Tulane Week 2 Preview
David Rainey • September 9, 2023
Tulane took care of business in week 1 against South Alabama, but week 2 is here and a new challenge awaits. Ole Miss is coming to town, and with all due respect to South Alabama, Lane Kiffin and company are a different beast.
Tulane enters the game number 24 overall, while Ole Miss comes in ranked 20th. In my opinion this game seems to be flying under the radar. While Tulane has more respect from national media this year than in years past, it still feels like they are being written off by many experts. But make no mistake about it, Ole Miss is absolutely on upset watch this weekend.
Ole Miss comes into this weekend fresh off a STRONG 73-7 win over Mercer. Sure, it was against Mercer, but 73 points is 73 points. Junior quarterback Jaxson Dart was impressive in his first game throwing for 334 yards and four touchdowns while completing 78% of his passes. He also added 36 yards on the ground. Clearly, Lane Kiffin is going to allow his quarterback to let it fly.
For Tulane, the story of last week was also the quarterback position. Michael Pratt was nearly perfect completing 14 of 15 passes for 294 yards and 4 touchdowns himself, as well as 41 yards rushing. Senior receiver Jha ‘Quan Jackson was his favorite target racking up 106 yards and two touchdowns. The difference here is, unlike Lane Kiffin, I don’t think airing it out is necessarily what head coach Willie Fritz wants to do.
Keys to the game
- Establish the run
- Willie Fritz is known for being a run first head coach, and that was never more evident than it was last season. The problem is, last year Coach Fritz was able to rely on superstar running back Tyjae Spears. This year Spears is backing up Derrick Henry in Tennessee, so someone is going to have to fill the void left by him in the Tulane offense. The question is who? Four different backs got touches in week one for Tulane as Coach Fritz tries to find his workhorse. In my opinion, the guy who should get first crack at that role in week two is freshman Makhi Hughes. I thought Hughes had the strongest first impression in week one. He was the only back who seemed to get anything going and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. I think Tulane should feed Hughes to establish the run like Coach Fritz would want, and that will open up the big plays downfield for Michael Pratt like we saw in week one.
- Limit Big Plays
- We had linebacker Corey Platt on the Who F’n Kneauxs Podcast this week, and he told us about a huge focus for the defense this week being limiting the shot plays that Coach Kiffin is known for. So, the pressure is on cornerbacks Lance Robinson and Jarius Monroe and the rest of the secondary to make sure Jaxson Dart doesn’t have a repeat performance of week one. Robinson had a fumble recovery and an interception against South Alabama, and it will be crucial for the defense to create turnovers again to get the ball back in Michael Pratts hands. I believe they are up for the challenge.
- Get pressure on Jaxson Dart
- Tulane can’t afford to allow Jaxson Dart to be as comfortable as he was against Mercer. It’s safe to assume the Green Wave will put up a better fight than Mercer in that regard. In week one, the thing that stood out to me more than anything was the ability of the defensive line to get pressure on the quarterback. Especially in third and long situations, it felt like Patrick Jenkins and crew were getting to the quarterback every single time. So, if Tulane can get the Rebels behind the chains, I have faith in defensive coordinator Shiel Wood to draw up plays to get pressure on Jaxson Dart and force him to make a few mistakes.
Key injuries for the Green Wave
- Tulane linebacker Corey Platt Jr will miss this week’s game according to Coach Willie Fritz
- Quarterback Michael Pratt has been dealing with an ankle injury, but Coach Fritz says he’s available to play. It’ll be worth keeping an eye on whether the injury limits Pratt in any way.
Both teams dominated against weaker opponents last year, but neither Tulane nor Ole Miss will overlook each other this week. Both teams know they are in for a battle Saturday afternoon. For Tulane, this is a chance to prove last season’s success wasn’t a fluke. And while losing to Ole Miss wouldn’t be nail in the coffin for the season by any stretch, upsetting the Rebels would immediately cause expectations for the Wave to skyrocket.
Make no mistake about it, the Green Wave are underdogs in this game and rightfully so. It’s not disrespectful to say that, but this isn’t a David vs. Goliath situation. We saw David vs. Goliath in the Cotton Bowl, and if you recall, David won that battle. Tulane doesn’t just have a puncher’s chance in this game. They have the ability to go blow for blow with the Rebels for 12 rounds. The question is can they do the things that are necessary to win this game. If they can limit turnovers while creating turnovers themselves, establish the run, and play sound defense, they can send Ole Miss back home with a loss.
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LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.