Photo Credit: Parker Waters
Everyone talked about replacing the quarterback, which is natural, as it's the most important position in the sport. He started 44 games for the Green Wave and now plays in the NFL. Some talked about replacing the left tackle, which is also understandable. Many believe that the left tackle is the second most important position in the sport, if you have a right-handed quarterback. Again, completely natural to wonder what Tulane will try to do to generate high levels of play at those positions with newcomers.
Few, it seems, have considered the tremendous number of snaps that have to be replaced at the cornerback position. As a primer, the Green Wave defense will (again) essentially function as a 4-2-5 (4 defensive linemen/edge rushers, 2 traditional linebackers, 5 defensive backs), with three cornerbacks on the field in base. Last season, Tulane relied heavily on their starters, to the tune of 880 snaps from slot corner Kam Pedescleaux, 754 snaps from Jarius Monroe, 754 snaps from Lance Robinson, and 342 snaps from next-man-up AJ Hampton. Among all returning cornerbacks on the Green Wave roster, Rayshawn Pleasant had the highest snap count in 2023 with a striking figure of just 37.
The question is, then, how have Jon Sumrall and Cole Heard gone about reloading at the position? Let's dive in.
Caleb Ransaw, #7
Ransaw, a junior from Harvest, Alabama joins the Wave after having played for Sumrall and defensive coordinator Greg Gasparato at Troy. He entered the portal in December and chose Tulane over Tennessee and Alabama. Truly, he is an elite player and could start for any number of P2 schools in the country. His 2023 PFF grade was the highest on Troy's defense, and was higher than that of any Tulane defender in either 2022 or 2023. Of his 602 snaps in 2023, only 7 came at outside corner. My expectation is that if all goes well, he will see an 800+ snaps at slot corner. He has been an absolute menace to the scout team offense this month, both in run support and coverage. Wave fans should enjoy the opportunity to watch him play, but if you don't take notice, you should have opportunities to do so on Sundays, in the future.
Johnathan Edwards, #8
Edwards is a senior from St. Louis, Missouri, and arrived in the spring portal after spending 2021-2023 at Indiana State. He brings a wealth of experience, having played over 1,400 snaps across his three seasons with the Sycamores. One of the more intriguing position battles this camp has been Edwards, Robinson, and Pleasant essentially jockeying for 2 spots on the outside. It's immediately noticeable how physically imposing Edwards looks at 6'1" -- he should match up well with some of the lankier receivers Tulane will have to contend with, both in September and throughout conference play. Of note, Edwards played very well in Indiana State's one contest against an FBS opponent, Ball State, in 2023.
Micah Robinson, #6
Robinson, a 5th-year player who joins the Green Wave from Furman, is another FCS transfer that the staff was and is very excited about. He arrived uptown as a graduate transfer in June, making good on his commitment to Tulane, which he gave way back on December 18, 2023. It would be fair to say that throughout that six month commitment period, the majority of the ACC expressed their interest in Robinson -- kudos to him and the Green Wave staff to getting it across the finish line. We are all beneficiaries. Clearly the FBS missed on him out of high school in 2020, as he didn't have a single offer from that group, per 247. He logged 1,486 snaps for Furman over the last three seasons, and was quite obviously the only defender on the field capable of slowing wide receiver Xavier Lagette (who was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of April's NFL Draft) when they played South Carolina, last September.
Rayshawn Pleasant, #5
Of all of the returners at the position, no one has taken a larger step forward this offseason than the redshirt sophomore. After taking a redshirt season during 2022, Pleasant saw action in 3 contests last season, most significantly in mop up duty against Nicholls State in September and in the Military Bowl against Virginia Tech. Pleasant has quite clearly connected with the new strength and conditioning staff, as he looks like a completely different (and more confident and comfortable) player. He will push Robinson and Edwards for snaps outside, every step along the way. As a member of the high school class of 2022, Pleasant chose Tulane over Memphis, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, among others.
Lu Tillery, #10
Tillery is yet another under-the-radar depth acquisition by General Manager Cole Heard, coming to the Green Wave from Louisiana-Monroe, where he amassed over 1,400 snaps from 2021-2023. The junior, who attended high school at Saint Augustine, in New Orleans, has primarily trained at outside corner throughout the spring and in fall camp. It speaks volumes about where the Tulane program is that a 22-game starter (over the past 2 seasons) for an in-state FBS foe has come in and will open the season as a reserve, uptown.
Javion White, #12
While there are a number of new veterans in the fold for the Green Wave, it is undeniable that this is a veteran-laid roster. White, a true freshman from Winnsboro, LA (Franklin Parish High School) might be as close as any true freshman to the field. It's my expectation that he opens the season as the primary backup to Ransaw in the slot. According to 247, White was the 96th best cornerback in the country and the 40th best player in the state of Louisiana, in the class of 2024. He chose the Green Wave over Missouri and Memphis, most notably.
Jahiem Johnson, #20
Johnson, a true sophomore from Hammond High School, has also made strides off the field and on the depth chart this offseason, like Pleasant. He saw just 4 snaps, a year ago, but has continued to mix in with the second unit this camp, on the outside. Johnson chose Tulane over Washington, Washington State, Memphis, Purdue, Nebraska, Indiana, Mississippi State, and perhaps most interestingly, Troy, when Sumrall, Heard, and Gasparato where there. Johnson was originally thought to best translate to receiver at the collegiate level, and was rated by 247 as the 38th best player in the class of 2023, in the state.
E'zaiah Shine, #11
With the wealth of veteran options at the position, and being subject to playing catchup behind ascending younger players in Johnson and Pleasant, it's foreseeable that Shine and Jayden Lewis (see below) may take a redshirt season, this year. Shine was rated by 247 as one of the top 125 players in the state of Florida and one of the top 100 cornerbacks in the nation, in the class of 2024. He was in the initial batch of commitments and signees after Sumrall arrived at Tulane. Shine selected the Green Wave over Oregon State, Florida, UCF, Ole Miss, West Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Iowa State and Maryland, among others, including Troy, when the Sumrall contingent was there. Checking in at 6'1", 185 pounds, he has primarily worked outside, this camp.
Jayden Lewis, #21
Lewis, also a true freshman, was assigned a four-star rating by 247, and rated as the 25th best cornerback in the country and the 20th best player in the state of Alabama, in the class of 2024. He accepted the scholarship offer from Tulane over that of Penn State, Missouri, Florida State, Tennessee, Auburn, Arkansas, South Carolina, UCF, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Colorado, among many, many others. Lewis has been uptown since the spring 2024 semester, and participated in spring practices. Like White, he has primarily worked in the slot, but has certainly spent time cross-training. He and Shine should be exciting components of the future of the Tulane defensive backfield.
Shi'Keem Laister, #26
Laister, finally a senior, has also spent a majority of this camp working inside as a slot corner. While he hasn't seen the field a ton on defense, fans may know the name as he has been an essential special teams ace for the past three seasons, racking up 127 special teams snaps in 2021, 223 in 2022, and 235 in 2023.
Armani Cargo, #14
Cargo, a 5'10", 170 pound true freshman comes to the Green Wave from John Ehret High School, on the westbank. Cargo was a commitment of the prior Tulane staff, but held firm during the transition and signed on the early signing day, last December, selecting the Green Wave over Memphis and Marshall, among other offers. He was the 19th best player in the state of Louisiana, by 247, in the class of 2024. He did not graduate early, meaning that his first snaps on the field with the Wave have come this August, in camp.
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