Isaac Popper Projects the Back Seven and Special Teams Depth Charts

BY ISAAC POPPER

Part 3:

Overview:

I wrote about the Defensive Line last week here. 

As a reminder, the depth chart is simply my best educated guess at placing all 116 players on a spreadsheet, and I recognize that it can be an injustice to the hard-working student-athletes. There is great competition at every position group, especially with only 5 returning starters. With Kam Hamilton playing snaps at a position that he wasn’t listed at on the two-deep last season, I tried to identify some secondary positions where you could see some students play based on practice reps. As Jake and Jimmy covered the main position battles, I will cover the overall roster. I bolded returning starters and underlined returning players from last season.

Last season, 8 players played 450 snaps on defense. Of those, only Sam Howard (533) and Slim Despanie (504) returned, but I predict 8 opening day starters to be players from last year’s team. Tulane brought in a bunch of highly sought after players in multiple portal windows, however the staff has clearly succeeded in developing their in-house talent. Jalen Geiger started over Jack Tchienchou last season but played less snaps despite Jack’s first game coming against Kansas State (Team started vs Southeastern). Jack and Kevin Adams combined for over 800 snaps last season, and Kam Hamilton started every conference game. Javion White had the 4th highest PFF grade on the team last season, and Joker Johnson’s season PFF grade was also higher than 3rd round pick Caleb Ransaw’s (as well as Johnathan Edwards and JET Award Watch List and First team Preseason All American KR Ray Pleasant). Also, potential starting CB E’zaiah Shine missed his freshman year with an injury. 

Defense:

You can read Jake's two-deep here.

Click on the photo for higher quality:

Linebacker: This is the position with the most continuity, even after super senior Jesus Machado transferred to Houston in the Spring. There was a successful effort to retain our linebackers, a position of strength and depth. I have spoken so highly of Sam Howard on Inside the Wave, and will continue to do so. I think Dickson Agu ends up as the starter based on positioning, but Rodgers is more polished in my opinion. I have been on the Makai Williams train since he started on special teams his entire freshman year, and would be confident if he ends up the starter alongside Howard despite not having played meaningful snaps here yet. Dallas Winner-Johnson is a fabulous addition to the room and looked strong in the Spring.

Sam Howard, aka Uncle Sam, is the epitome of Tulane Football. It is hard to believe he started playing for Tulane last season because he has commanded so much respect. Sam was tied for the 4th most ipop points last season, only behind the 3 Ms (Mensah, Makhi, and Mario). I was walking out of a Tulane Baseball game in May with Sion James when we ran into Sam Howard. It was a funny moment for me as they did not quite recognize each other and it then hit me how similar they are. Not only were these two student-athletes at the top of their craft (Sion James being an NBA draft pick!), but they are probably the two most humble students I met in my five years. It was hard to get Sam to talk about himself when I interviewed him last year because he first thinks to credit others. Sion never brought up his own play when we would eat together at The Commons. For these two special athletes, academics and being a good person are just as important as their sport. I hope you join me in following along with Sion’s NBA career.

Chris Rodgers joined my Inside the Wave show in December to let fans know it was a “no brainer’ to return to Tulane. His missed tackle % was less than 4%, and he had a pick-six vs UAB.

Dickson Agu played better as he got more experience, and capped off the season with a big interception off DJ Lagway in the Gasparilla Bowl. He also hit Lagway and had seven tackles. The pre-med student was Tulane’s Military Bowl STEM Scholar-Athlete award.

Makai Williams had 146 tackles his senior year of high school and broke Malcom Brown’s weight room record at Steele High School. In 25 collegiate snaps in coverage, he has allowed just two catches for 17 yards (4 YAC).

Cornerback: There have been seven players that I have pondered earning the starting jobs. That says two things. The starters likely will have very little experience. On the flip side, they will have beaten out many very talented players, and we should have an elite cornerback duo by the time we hit the middle of the season conference gauntlet. Behind the Joker, there are many transfers in the mix with redshirt freshman E’zaiah Shine and Armani Cargo.

I enjoyed just about every Joker Johnson snap I saw last season (89 on defense). There weren’t many because we had NFL guys ahead of him. With Micah Robinson getting drafted, and Johnathan Edwards and Ray Pleasant gone, it is Joker’s island now. He has made plays on special teams and totaled 174 snaps between kickoffs as well as punt return coverage.

Redshirt Freshman E’zaiah Shine didn’t play a snap last season due to injury. He might take his first career snap as a starter against a Big Ten team. The high school QB and DB reportedly held offers from Florida, Ole Miss, Kentucky, and a half dozen other power conference teams. Joshua Brantley, who led Ruston to the 5A LA state title, is another freshman on defense who was a talented quarterback in high school. Jesuit and Tulane QB Steve Foley converted to defensive back and was inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 2024. Foley played in multiple Super Bowls and is still Denver’s all-time interceptions leader. Shine was in the mix at SPEAR last summer before going down, and showed an ability to return punts for TDs in high school.

Isaiah Wadsworth had the sixth-highest PFF grade among FCS cornerbacks last season. He chose Tulane over rival Memphis among many other options. When QBs targeted him last season, they had just a 53% completion rate. Like Johnathan Edwards, he did not allow a touchdown in 2024. He played little league ball growing up with NFL draft pick and Tulane stud Micah Robinson. KC Eziozume is another FCS transfer, with Wadsworth from Wofford and KC from Albany. Tavare Smith is another fast DB who transferred from a lower level. The D2 East central transfer can play multiple positions. LJ Green transferred from Troy, however he did not play when Coach Sumrall spent two seasons there. 

SPEAR: Javion White filled in so admirably (as a true freshman) for Caleb Ransaw last season against Rice and Florida that I expected White to be a shoo-in this year to replace the third round pick. His forced fumble in that Rice game led to the game-sealing touchdown. Sumrall mentioned how he was very comfortable with White earning a lion’s share of snaps last season. Jake has spoken so highly of Tavare Smith that the D2 transfer should have at least earned a fair share of snaps. Jayden Lewis also looked competent as a true freshman last season and should play a healthy amount of snaps between the field CB position and slot. 

Safety: The safety position is likely one of the strongest position groups this season between the tackling ability, speed, and aggression of Slim, Jack, and Kevin Adams. 

Slim was third on the team in tackles in both of the last two seasons. He is the only player on the team who has started multiple full seasons at Tulane.

After last spring, John Burrows was over the moon on Jack Tchienchou. He was right about him and I don’t think we have seen his full potential on display yet. The interception machine ran one back to the house in Lafayette last season. He was one of the best players against Army with 8 tackles (5 solo) and was the kick returner in the Gasparilla Bowl.

Slim was right about Kevin Adams taking a major leap. After being on the travel squad as a freshman in 2023 but only playing 7 defensive snaps until the Military Bowl, he played well in big games last season and finished in the top 10 in ipop points. This was in large part due to a big interception in the Gasparilla Bowl while not allowing many catches, and having 5 stops at Oklahoma.

Special Teams: 

Kicker: Cooper Helmke signed with Tulane on National Signing Day in February. The 5 star (Kohl’s) kicker committed during the snowstorm after previously committing to Boise State before last season. The Metairie native committed to Boise on August 1, 2024, and formally de-committed after Boise’s Fiesta Bowl defeat. He attended Green Wave Football Junior Day and visited multiple other times. His talent is unquestionable but Sumrall has been taking precaution with his injury. Patrick Durkin missed a lot of time with a hip injury last season. Redshirt Freshman Zach Marini returns after entering the transfer portal in April. There is a lack of experience here with Jacob Barnes out of eligibility and Ethan Head at West Virginia now.

Punter: Alec Clark is your Will Karoll replacement, both being Australian. The former Rugby player played for now Tulane Special Teams Coordinator Jonathan Galante at Marshall, and carries 3 years of eligibility. Only 20% of his punts were returned last season. He had the same amount of 50+ yard punts as Karoll last season and his 42.4 average was almost identical to Karoll’s 42.8. Will Hudlow provides strong depth at the position.

Long Snapper: There are three new long snappers competing for the job following sixth-year Ethan Hudak’s second graduation.

Returners: Tulane has more speed and returner options than in awhile. Teams were scared to kick to Big Play Ray after he returned multiple kicks, so multiple options could help for conference play.

Thank you very much to everybody who read my depth chart breakdown. I hope you enjoyed, and have liked the Inside the Wave show. While I have immensely enjoyed working with the Fear the Wave Collective over the last year while completing my master’s at Tulane, I will be starting as a content researcher at ESPN. I will no longer be covering Tulane Football, but of course will return to Yulman Stadium when possible.

I am extremely grateful to Michael, Jimmy, and Jake for embracing me with open arms over the last 12 months. Michael believed in our ideas to host a show with John Burrows and redefine the collective’s media presence. John has been a tremendous friend and partner. The show would not have been possible without his support. It was a true honor to be on the sidelines last season representing FTW.  

Roll (MF) Wave forever!!

Popper