Who should be Tulane's RB1?

David Rainey • September 18, 2023

            It’s always hard to replace a legend, and that’s exactly what Tulane Head Coach Willie Fritz is attempting to do this season after losing running-back Tyjae Spears to the NFL.  Spears finished last season with 1581 yards rushing and 19 rushing touchdowns, as well as 256 yards receiving and two touchdowns through the air.  Spears was one of the greatest running-backs in Green Wave history and was a perfect fit for Coach Fritz’s mentality on offense.  Coach Fritz has always been a run-first coach, so it’s no surprise that even after Spears’ departure he has continued with that approach in the 2023 season.  The issue with that approach coming into the season was that he didn’t seem to have a clear-cut number one running-back.  However, I believe after three games one guy has started to separate himself from the rest of the pack.


            To this point, we’ve seen Coach Fritz take the running-back by committee approach and deploy four different guys at the position: Shaadie Clayton-Johnson, Iverson Celestine, Shedro Louis, and Makhi Hughes. I think it’s fair to say that each one has flashed a time or two when given the chance, but in my opinion, freshman Makhi Hughes has stood out the most.


            In week one against South Alabama, Hughes was the last player to get the opportunity to show what he could do.  He finished the game with eight carries for 41 yards and averaged 5.1 yards per carry.  But stats alone aren’t enough to declare Hughes the number one back.  So, what about Hughes makes him the perfect guy to take the torch from Tyjae Spears?


            When you put on film of Makhi Hughes, his blend of power and balance immediately jump off the screen.  These physical traits combined with his quick decision making are what make Hughes a fascinating player.  At 5’11 205 pounds, Hughes fits that “bowling ball” term that’s been coined throughout the sport.  In the clip below from the week one game against Southern Alabama, you can see all the attributes I mentioned on display.  After he gets the ball Hughes is patient, but the second he sees a hole open he puts his foot in the ground and cuts up field.  He then absorbs a hit in the legs from one defender while shedding an arm tackle from another.  If that wasn’t impressive enough, he bounces off a safety coming down hill with ease and within milliseconds stops and avoids another defensive back with a spin move back towards the middle of the field. 


            That single play from week one shows everything that Hughes is capable of.  However, week one only gave us a taste of Makhi Hughes.  The freshman’s best game to date came in week two against Ole Miss.  Facing his most difficult challenge in an SEC opponent, Hughes finished the game with 23 carries for 92 yards and his first touchdown. 


            This play may not seem like much, and to be fair, it was only a gain of a few yards.  But I think it’s the perfect example of Hughes’ strength.  Hughes hits a wall of players two yards short of the first down marker, but he continues to drive his legs and uses his strength to carry three defenders and get the first down.  The strength he already has as a freshman is impressive, and you imagine that he will only get stronger as he gets older.


             Here is another example of Hughes’ instincts and his ability to make the right decisions quickly.  He takes the handoff from Kai Horton, makes one small jump cut to the right then shoots through the hole.  Another thing that you’ll notice in this clip is that the first defender again is unable to bring him down.  He bounces off the linebacker at the first down marker and gains five more yards before he is finally brought down.  The balance and power Hughes has at his age is special.


            In this final clip we see a different wrinkle in the Tulane running game with Makhi Hughes as the wildcat quarterback.  Even with the entire Ole Miss defense knowing he was getting the ball; we see the same story play out.  Hughes gets the ball, makes the quick cut to the hole, then uses his power to blow through every defender in his path to the end zone. 

            In week three Tulane battled Southern Miss, and it seemed that Coach Fritz was starting to come around to the idea of Hughes being the number one back.  He outpaced all other backs with 14 carries.  He took full advantage of those 14 carries racking up 83 yards.  Most of his damage came in the fourth quarter as Coach Fritz leaned on Makhi to close out Southern Miss. 


            While I believe that Makhi Hughes is the most talented running-back on the Green Wave roster and should be the number one back, I don’t believe he is the only talented running-back on the roster.  All four of the guys I mentioned at the beginning of this article have talent and have made a case to get touches.  One is sophomore Shaadie Clayton-Johnson.  Makhi Hughes isn’t a slow back by any means, but it’s fair to say that speed isn’t what he’s becoming known for.  At all levels of football these days we see teams have multiple running backs that complement each other, and in my opinion, Clayton-Johnson can the sidekick to Makhi Hughes. 

            Clayton-Johnson only finished with two less carries than Hughes against Southern Miss and rushed for 66 yards himself.  For the season, Shaadie is averaging a respectable 4.7 yards per carry on 23 carries for 109 yards.  He has had a plethora of moments, especially this past weekend against Southern Miss, where he looked like the most explosive back on the roster.  His performances thus far have proven that he deserves to be on the field.


            Like I mentioned, Coach Fritz wants to operate with a run-heavy scheme, so there are more than enough touches to go around for both Hughes and Clayton-Johnson.  However, I think Makhi Hughes has shown the ability to be a true workhorse back.  The recipe for Coach Fritz going forward should be a heavy dose of Makhi Hughes, with a side of Shaadie Clayton-

Johnson and a true speedster like Shedro Louis sprinkled in from time to time. 

            It’s hard to replace an all-time great player, and by no means am I saying that Makhi Hughes will live up to or surpass the production of Tyjae Spears.  But he doesn’t have to for Tulane to be just as successful again this season.  However, with that said, I do believe that Makhi Hughes has all the traits to be a special talent and have an incredible career in his own right, and I think Coach Fritz should give him the chance to do just that. 


*All clips and stats were provided by ESPN*


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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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