as freshmen — are in line for large roles. So, too, are South Florida transfer Bernard Gooden and Jacobian Guillory, a sixth-year senior hoping to put an Achilles tear

Gooden was one of the early standouts of camp. He’s a tad undersized – just 6-foot-1 and 280 pounds — but it didn’t take long for him to impress Kelly with his quick get-off and competitive motor.

Expect Baker to toy with different front configurations throughout the season.

Linebackers

We’ll include Perkins in this group. He’s technically a linebacker, although he plays what Baker calls the Star position — a do-itall hybrid linebacker-defensive back who lines up almost everywhere. Over the slot. On the edge. In the middle.

This season, LSU has all three Weeks brothers in its linebacker room — Whit, West and Zach, the freshman who reclassified. Whit and West are the oldest, and they’re the Tigers’ two starters.

Behind them, Davhon Keys is back for his sophomore season after he saw significant snaps toward the tail end of his freshman year. Freshman and former top-150 recruit Charles Ross is running behind Perkins as the second-team Star. And redshirt freshman Tylen Singleton appears to have carved out some kind of reserve role after he enrolled last season as a fringe top-150 prospect.

The top question facing the linebackers is obvious: how healthy are Perkins and Whit Weeks?

The best versions of each player would form one of the most explosive duos in the country. Weeks is one of college football’s best pursuers. Perkins is one of the nation’s most disruptive forces — but only when he’s healthy, focused and positioned to use the game-breaking speed and quickness he flashed as

LSU might be close to finally helping the senior put it all together, if the early returns from preseason camp were indicative of his health and comfort.

Secondary

LSU prioritized defensive backs in the transfer portal, and now its secondary is noticeably deeper. There’s one returning starter in junior cornerback Ashton Stamps, four transfers with experience starting games for power-conference teams and even a big-name recruit: the 6-5 freshman from Florida named DJ Pickett.

In camp, five players have been battling for the two starting safety spots. North Carolina State transfer Tamarcus Cooley and Houston transfer AJ Haulcy are the two favorites to land the jobs, but returners such as fifth-year senior Jardin Gilbert, junior Javien Toviano and sophomore Dashawn Spears are pushing them for first-team reps.

You can pencil Virginia Tech transfer Mansoor Delane into one of the outside corner spots. Stamps could take the other one. Or Pickett. Or PJ Woodland, a sophomore who added weight in the offseason and broke up a few passes early in camp.

The point is that the Tigers appear to have options again at positions that have returned mostly disappointing results across the last five seasons. Since 2020, LSU’s pass defense has finished outside the FBS’ top 100 units more times than it’s finished inside its top 50.

Now a revamped group is in charge of accomplishing something closer to the program standard.

LSU DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART

EDGE

DT DT LB LB

STAR

CB CB S S

44 JACK PYBURN, 6-4, 264, Sr.

6 Patrick Payton, 6-6, 255, 5-Sr.

19 GABE RELIFORD, 6-3, 265, So.

12 Jimari Butler, 6-5, 265, 6-Sr.

16 AHMAD BREAUX, 6-3, 278, So.

90 Jacobian Guillory, 6-2, 318, 6-Sr.

88 BERNARD GOODEN, 6-1, 268, 5-Sr.

96 Dominick McKinley, 6-6, 308, So.

33 WEST WEEKS, 6-2, 235, 5-Sr.

46 Tylen Singleton, 6-1, 226, R-Fr.

40 WHIT WEEKS, 6-2, 225, Jr.

42 Davhon Keys, 6-0, 230, So.

7 HAROLD PERKINS, 6-1, 222, R-Jr.

30 Charles Ross, 6-1, 225, Fr.

4 MANSOOR DELANE, 6-0, 190, Sr.

8 Ja’Keem Jackson, 6-0, 190, R-So.

1 ASHTON STAMPS, 6-0, 190, Jr.

3 DJ Pickett, 6-5, 195, Fr.

0 TAMARCUS COOLEY, 6-0, 198 R-So.

2 Jardin Gilbert, 6-1, 193, 5-Sr.

13 AJ HAULCY, 6-0, 222, Sr.

10 Dashawn Spears, 6-3, 208, So.

Loaded with talent, Tulane is looking for another conference title run

BY GUERRY SMITH | Contributing Writer

Former Tulane offensive line coach Cody Kennedy was blown away by what he saw when he stopped by a spring practice in March to say hi to former boss Will Hall.

Kennedy, who was on the staff in 2019 and 2020 when the Green Wave had two of the five highest scoring teams in school history under Hall’s direction as offensive coordinator, said the talent level on both sides of the ball dwarfed what the coaches had to work with back then.

The question, which could be asked for numerous other teams in the modern NIL era of mass transfers, is how well a transfer portal-laden roster with 60 newcomers will jell in coach Jon Sumrall’s second year.

“We’re really talented,” Sumrall said during the first week of preseason camp, agreeing with Kennedy. “This team is stronger and faster than last year’s team. The weight room numbers and the GPS numbers prove that, but we have a long way to go in regard to coming together.”

Outsiders expect Tulane, which was in the College Football Playoff race in 2024 until a Thanksgiving night home loss to Memphis started a three-game tailspin, to contend strongly for a record fourth consecutive appearance in the American Conference championship game. Athlon Sports and ESPN writer Bill Connelly tab the Wave to win it for the first time since 2022. The voters in the coach es’ poll gave the Wave the thirdmost points (31) among league teams in their preseason top 25, ranking right behind 34 for Memphis and Army’s 33.

The forecasts are clear ac knowledgements of Sumrall’s roster-building skill considering breakout star quarterback Darian Men sah transferred to Duke, two-time 1,000-yard running back Makhi Hughes departed for Oregon, the top four receivers are gone and a combined five starters return on offense and defense. The staff’s portal success and retention of enough key players –five of the top seven tacklers return – have the Wave poised to re main among the non-power five elite.

TULANE OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART

12 JAKE RETZLAFF 6-1, 205, SR.

3 Kadin Semonza 5-11, 196, SO.

0 MAURICE TURNER 5-10, 190, JR.

20 Arnold Barnes 5-10, 216, JR.

7 SHAZZ PRESTON 6-0, 206, JR.

16 Garrett Mmahat 6-0, 190, JR.

83 BRYCE BOHANON 5-9, 185, SR.

1 Omari Hayes 5-9, 170, SO.

11 TRE SHACKELFORD 6-1, 187, SR.

4 Jimmy Calloway 6-0, 190, SR.

85 ANTHONY MILLER 6-5.265, SO.

13 Ty Thompson 6-4 224 SR.

76 DERRICK GRAHAM 6-4, 314, SR.

50 Jordan Hall 6-4, 345, SR.

56 SHADRE HURST 6-2, 293, JR.

71 Jayce Mitchell 6-3, 275, FR.

58 JACK HOLLIFIELD 6-4, 300, SR.

73 Elijah Baker 6-3, 280, FR.

51 JOHN BOCK 6-3, 288, SR.

72 Mitch Hodnett 6-5, 295, FR.

78 REESE BAKER 6-5, 275, FR.

77 Darion Reed 6-7, 318, SO.

Tulane’s tough in the trenches

The excitement starts up front.

“I really feel better about the depth on the O-line and the D-line,” Sumrall said. “We’ve got good play on the line of scrimmage right now. Our D-line is as deep a group as I’ve been around.”

Tulane could have as many as 10 quality contributors on that unit. End Kam Hamilton (six tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks) is the only returning starter, but transfer tackle Santana Hopper (Appalachian State) and rush end Mo Westmoreland (Texas-El Paso) excelled in the spring. End Gerrod Henderson (22 tackles) exhibited plenty of potential as a top reserve last season. The Wave also got talented outside rusher Jah’Rie Garner back from injury and welcomed four more sought-after transfers in January, including nose tackle Tre’Von McAlpine (Texas Tech).

Sumrall labeled nose tackle Eliyt Nairne, a Liberty transfer, and redshirt freshman Geordan Guidry as legitimate starter-quality players even though neither entered preseason camp on the two-deep depth chart.

“Having the versatility within that group is going to make a huge difference,” said linebacker Sam Howard, the Wave’s top returning tackler (63). “They are inter

TULANE DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART

DE

6 KAM HAMILTON 6-4 292 SR.

10 Gerrod Henderson 6-2, 285, JR.

95 TRE’VON MCALPINE 6-3, 305, JR.

93 Elijah Champaigne 6-2, 290, SR.

29 SANTANA HOPPER 6-2 265 JR.

90 Eliyt Nairne 6-1, 305, SO.

O MO WESTMORELAND 6-2, 250, SR.

5 Harvey Dyson 6-3 250 JR.

ILB

ILB NB CB CB SS FS K

15 SAM HOWARD 6-2, 220 SR.

42 Makai Williams 6-1, 225, JR.

2 DICKSON AGU 6-2, 222, SO.

4 Chris Rodgers 6-2 222 JR.

3 JAVION WHITE 5-10, 190, SO.

13 TJ Smith 5-10, 175, JR.

20 JAHIEM JOHNSON 6-0, 189, SO.

22 LJ Green 5-10, 170, SO.

21 JAYDEN LEWIS 5-11, 181, SO.

11 E’zaiah Shine 6-1185 FR.

32 BAILEY DESPANIE 6-1, 204, SR.

7 Kevin Adams 5-10, 185, SO.

1 JACK TCHIENCHOU 5-10, 181, SO.

30 Joshua Moore 6-2, 202, SO.

91 PATRICK DURKIN 5-10, 175, FR.

35 Cooper Helmke 6-3 165 FR.

38 ALEC CLARK 6-1, 184, SO.

34 William Hudlow 5-11 217, SO.

changeable, and the guys can do anything. To be an elite team, you have to have guys nobody knows about that can come on the field and make plays. We have that.”

The bigger concerns are on offense, which struggled in the spring, but transfer running back Maurice Turner (Louisville) believes the defense’s dominance galvanized the blockers.

“What has impressed me the most is the step the O-line took from spring to camp now,” he said during the second week of preseason camp. “They spent the summer just transforming their bodies and their knowledge of the playbook and have made tremendous jumps. It’s like they flipped a switch and were tired of getting beaten. Our defense was kicking tail, I’m not going to lie, but we’ve been making a lot of big plays and are just keeping our foot on the gas.”

Returning left tackle Derrick Graham and returning left guard Shadre Hurst were always solid. Turner cited the rest of the line, which will feature transfer Jack Hollifield (Appalachian State) at center and two more new starters on the right side, as the difference.

Replacing departed center Vincent Murphy, Josh Rematch and Rashad Green required an adjustment.

“Losing three veteran guys can be a burden,” Graham said.

“But our coaching staff did a great job finding guys out of the portal; Jack was an immediate fit at center. Definitely from the spring until now we’ve been jelling as a unit and growing as one.”

Loaded Tulane QB room

A strong core up front will make life much easier for the players stepping into new roles at the skill positions. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff, competing with fellow transfers Brendan Sullivan (Iowa) and Kadin Semonza (Ball State) to replace Mensah, played well for an 11-2 BYU team but has only a month to learn the offense as a late July arrival.

Junior Arnold Barnes, who was decent as Hughes’ primary backup, believes he has raised his level a couple of notches in a running back room that goes four deep but boasts no proven starter.

Shazz Preston appears capable of a similar leap at wide receiver after missing the first half of 2024 with a hamstring injury. He is one of several candidates looking to replace the production of Mario Williams, Dontae Fleming, Yulkeith Brown and tight end Alex Bauman (combined 2,281 yards receiving, 146 catches and 18 touchdowns).

As the only non-Power Four conference school to host two Power Four opponents (Northwestern plus Mensah and Duke), Tulane needs to get up to speed immediately, particularly with a trip to preseason No. 15 Ole Miss (coaches’ poll) in September as well.

Despite all of the lost production, Sumrall said the Wave was considerably ahead of its pace at the same stage last season as a new staff adjusted to new players. “We’re not starting from ground zero,” he said. “We’re more complex schematically and getting in a lot of different formational things that are giving our defense problems. That’s exciting. Defensively, we were very simplified in what we did last year. We’re a lot more settled personnel wise, so we’re running calls in practice five at camp that we didn’t run until practice 12 or 15 last year.”

Cajuns not as seasoned, but coaches convinced club features higher ceiling this season

BY KEVIN FOOTE | Staff writer

The UL Ragin’ Cajuns have plenty to replace from last year’s squad that reached the Sun Belt Conference championship game.

Of the five Cajuns to earn first-team All-Sun Belt honors last season, none of them return.

On offense, gone is the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year and the top four receivers.

On defense, the top five tacklers from last fall are gone as well.

On special teams, the Lou Groza Award winner and the two-year punt returner are no longer on the roster.

Still, UL coach Michael Desormeaux and his staff are convinced the ceiling is higher for the 2025 club than the West Division champions of last season.

“We’re very excited about this team,” Desormeaux said. “My expectations are extremely high.”

Long story short, what this year’s squad may lack in seasoning, the coaches are hoping to make up for in raw talent.

“I think we feel like as a staff that we have a little bit more of a talented team than we had last year,” offensive coordinator Tim Leger said. “There’s a little bit more talent in the building. Now, whether they come together, whether they worked the way last year’s group did and whether they perform on Saturdays like last year’s group did re mains to be seen.”

What to expect on offense

That theme starts at quarterback where Ole Miss transfer Walker Howard – once ranked as a top-five quarterback prospect in the nation out of St. Thomas More – works with a room that totals zero collegiate touchdowns.

“We’re not expecting them to go out there and win the game by themselves,” Desormeaux said of the quarterback room that also features redshirt soph omore Lunch Winfield coming of an injury-plagued season and redshirt freshman Daniel Beale.

“It’s just it’s a different feeling, and there’s no feeling like being back home,” Howard said.

Both Howard and his coaches don’t appear worried about re placing Ben Wooldridge’s top targets from a year ago.

Led by LSU transfer Shelton Sampson and veterans like Robert Williams, they believe the talent is there.

“There’s a lot of good pieces in the room, and I‘ve said this one or two times in the past since I’ve been here, but from top to bottom,” Leger said. “This is the best group that we’ve had. Top to bottom – it’s the biggest, it’s the longest, it’s the fastest.”

There’s a little more experience returning on the offensive line, but still plenty to prove. Right tackle George Jackson and right guard Jax Harrington are back – surrounded by part-time starters and seasoned backups in left tackle Bryant Williams, left guard Kaden Moreau and center Cooper Fordham.

“I’m feeling a lot more comfortable (on left side),” Williams said. “I feel like this season should be very, very good for us.”

The big plan is to rotate the line as much as possible to avoid late-season fatigue.

“It allows you to play guys early on before they have to play,” Desormeaux explained. “You get them in the mix and you get them experience, and then I think it helps you on the back end too, longevity-wise.

“It takes some snaps off of guys that, you know, 15 snaps a game, maybe taking it off of someone.”

With Dre’lyn Washington leaving the program, the rushing load with be relying more on the duo of Zylan Perry (112-695, 4 TDs) and Bill Davis (163-796, 9 TDs).

“Bill’s done a really good job,” Desormeaux said. “This offseason’s been phenomenal for him. He’s gotten his weight down, He’s down to 220 to 225 right now. He’s moving really good.

“(Perry) has gained really good weight, you, and he looks really good, he’s moving great with it.”

Cajuns’ defensive prospects

On the defensive side, success revolves around stopping the run better and being more aggressive in the secondary. Improved depth around mainstays Jordan Lawson and Kadarius Miller up front should make a difference.

“I think our defensive line is probably one of the groups where you got the most returning production coming back,” Desormeaux said. “You know, if you’re playing full speed all the time, you can play better football.”

Moving Jaden Dugger to inside linebacker should help against the run, as well as becoming the new communication leader on defense.

“Jaden’s done a good job with that for us this offseason, so he’s got to continue to

grow,” defensive coordinator Jim Salgado said. “He’s a great, great young man who’s smart, intelligent. He’s getting control and being able to communicate.”

While outside linebackers Ashley Williams and Cameron Whitfield are known commodities, Terrence Williams and Kailep Edwards could also contribute to that higher ceiling goal.

“He’s come a long way,” Salgado said of Wil liams. “We’re excited for him (to have this) opportunity. He knows now. The intricacies of playing the position compared to being a running back, getting downhill, playing a run game, but also, the coverage part of it too, where he’s grown tremendously, and now it’s his turn.”

The secondary is another un proven, but more talented area. Richmond transfer Trae Tom linson replaces Keyon Martin as the top cover corner.

“The thing is that we see the vi sion and we believe in the vision –the most important part,” Tomlin son said. “Just having that mindset of saying nothing can stop us. The only person that can stop us is ourselves.”

Redshirt junior Lorenzell Du bose is expected to elevate his game, along with Avery Demery and Jeremiah Moses.

“I feel like the defense is really clicking on every cylinder,” Dubose said.

“We’re really going to click together and be pretty good.”

Last season, the defense suffered the loss of safety Tyree Skipper. The good news is Kody Jackson filled in nicely. Now they’re both back.

“He’s got tremendous talent,” Salgado said of Jackson. “He can fly. He can cover great range from sideline to sideline, which he showed when he got the oppor tunity to play out there.

“Going back to we got to stop the run … that’s one of the areas that we’ve worked a lot on with him this offseason.”

While the ability to replace kicker Kenny Almendares is a total unknown going into the season, UL’s staff is excited about the potential in the return game.

“We have fun with it, we compete,” coach Mike Giuliani said of special teams. “There’s a toughness, but also an understanding where they truly believe that it leads to wins.”

4 WALKER HOWARD 6-0, 190, RJR.

2 Lunch Winfield 6-1, 221, RSo.

7 BILL DAVIS 5-9, 235, RSO.

24 Steven Blanco, 5-9, 224, RFr.

3 ZYLAN PERRY 5-11 207, RJR.

22 Darrell Smith 5-8, 280, Fr.

6 SHELTON SAMPSON 6-4, 195, RSO.

18 Jaydon Johnson 6-2, 227, RJr.

0 ROBERT WILLIAMS 6-2, 183, RSR.

87 KeDarius Wade 6-4, 198, RSo.

88 CADEN JENSON 6-6, 264 RSO.

83 Brock Chappell 6-5, 245, Jr.

64 BRYANT WILLIAMS 6-7, 329, RJR.

72 J’Marion Gooch 6-8, 320, RSo.

75 KADEN MOREAU 6-4, 294 RJR.

50 COOPER FORDHAM 6-2, 292, RSO. 75 Kaden Moreau 6-4, 294, RJr.

70 JAX HARRINGTON 6-4, 327, RSR.

79 Mackey Maillho 6-8, 363, RSr.

71 GEORGE JACKSON 6-5, 329, RSR 67 John Bragg 6-4, 275, RSo.

0 JORDAN LAWSON 6-4, 243, RSR.

97 Lance Williams 6-3, 240, RSo.

90 KADARIUS MILLER 6-2, 310, SR. 93 Jaelen Crider 6-3, 310, Gr.

41 CHASE EDWARDS 6-7, 271 RSO.

68 Fitzgerald West 6-2, 290, RJr.

17 ASHLEY WILLIAMS 6-5, 255, RSO.

31 Drenon Fite 6-4, 230, RJr.

3 JADEN DUGGER 6-5, 239, SR.

44 Jake St. Andre 6-1, 220, RJr.

6 TERRENCE WILLIAMS 6-1 223, RSr.

16 Kailep Edwards 6-0, 224, RJR.

9 CAMERON WHITFIELD 6-3, 241, RSR.

38 Na’Tori Brown, 6-5, 228, RFr.

76 Matt Broussard 6-3, 305 RSo. 24 LORENZELL DUBOSE 6-0, 185, RJR.

Avery Demery 6-1, 177, RFr.

20 TRAE TOMLINSON 5-10, 175, GR. 23 Jeremiah Moses 6-0, 182, RSo.

4 TYREE SKIPPER, 6-2, 2-7, RSR. 2 Jalen Clark 6-2, 205, RSr.

8 KODY JACKSON 6-0, 195, RSO. 21 Maurion Eleam 5-10, 166, RJr.

Southern football has SWAC championship expectations and believes it has the pieces to win it

BY TOYLOY BROWN III | Staff writer

Entering the 2024 season, Southern football was not expected to achieve much.

Before its first season under coach Terrence Graves, the team was voted to finish fourth in the SWAC preseason poll. Those same low expectations do not exist for the 2025 Jaguars. They are coming off an appearance in the South western Athletic Conference title game and were voted the preseason No. 1 team in the SWAC West by coaches and sports information directors.

Fans should have championship aspirations. Internally, the program feels that same hunger for its first SWAC cham pionship since 2013.

Coaches and players call the preseason hype a “blessing,” but it hasn’t changed their focus on bringing a SWAC trophy and maybe even a Celebration Bowl trophy, which it has nev er done, back to Baton Rouge.

Southern’s offense

The Jaguars are excited about their roster, including at the most significant position: quarterback.

The play at that position last season was largely subpar as the top two signal callers, who each threw at least 125 pass attempts, failed to consistently execute. Both players have since transferred and Jalen Woods, the lone returner, is expected to ful fill that role.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound redshirt sophomore is the favorite to start after completing 38 of 66 passes for 541 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions in six 2024 game appearances. In his two starts, Southern was victorious, including in the Bayou Classic.

Junior Jackson State transfer Cam’Ron McCoy and freshman Dillon Compton make up the rest of the

quarterback room. The staff is enamored with McCoy because of his experience and his high-level speed for the position.

McCoy rushed 24 times for 163 rushing yards and two touchdowns in eight games at Jackson State. His dual-threat talents differ from the pocket-passing preferences of Woods.

The team doesn’t intend on playing multiple quarterbacks a large amount unless it’s necessary. However, offensive coordinator Mark Frederick hasn’t ruled out the possibility of having a package for McCoy where his mobility can help in certain situations.

Southern rebuilt its running back room after seeing its top three rushers exit. The team brought in six new tailbacks, five in the portal, and returned redshirt freshman Jason Gabriel and sophomore Barry Remo.

The biggest-name addition is walk-on Trey Holly, a former four-star recruit and transfer from LSU. The redshirt sophomore joined the Jaguars after being suspended at LSU for more than a year because of his alleged involvement in a February 2024 shooting.

Holly, now listed at 5-7 and 192 pounds, is a tantalizing talent who as a true freshman at LSU had 11 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Other new pieces in the position group are senior Mike Franklin from Jacksonville State and redshirt sophomore transfer Princeton Cahee from Louisiana Tech, who each have a strong case for earning playing time.

Franklin at 6-2 and 225 pounds should be a valuable weapon in short-yardage situations. As a junior, he played in four games and finished with 55 yards on eight carries. Cahee has been described as explosive and could be among the fastest players on the team.

The 5-10, 190-pound tailback could also be an option in the return game, which Southern needs replacements for.

Confidence in the tailbacks succeeding is tied to the confidence the staff has in the offensive line. The unit returns every starter from last season except left tackle.

There will be an opportunity for new names to be impactful as pass catchers. However, Southern coaches have already expressed that their two most productive returners — redshirt junior wide receiver Darren Morris and graduate student tight end Dupree Fuller — are going to be heavily involved.

Morris should be the top option after having team-highs in catches (37) and receiving yards (434) and snagging three touchdowns. Fuller made the preseason All-SWAC second team offense after hauling in 30 receptions for 370 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

On special teams, junior Kenny Pham will be Southern’s new kicker after being the designated punter last season.

Big expectations on defense

Southern’s defense starts and ends with Ckelby Givens. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound senior defensive end should be among the most impactful players in the SWAC regardless of position.

He was named the preseason SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and made the Buck Buchanan Award watchlist for the best defensive player in the FCS after he led the country in tackles for loss with 27 1/2 and finished third in sacks with 12. The staff has constructed the defense around Givens, who said he has gotten stronger in the offseason.

When Givens is double- or triple-teamed, the Jaguars will need to find out who else on the inside or the outside of the defensive line will apply pressure. The team lost three starters from its front four and will likely need players such as junior defensive end Kai Brown, a Trinity Valley Community College transfer, to produce after impressing in the offseason.

With Givens setting the tone up front, Southern should also see stellar play out of its secondary. The Jaguars re turn graduate student Horacio Johnson and Her man Brister, who made preseason first- and sec ond-team All-SWAC, respectively. Johnson had 74 tackles and two interceptions while Brister had 62 tackles and two interceptions.

The Jaguars have strong depth in returners like Eli jah West, who had 10 pass breakups in 2024, and experienced transfers like Zay Franks from Southern Miss. In his last healthy season in 2023, Franks had 14 tackles (nine solo) and one interception in 14 games, starting five. Southern returns its most prolific tack ler – senior linebacker Vincent Page. In 13 contests, he had 95 tackles, which was fourth best in the SWAC. Besides senior linebacker Jamarlo Campbell, the rest of the position is filled with more un proven players who either didn’t play much or are junior college transfers.

For punts, freshman Nathan Zimmer will likely take that job as Pham focuses on kicking.

On paper, Southern has continuity in key areas and depth at positions like running back and defensive back. Graves and his coaches feel they have what they need and assuming they have good injury luck, the Jaguars should remain a favorite to win the SWAC West again.