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July 26, 2007

Holy Toledo! This often-used phrase will perhaps take on a new meaning this season in New Orleans as Bob Toledo begins his first season as the head coach of the Tulane Green Wave football program. Toledo's vision and energy have created a new wave of excitement not only in the New Orleans community, but with Tulane alumni throughout the country since his arrival to the Tulane campus on December 11, 2006.

Toledo brings more than 30 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Green Wave football team, including head coaching stints at UCLA, Pacific, Cal Riverside, and distinguished credentials from Texas A&M, USC, New Mexico and Oregon. He has coached in 13 bowl games, including seven of the traditional New Year's Day bowls, and has developed players into Heisman Trophy finalists, Outland Trophy winners, All-Americans, national champions and NFL Hall of Famers during his collegiate coaching career.

As Tulane begins its 113th season of football, the expectations for the 2007 squad are high and the Green Wave will feature an exciting team that will have an offense capable of a smash-mouth running game or the finesse of the West Coast passing attack. Regardless of its philosophy, Tulane should be a much improved unit on all three phases and will keep fans on the edge of their seats with plenty of gadget plays and trickery.

A total of 48 letterwinners (22 on the offensive side, 24 on defense and two specialists) return for the Green Wave, including 15 starters with five on offense, eight on defense and two specialists. On the roster this season are a total of 30 players who have seen time as regular starters or have been part time starters during their career.

On the offensive side of the ball, Tulane returns 90 percent of its rushing attack and two players who finished among the top five leaders in receptions in 2006. Several new wrinkles in the offense formations under Toledo will include the consistent use of a fullback and tight end.

The Green Wave defense will feature a multiple look, and its strength should be in its defensive line with the return of three starters, The Wave's linebacker corps returns five players who played in 10 or more games last season. Tulane's biggest area of uncertainty on defense is at both cornerbacks spots where the Wave lost its two starters to graduation. However, TU returns two starters and two veteran back-ups at the safety position, making that a spot a strength on the team as well.

Joining Tulane's returners this season will be a 24-member freshmen class, including three players who already enrolled and took part in spring drills.

"Our goals year-in and year-out are to win a conference championship and play in a bowl game," Toledo said. "I want this team to be physical and play hard, and show improvement with each game. My number one concern when I took this job was the strength and conditioning the team lost because of Hurricane Katrina. The team worked hard every day this past summer to get better and to catch up."

OFFENSE
The Green Wave offense returns 22 letterwinners, including five starters, and will feature a new multiple look under Toledo's regime. One of the first duties of the coaching staff will be to name a new quarterback and replacing two starters on the offensive line. The Tulane coaching staff and offensive personnel spent the entire spring campaign learning the new philosophies and alignments, and should be able to pick up where it left off in the spring. The Wave returns three starters on the offensive line, one starter each at running back and wide receiver.

Quarterbacks
Perhaps the most popular question about the 2007 Green Wave team is the quarterback position. Three-year starter Lester Ricard, who completed his career among the school's top five passing leaders in numerous categories, graduated and left big shoes to fill this season.

Toledo and his staff evaluated all three quarterbacks during spring practice and will not name a starter until fall camp is underway. All three of TU's returning quarterbacks possess quality traits. Junior Scott Elliott (6-2, 224) has the most experience, while sophomore Anthony Scelfo (5-10, 192) has the best mobility of the three quarterbacks, and redshirt freshman Kevin Moore (6-5, 229) flashed perhaps the strongest arm of the three candidates.

Elliott is a two-year letterwinner who has played in 13 games with three starts during his career. Although he played sparingly in six games a year ago, most of his experience came during his freshman season of 2005 when he played in seven games and earned three starting assignments. The first-year quarterback proved his ability on the collegiate level against Rice when he completed 22-of-37 pass attempts for 298 yards and three touchdowns. Elliott completed 52.2 percent of his pass attempts for 515 yards. Last season in more of a mop-up role, he managed just 30 pass attempts.

Scelfo, who doubled as a quarterback during the morning session of spring drills and a starter in the outfield for Tulane baseball in the evening, is a dual threat as a runner and in the passing game. Last season, he saw limited action in four games, but was very productive with his time. He completed 50 percent of his pass attempts and ran for 43 yards and a touchdown, which came at No. 10 LSU. Scelfo's speed and athleticism allowed the Green Wave to use him in a variety of ways last season.

Moore received a red-shirt as a freshman last season, but showed his talent with a solid spring outing. He solidified his role in the starting mix and could see playing time this season.

The lone freshman among the quarterbacks is Joe Kemp (6-3, 215), who completed his prep career at North Richland Hills (Texas) High School with 4,250 passing yards and 37 touchdowns.

Running Backs
The backfield is quite possibly the deepest and most talented spot on this year's team. Tulane returns a majority of its rushing attack from last season, including the senior trio of leading rushers Matt Forte (6-2, 225) with 859 yards, Ray Boudreaux (5-10, 204) with 175 yards and Ade Tuyo (6-0, 219) with 123 yards. All three backs started at least one game last year.

The heart and soul of the rushing attack will be Forte, who was well on his way to becoming Tulane's third running back to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in a single season before suffering a season-ending injury at Marshall and missing the final three games of the year. Forte had limited participation in spring drills, but will be 100 percent by fall camp. Last season, he averaged just under 100 yards per contest and turned in five 100-yard performances, including four straight 100-yard games at one point in the season. He busted loose for a 170-yard effort at Mississippi State and 178 yards vs. Rice.

Forte proved to be more than just a one-dimensional back last season as he finished fourth on the team in receptions (40) and receiving yards (360) despite playing in just nine games.

Boudreaux played in eight games a year ago and earned two starts. He turned in his best day with a 51-yard effort against Southern Miss. Boudreaux also shares kick return duties and averaged 18 yards per return last season.

Tuyo was pressed into a starting role in the final game of the year at Tulsa, where he registered a majority of his rushing yards of the season with 64 yards. He turned in a strong performance during the spring and broke off a 44-yard score in the spring game.

Sophomore Andre Anderson (6-0, 207) also returns after appearing in six games last season and producing one touchdown against Army.

A duo of true freshmen will compete for playing time this fall, including Andre Agers (5-9, 186) and J.T. McDonald (5-9, 219). Agers ran for 2,382 yards and 36 touchdowns on 296 carries during his final prep season, while McDonald posted 1,560 all-purpose yards and scored 18 touchdowns as a senior.

A new look for Tulane fans this season will be the use of the fullback position as an every-down spot in the Green Wave offense. Last season, TU utilized the fullback sparingly. In fact, departing senior fullback Ian Miller earned just one carry the entire year.

TU returns two fullbacks in sophomore Jeremy McKinney (6-1, 230), who made the transition from linebacker to fullback late last season and became more accustomed to the role during spring drills. Sophomore walk-on Leo Webb (6-1, 228) also returns as a fullback this season, but has never carried the ball.

A trio of newcomers will compete for playing time and perhaps a starting spot this fall, including Cody Blackwelder (6-1, 220), Josh Smith (6-1,250) and Jordan Stephany (6-0, 240).

Blackwelder concluded his prep career ranked seventh on his high school charts in rushing and scoring after he galloped for 2,072 yards on 286 carries, scored 28 touchdowns on the ground, one through the air and came up with five two-point conversions.

Smith played tight end and defensive line in high school, while Stephany ran for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns on 144 carries and hauled in 12 passes for 136 yards.

Receivers
If Tulane's running backs are the most experienced group on offense, the receiving corps has to be the deepest with 14 players. TU's returning wideouts include seniors Kenneth Guidroz (6-3, 228) and Fred Smith (5-8, 188), juniors Brian King (6-2, 185) and Michael Batiste (6-3, 195) and sophomores Chris Dunn (6-3, 215) and Jeremy Williams (6-2,194), while senior Evan Smith (5-7, 172) also returns. Tulane's returning wideouts combined for 95 receptions, 1,240 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago.

Williams, who started eight of 11 games last season, is Tulane's top returning receiver with 40 catches for 484 yards and two scores en route to earning honorable mention Freshman All-America honors by The Sporting News.

King and Dunn each played in every game and earned two starts last season. King completed the season with 16 receptions for 272 yards and three scores, while Dunn notched 15 catches for 189 yards.

Batiste played in every game last season with one start and recorded 12 catches for 132 yards and one score, while Guidroz played in the first six games and produced 10 receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns, but suffered a season-ending injury midway through the year.

Fred Smith, who played in every game last season, finished the season with two catches. However, Smith was used as the Green Wave's primary kick-off and punt returner a year ago after coming back from a season-ending injury in 2005.

A group of four redshirt freshmen will push TU's returners for playing time when fall camp begins. The foursome includes Shannon Davis (6-0, 170), D'Metres Hill (6-0, 182), Alan Mitchell (6-3, 177) and Casey Robottom (5-11, 175).

Both Davis and Hill begin this season at receiver after spending their redshirt season at a different position. Davis was a defensive back, while Hill came to Tulane as a quarterback.

Mitchell and Robottom both enter their first season of full time duty; however, Robottom turned in an impressive spring campaign and has managed to crack the depth chart.

A group of three true freshmen, including Chandler Davis (6-0, 180), Taylor Echols (6-1, 178) and Charles Gaspard (6-1, 171), enter fall camp with hopes of competing for playing time.

Chandler Davis registered 26 catches for 436 yards and seven touchdowns during his senior year of high school, while Echols snared 26 passes for 341 yards and five touchdowns during his final prep season.

Gaspard, a walk-on, enrolled at Tulane for the spring semester and will be a step ahead of his counterparts after learning the offense in spring drills.

Tight End
Like the fullback spot, the tight end is another position on offense that will be heavily featured in Toledo's new offense. The Green Wave returns two letterwinners in senior Gabe Ratcliff (6-3, 245) and junior Justin Kessler (6-4, 248), and features Antoine Duplessis (6-3, 252) and Tyler Helm (6-5, 233), two freshmen will most likely see some playing time.

Ratcliff is the Wave's top returning tight end after playing in 11 games and earning three starting assignments. He led Tulane's tight ends in receptions (10) and yards (108) last season and accounted for one score.

Kessler begins his first full season at the tight end spot after playing a majority of his first two years on special teams. He turned in a solid spring campaign and will compete for a starting position this fall.

Duplessis was named first-team all-district during his final two prep seasons, while Helm enrolled during the spring semester and was a bright spot among the tight ends during spring drills, which earned him a spot on the depth chart entering the fall. Previously, Helm attended Fork Union Military Academy in fall 2006 and caught 12 passes for 200-plus yards and three touchdowns.

Offensive Line
The Green Wave returns seven letterwinners, including three starters, on the offensive line this season, and will feature two redshirt freshman, one returning squad member, five newcomers and one player making a switch from the defensive line to the offensive line.

Returning starters up front for TU are Aryan Barto (6-4, 280), the lone senior on the offensive line and juniors Michael Parenton (6-3, 304) and Troy Kropog (6-6, 305). The trio played in every game last season and started in at least 11 contests.

Barto and Parenton will trade spots this season. Last season, Parenton started 11 of 12 games at center, while Barto started 11 of 12 games at left guard. During the spring campaign, Barto was tabbed as the starting center, while Parenton moved over to starting left guard. Kropog will once again be counted on to start at left tackle, while senior Scott Holt (6-6, 298) is second on the depth chart at left tackle.

Redshirt freshman Kevin Leary (6-3, 294) worked his way onto the depth chart and will enter the fall as Barto's backup.

Sophomore Oscar Ponce de Leon played in 10 games on the defensive line as a true freshman last season, but has been moved to the opposite side of the ball this season. Ponce de Leon seemed to be a natural fit on TU's offensive line even though he has never played on offense throughout his football career and enters the fall as Parenton's backup.

Redshirt freshman Pete Hendrickson (6-7, 280) played well enough during the spring to earn the staring spot at right tackle, while sophomore Nick Landry (6-7, 309) will enter fall camp as the backup. Last season, Landry played in eight games and earned one start, and was named to the All-Conference USA Freshman team.

Next to Barto at right guard will be sophomore Travis Olexa (6-4, 297), who worked his way into the starting roll during spring drills. Last season, Olexa played in three games. Scheduled to backup Olexa at right guard is classmate Tyler Rice (6-5, 306).

Sophomore John Landa (6-4, 335) also returns to the offensive line. Landa spent the majority of the 2006 campaign on special teams.

A group of five newcomers will look to work their way into the line-up this fall including Andrew Higgins (6-3, 275), J.D. Jeanes (6-6, 279), Andrew Nierman (6-2, 295), Joey Ray (6-3, 308) and Dhamari Thomas (6-2, 290).

Higgins was rated as the No. 27 offensive guard in the country by ESPN.com Recruiting Insider, while Jeanes was a three-time all-district performer, and Nierman helped pave the way at nearby John Curtis High School for one of the nation's top offenses as the Patriots averaged 8.83 yards per carry, registered 4,310 yards of total offense and scored 58 touchdowns.

Ray was named first-team all-state and all-district during his final two prep seasons, while Thomas earned all-district honors in each of his three prep seasons.

DEFENSE
The Green Wave defense should be much improved from last year with the return of eight starters and 24 total letterwinners. The group proved to be quick learners of Toledo's new defensive schemes, and did a good job as a unit with recognition and reaction during the spring. The biggest question with this year's unit will be at each of the cornerback positions where Tulane lost both of its starters.

Defensive Line
Tulane's defensive line will be stacked with experience and depth with the return of eight letterwinners, including five players who started at least one game last season. This group combined for 132 tackles, including 24 stops for lost yardage, and 7.5 quarterback sacks a year ago.

TU's defensive line begins with three players who have played in a combined 102 games with 71 starts. The senior trio includes Antonio Harris (6-3, 285), Frank Morton (6-3, 227) and Avery Williams (6-2, 290), who will be counted on to lead the charge on defense this fall.

Harris has started all 34 games of his career and has led the Green Wave's defensive line in tackles all three years. Last season, he contributed 33 tackles, including six takedowns for lost yardage and 2.5 quarterback sacks from his right end position.

Morton and Williams will plug the middle of the TU defense with their run-stopping ability, while also providing a legitimate pass rush. The duo accounted for 31 and 30 tackles, respectively, last season, and combined for 12 stops for lost yardage. Morton's 8.5 stops for lost yardage accounted for minus 39 yards, and he was credited with a team-best four sacks. Along with his ability to stop the run and pressure the quarterback, Williams also recovered two fumbles.

Joining the seniors on the front line will be sophomore Logan Kelley (6-2, 245), who solidified a starting spot at left end during the spring campaign. Last season, Kelley played in 11 games and produced 12 tackles, including one stop for lost yardage, one pass breakup and forced one fumble.

Sophomore Adam Kwentua (6-3, 249) played in every game as a true freshman and registered eight tackles. He enters fall drills behind Kelley at left end.

Junior Julian Shives-Sams (6-3, 275) will once again see plenty of playing time at left tackle this season, as he secured his spot behind Morton on the depth chart at the conclusion of spring drills. Last season, Shives-Sams played in every game and chalked up 15 tackles, including 1.5 takedowns for lost yardage, one sack and pass breakup, and he blocked one field goal attempt.

Playing on the right side of Shives-Sams will be redshirt freshman Tony Bryant (6-3, 256), who established himself as a valuable backup to Williams during the spring season, and enters his first season of full time service.

Backing up Harris on the right side will be Troy Wilson (6-2, 239), who is making the transition from linebacker to defensive end this season. During his freshman year, Wilson played in 11 games, made 16 tackles, including 1.5 stops for lost yardage, and was named to the Conference USA All-Freshmen squad.

A familiar face returning to the gridiron this season will be Sean Carney (6-3, 252), who started the season opener at Houston and played in the first three games last season before suffering a season-ending back injury. Although he did not compete in spring drills, Carney will look to make his way back into his role at defensive end this season.

Junior redshirt Reggie Scott (6-3, 270) played in one game last season, but missed the majority of the season with a shoulder injury. Scott has played in nine career games during his time at Tulane.

Three newcomers will look to work their way onto the field this season, including Justin Adams (5-11, 255), Brooks Cunningham (6-2, 245) and Cedric Wilson (6-2, 240).

Adams is a workhorse, who was rated as the No. 48 inside linebacker in the nation by ESPN.com's RecruitTracker, tallied 106 tackles, including 75 solo stops, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 84 quarterback hurries during his senior season.

Cunningham posted 101 tackles, including 37 tackles for lost yardage, a school-record 18 sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal during his final prep year.

Wilson played on the defensive line and at tight end for his high school team and accounted for 70 tackles, including 41 solo stops and seven sacks, and hauled in 17 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns.

Linebackers
Tulane's linebackers resembled a MASH unit last season as the group was decimated by injuries throughout the 2006 season. With so many injuries, the position was filled with numerous players who gained valuable time, making the linebackers a young, but experienced group. Tulane's linebacker corps returns six letterwinners, including three starters, and features two players making a position switch and one newcomer.

Leading the charge will be returning starters, juniors Evan Lee (6-2, 232) and James Dillard (6-2, 230) at middle and weakside linebacker, respectively, and the return of sophomore Cody Sparks (6-4, 247) at strongside linebacker.

Lee started seven of 12 games last season and tallied 45 tackles, 3.5 stops for lost yardage, one sack, forced one fumble and picked off his first career pass at Marshall. He earned honorable mention all-conference honors and turned in an impressive spring campaign.

Dillard was the lone linebacker to start all 12 games last season and he produced the third-most tackles on the team with 55, including three takedowns. Although he was sidelined the entire spring with an injury, he is expected to resume his starting role on the TU defense this fall.

During his first three games last season, Sparks showed the potential to be a budding standout on the Green Wave defense, but he suffered a season-ending injury at No. 10 LSU. He returned this past spring and worked his way into a starting role.

Junior Jordan Ellis (6-2, 225) will once again fill his role at middle linebacker this season. Ellis started four of 11 games and accounted for 39 tackles, two stops for lost yardage, one sack and one pass breakup.

Sophomore James McMurchy (6-1, 233) secured a spot on the depth chart behind Dillard at weakside LB this past spring. Last season, McMurchy played in 10 games with one starting assignment and registered nine tackles, one stop behind the line and one pass breakup.

Sophomore redshirt David Kirksey (6-2, 225) is slated as the backup on the strongside entering fall camp. Kirksey played in all 12 games a year ago and accounted for eight tackles.

Making his way from the defensive secondary into TU's linebacker group this past spring was sophomore Travis Burks (6-1, 202), who not only played in the defensive back field last season and produced eight tackles, but was forced into the role of kick returner in last year's finale at Tulsa.

Also returning this fall will be sophomore-redshirt Christian Okoye (6-0, 206), who is also a newcomer to the linebacker spot. Last season, Okoye played in one game in the secondary for Tulane.

The lone newcomer to the linebacker position is actually already a familiar face to the Green Wave football team. Freshman Lamont Simmons (6-2, 213) was one of three newcomers who enrolled at Tulane last spring and participated in spring drills. During his final prep season at nearby O.P. Walker High School, Simmons posted 78 tackles, seven sacks and three forced fumbles.

Defensive Backs
Tulane's defensive secondary is a very experienced group with three returning players who started at least seven games last season and four other players who started at least one contest a year ago. Tulane's safeties appear to be the strength of the secondary, while two new cornerbacks will be tested early and often this season.

Junior David Skehan (6-1, 207) and senior Joe Goosby (6-1, 218) will be looked upon for leadership and experience this season at the two safety spots while backups, senior Louis Thomas (6-0, 196) and sophomore Chinonso Echebelem (6-2, 200), make the safety position one of the best on the team.

Skehan, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship during the final week of two-a-days last August, proved to be one of the Wave's top players on defense after leading the team in both tackles (80) and interceptions (4), and had one INT return for a score. He also accounted for 6.5 stops for lost yardage, a half sack, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. For his efforts, Skehan was rewarded with All-Conference USA Third team honors and he returns this fall as the starter at free safety.

Goosby was everywhere last year, playing every position on defense but defensive line. He began the season at safety, but was soon playing linebacker and a version of a bandit linebacker. Goosby made the most of his different roles by finishing in a tie for fourth place on the team in tackles with 54. Despite playing part of the season with an arm injury, he managed to produce 5.5 stops for lost yardage, 2.5 sacks, six pass breakups, which were the second most on the team, and he forced and recovered one fumble each.

Thomas started seven of 12 games last fall and tied Goosby for fourth place in tackles with 54 apiece. Thomas also contributed three takedowns for lost yardage and two sacks. He enters fall drills behind Skehan on the depth chart at free safety.

Echebelem turned in a solid fall camp last season as freshman, but injuries prevented him from a strong start. However, he managed to play in 11 games and started four of the final five games of the year. Echebelem totaled 31 tackles, including one stop for lost yardage and three pass breakups. He begins fall camp behind Goosby at strong safety.

Sophomore Corey Sonnier (5-11, 195) battled his way through the spring and made his way onto Tulane's depth chart at free safety entering the fall. Last season, Sonnier played in eight games, but mostly on special teams.

An area of concern on defense is at cornerback, where two players enter their first year as full-time starters for the Green Wave. This past spring, senior Carlis Jackson (5-11, 180) worked his way into the starting spot at the left corner, while junior Josh Lumar (5-11, 178) will hold down the right corner position. Entering fall drills as the backups are sophomore Alex Wacha (5-11, 191) on the right side and junior-redshirt Charles Harris (6-3, 185) on the opposite side.

Jackson played in 11 games last season and earned his first career start at No. 10 LSU. He tallied 22 tackles on the year, including one stop for lost yardage, and notched one breakup and one forced fumble.

Lumar started four of 11 games played a year ago and accounted for 35 takedowns, including 3.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, three pass breakups and forced one fumble.

Wacha played in the first 10 games of the year and earned his first career start against Southern Miss, but suffered an injury in that game and missed the final two contests of the year. Prior to his injury, Wacha amassed 21 tackles, including one stop for lost yardage.

Regarded as one of the fastest players on the team, Harris began last season as a receiver and played in the first two games of the year before an ankle injury sidelined him for the season. Harris made a quick transition from receiver to corner this past spring.

Two other returning letterwinners to the cornerback position are junior O'Lindsey Brown (5-11, 190) and sophomore speedster Matt Harding (5-10, 175). Brown played in nine games and made two tackles, while Harding's season was cut short two games into the year after he suffered a shoulder injury. Harding accounted for two tackles last season.

The TU secondary will be infused with a talented group of newcomers, including Dominique Dade (5-9, 190), Phillip Davis (5-9, 160) and Devin Holland (6-0, 200). Dade and Davis are expected to compete for playing time at cornerback, while Holland will vie for time at safety.

Dade saw time as a cornerback and quarterback in high school and threw for 1,187 yards and 14 touchdowns while running for 625 yards and five scores on 75 carries during his senior season. He snatched five interceptions during his junior campaign.

During his prep career, Davis saw action as a defensive back, wide receiver and punt returner, and tallied 39 tackles and a state-best seven interceptions on defense, averaged 87 yards on nine grabs on offense, and scored twice while averaging 10 yards per punt return on special teams as a senior.

Holland was named first-team all-state, all-metro and co-district MVP after posting 95 tackles, including 18 for loss, eight sacks, two interceptions and a fumble return for a touchdown. He capped off his prep career by capturing the state title in the 100-meter dash at the state track meet.

Special Teams
Tulane lost one of the best punters in school history with the graduation of Chris Beckman, a three-time all-conference performer and a member of the Ray Guy Award list as a senior. Stepping into Beckman's shadow will be freshman Darren deRochemont (5-9, 190).

deRochemont brings solid credentials to the Green Wave. He was rated as the 10th-best punter in the nation by Scout.com, 21st by ESPN.com's RecruitTracker and 25th by Rivals.com, and also ranked as the No. 4 punter and the No. 9 kicker in the country at the Chris Sailer National Kicking Competitions. Through his prep career, he averaged 42.1 yards on 116 punts with 31 downed inside the 20 yard line and another 29 fair caught.

Returning to handle the Wave's place-kicking chores is sophomore Ross Thevenot (6-0, 186). Last season as a true freshman, Thevenot earned the staring nod, and despite a slow start, he connected on 9-of-15 field goal attempts, including four straight at one point during the season, and converted 23-of-28 point-after-attempts. Thevenot's 60 points ranked second on the team, and he recorded six touchbacks on kickoffs.

Both Thevenot and deRochemont's success this season depends on one player, junior Craig Gelhardt (6-3, 250), who has been a model of consistency as the deep snapper for the Green Wave throughout his career. He has played in 23 straight games and garnered honorable mention all-conference merits last season.

Heading up kickoff return will be the duo of Fred Smith and Ray Boudreaux, while Smith or Brian King is expected to handle punt returns.

Smith ranks fifth all-time at Tulane in kickoff returns and fifth in kickoff return yards, and also ranks sixth in punt return average, sixth in punt return yardage and seventh in total returns.