Tulane will test K-State’s ability to stop the run on Saturday.
Base Offense – Shotgun Spread
Base Personnel – 11 (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR)
Offensive Line
Forgive me if I don’t run through the offensive line positions for y’all. If you’re reading a team specific preview, I’m going to go ahead and assume you know the basics
Offensive Linemen to Watch
Right Tackle – #69 – Rashad Green (Sr., 6’4”, 300)
Right tackle Rashad Green is the only returning starter from last season. They filled most spots internally, with the exception of center, where Western Kentucky transfer Vincent Murphy gets the hands on his bottom first.
Their opener against FCS Southeast Louisiana didn’t reveal much because of the talent disparity but this new line will be put to the test against the K-State defensive front. They’ll find things a bit more challenging against the ‘Cats and their endless reservoir of fresh bodies at defensive end.
Wide Receiver
Blue Circle – Boundary Receiver
Green Circle – Slot Receiver
Purdue Circle – Field Receiver
The nomenclature surrounding the wide receiver positions changes from team to team, but this is how a differentiate them.
The receiving group is high on talent but low on production and features a couple highly touted recruits looking to resurrect their careers after flaming out at a blue blood.
Mario Williams was considered the #2 receiver in the country and the 16th best player overall in the 2021 when he signed with Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley and then followed Riley to LA when he took the USC job.
Shazz Preston was considered the #6 receiver in the country and the 45th best player overall in the 2022 when he signed with Alabama but didn’t record any stats in his two years in Tuscaloosa.
Yulkeith Brown was a 4* recruit out of Miami when he signed with Texas A&M in the 2021 class. He transferred to Tulane in 2023 after recording 6 catches in two years for the Aggies. Last season he had 33 receptions for 391 yards and 2 Tds for Tulane.
Wide Receiver to Watch
Slot Receiver – #4 – Mario Williams (Jr., 5’9”, 178)
I remember when Williams was a high-profile national recruit in 2021. I desperately wanted Clemson to land him, but he went to Oklahoma instead. I think he would consider his career a disappointment thus far, in terms of production. He decided to try a different coach after finding moderate success under Lincoln Riley at both Oklahoma and USC. He’s still lighting quick and is a problem if he finds open space. I don’t know if you’ve ever had to chase a small dog that doesn’t want to be caught, but I imagine trying to tackle Mario Williams is a similar experience.
He opened his account at Tulane with a bang last week, putting up 124 yards on 4 receptions but somehow didn’t manage to get in the endzone despite averaging 31 yards a reception. The Wildcat secondary had an issue with dealing with the opponent’s primary receiver last season and this could be a tough match-up for Sigle, who tends to pick up the slot receiver in coverage. Williams could be a hard cover for Joe Klanderman’s defense on Saturday.
Tight Ends
Red Circle (maybe it’s orange?)
Tulane uses a tight end in their base offense but will jettison the position on occasion when they get into their 4 wide look. They use their tight ends a good bit in the passing game, or at least they did last season.
Tight End to Watch
#87 – Alex Bauman (Jr., 6’5”, 245)
Bauman was Tulane’s 3rd leading receiver last season, pulling down 35 receptions for 286 yards and 5 touchdowns. We’re dealing with a different coaching staff this season, so take this for what it’s worth, but last season he was generally used as a short option in the regular passing game and an endzone option in the red zone. He was 2nd in touchdown receptions for the Green Wave.
Running Backs
Historically, Jon Sumrall likes to run the ball, control the clock and let his defense win games. In 2023, his Troy offense was led by Kimani Vidal who ended up 3 carries short of 300 on the season. Expect Sumrall to do the same thing at Tulane. Look for the run game, early and often on Saturday.
Running Back to Watch
#21 – Makhi Hughes (R-So., 5’11”, 210)
Hughes burst onto the college scene as a redshirt freshman last season, picking up 1378 yards and 7 touchdowns on 258 carries. He led the American Conference in attempts, yards, and plays from scrimmage and was second in the conference in yards from scrimmage.
Hughes and the Tulane offensive line vs Kansas State’s front 7 is the matchup I’ll be watching tomorrow. Tulane’s best chance to win this game is to establish the run with Hughes and then keep handing him the ball. The one area of concern I have on the Wildcat defense is the front 7’s ability to withstand a consistent running game. They’re going to need to find a way to win the early downs, because the worst-case scenario for the defense is Hughes grinding out first downs while Avery and company stew on the sidelines as the pressure builds.
Quarterback
Tulane had a 3-way tie for starting quarterback coming out of fall camp with 3 players given the “or” distinction on the depth chart. All 3 quarterbacks on the depth chart took snaps in the opener, but it looks like redshirt freshman Darian Mensah will get the bulk of the work if that game is any indication of Tulane’s future plans at the position. This is a bit of a surprise considering 2021 5* Oregon recruit Ty Thompson is on the roster. I assumed Thompson would be the guy based sheerly on talent, but it appears I’m wrong.
Quarterback to Watch
#10 – Darian Mensah (R-Fr., 6’3”, 200)
Mensah, the 3* recruit beat out Thompson, the 5* recruit when I’m going to guess the coaching staff really wanted Thompson to win the job. I’m guessing the Green Wave dropped some coin to land a former 5* without many miles on his arm, and the fact that Mensah beat him out makes me a little nervous.
In the opener he was an efficient 10/12 for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns. Like any freshman quarterback taking the field against a P4 team for the first time, I assume the ‘Cats will heat him up until he proves he can make good decisions against the blitz. Look for Klanderman to run a few junk coverages to try and trick the young quarterback into throwing it to the wrong team.
At 6’3”, 215 he’s a big guy and although Southeast Louisiana didn’t touch him very often, he looks like someone that’s going to be hard to bring down. He tucked the ball twice in the opener and picked up 14 yards total, so it seems like he can run a little as well. He’s got his work cut out for him tomorrow but has some talent.
Overall
It’s a simple formula for Tulane tomorrow. Establish the run, keep running it, and then run it some more, sprinkle in a couple deep play action passes to Mario Williams into the mix and profit.
Kansas State’s working the opposite of that gameplan. They need to win the early downs against the run game, get Mensah in 3rd and long and then unleash the beasts and put him under pressure.
Tulane is going to try and dominate time of possession in this one. The Kansas State run game can’t hurt you if they’re drinking water on the sideline. That’ where Coach Sumrall wants to keep them. This is a great early test for the defense against a solid Tulane run game. If they hold up tomorrow, they hype might be real. If they don’t, it could be a long season of screaming at the T.V.
I think the defense holds up and the ‘Cats hold Tulane under 3 scores.