USF Vs Tulane Week 5 Review

Patrick Harkness • September 30, 2024

USF 10 vs Tulane 45 

By: Patrick Harkness 

Spread: Tulane -6 

Total: 64.5 


Tulane showcased what this team can do. They finally played all 4 quarters and dominated all aspects of the game. Mensah and this passing attack is down right SCARY. The offensive line is firing on all cylinders. The defense finally stopped the run and the pass rush arrived but from some unsung heroes. 

Let's get into the Review 

Offense 

Quarterback – Mensah Madness 

Mensah showed everyone in Nola why Jon Sumrall chose him to be QB1. The redshirt freshman was 18/22 with 326 yards and 3 touchdowns. This was his breakout game and great to see cause his confidence will sky rocket now. He was great in the pocket all game and what I loved to see was when the pressure got to him he was able to evade and roll out especially on a 15 yard touchdown pass to Dante Fleming. Great touch! His improvising will be amazing to see for this Tulane team rolling forward. Some of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL now have some sort of improvising skill. It was great to see this young man play all 4 quarters. 


Ty Thompson – Ty the Typhoon 

Ty Thompson continues to be one of my favorite players on this team. His package is averaging around 5 yards a play and 4 touchdowns, 1 by air and 3 on the ground. Teams are struggling to contain this athlete because the Ty-phoon package is very similar to the wildcat by allowing Ty Thompson to be that extra man to attack the defense. He added to his stats today with 7 carries for 39 yards 


Running Back – Team effort

Makhi Hughes had a decent day on the ground with 17 carries for 61 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was nice to see this offense not have to rely on Makhi for a game. The passing attack and pass blocking were so dominant Makhi didn't have to put Tulane on his back. Instead it was more of a team effort as the game went on and Tulane kept pulling away. Arnold Barnes looked like he was getting back to his old self with 7 carries for 36 yards (5.6 avg). Shadie Clayton came back from a concussion last week with 5 carries for 31 yards (6.2). And rounding out the running back room, Trey Cornist finished the game with 7 carries for 26 yards and a score. 


Receiving Game – Dontae's Peak Performance 

Dontae Fleming, have yourself a game! 7 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. It's finally great to see the offseason award winner of the Trident award put on a show for us fans at Yulman stadium. You can see all the effort he has put in the offseason by Dontae having his breakout game. Mario Williams almost got to 100 yards as well but fell short with 94 with 4 catches and 2 touchdowns. His speed was on full display this game by burning the coverage for two easy touchdowns. Yulkeith Brown continues to be a very reliable receiver catching the ball and running out of the back field. 3 catches for 55 yards Let's hope this coaching staff keeps playing with his role because he has so much untapped potential to dominate a game. Alex Bauman only had 2 catches for 34 yards today but he set the tone early on with the very first pass of the game for a long 34 yards. 


Offensive Line – Well Oiled Machine 

330 yards passing with ZERO sacks, 198 yards rushing (4.0 avg) and six total touchdowns, Also if I recall only one penalty. This offensive line has learned from their previous mistakes and is starting to show the College football world what they're all about. It's great to see this line starting to jell and keeping an open pocket for a young QB and opening up holes for Makhi. Remember this is one of the most experienced Olines in college football and theyre only going to get better. 


Players of the Game- Darian Mensah and the OLINE 


Defense- 3 Forced Fumbles

Defensive Line – Have they Arrived? 

        The defensive line is starting to click but it's from players you wouldn't expect it from. Mathew Fobbs White is still learning the bandit role but he was creating a lot of pressure early on in this game. Got a nice pass deflection and a tackle for loss. Look for him to build off this game with Tulane still needing something from that position. Gerrod Henderson may need to get some snaps after a 2 sack game with Parker Peterson having a sack as well. Patrick Jenkins got his 2nd sack of the season, Elijah Champaigne and Kam Hamilton also got into the action with a half a sack for both. That's a total of 5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss and only 26 yards rushing by this defensive line on the day. They're still not fully there YET but you're starting to see what they got: Pass rush and run stopping. 


Linebackers 

Tyler Grubbs draft stock just keeps climbing after each game. He led the team again in tackles with 6 and added a sack. He now has 22 tackles, 2 sacks, and an interception for a touchdown on the year. 


Secondary – Shutdown City 

Caleb Ransaw showed the college world why he is one of the best nickel corners in the game. Sean Atkins, slot wide receiver for USF is a very very good player and Caleb Ransaw stepped up and shut him down. Only allowing 3 catches for 20 yards and Sean Atkins fumbled the ball. It's hard for Caleb to show up on the stat line because teams are afraid to throw to him and he showcased that today. He finished the day with 4 tackles. The secondary as a unit was going to get challenged when Tulane started to pull away early in the game and they did not disappoint by only allowing 16 catches for 175 yards. Micah Robinson continues to get better each week but did get burnt early on, Brown was not able to connect. He finished the day with 2 tackles and a pass deflection. Youngster Jayden Lewis, Tulanes highest rated commit ever got in on some action today with 2 tackles. 


Player of the Game: Caleb Ransaw 

Special Teams 

Kicker/Punter 

Ethen Head had a decent day by going 1/1 on a 35 yard field goal and knocking down all his extra points. With each game his confidence will build

Will Karrol had to punts for 77 yards with a long of 45. He started the season a little shaky but seems to be settling in as a reliable punter 


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Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 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.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
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.
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