A lot has been made of Tulane’s impressive weapon haul this offseason. Numerous question marks (DB, WR, QB) have been erased by Sumrall and Company’s tireless work in the portal.
Everyone wants to talk about skill positions, but the most important position on the field when push comes to shove is still a question mark for the Green Wave. The guys you don’t find on the stat sheet.
Of course, I’m talking about the big uglies up front, the offensive line. The O line will be the X factor for the 2024 team. The departing talent is massive, literally. Let’s break down who we are losing and who might replace their gargantuan production.
As they say, you’re only as good as your protection, and Tulane benefited from excellent protection this past year. The 2023 line was anchored by team captain and first team all-AAC center Sincere Haynesworth. The heart and soul of the green wave.
Haynesworth started nearly 50 games at center and has been a fixture upfront for the wave since 2019. Sincere has now been at Tulane for 5 years and sadly must move on to the NFL. We all owe him a massive thank you for keeping Pratt, Tyjae, Makhi and so many others upright during this great run.
If Haynesworth’s massive frame and even bigger personality weren’t enough to replace, fellow 2023 first team all AAC lineman Cam Wire and his childhood friend 2022 first team all AAC lineman Prince Pines have both exhausted their eligibility.
Over 100 starts in college football between the 3 departing 5th years is a testament to the incredible longevity and talent of Pines, Haynesworth and Wire. All three will have a great chance to play on Sundays. It is brutal to try and replace just one all-conference lineman but 3, an enormous challenge. I speak for all of green wave nation when I say each of you will be missed immensely.
As the veteran leadership that led the 2023 team departs, it’s time to look at who will be the key cogs in the all important 2024 unit with playoff aspirations.
#69 RT Rashad Green
The 6’4” 300 lb Junior RT was a consistent starter on the right side throughout both Tyjae Spears and Makhi Hughes’ historic seasons. He was named 2022 AAC offensive lineman of the year by College Football Network and 2023 3rd team all AAC. If theres one certainty on next year’s team, it’s Green creating holes on the right side. His announcement to run it back was one of the most important secured this season. Look to Green’s senior leadership to anchor this unit in 2024.
#68 RG Josh Remetich
The only thing better than one rising senior with starting experience on the right side is two rising seniors with starting experience on the right side.
The 6’4 295 pound New Orleans product has been a Swiss army knife on the offensive line throughout his time at Tulane. He has spent time on the left side and the right side in his 3 years of service uptown. As he did in the cotton bowl above, he spent the majority of his 2023 on the right next to Rashad at right guard.
Expect 68 & 69 to be the two starters you can write in pen for 2024. The right side will not only be leaders on this line but the preferred direction of freshman all American Makhi Hughes and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock.
#56 LG Shadre Hurst
Makhi was a well deserving recipient of freshman all America honors but he wasn’t the only one. He was joined by fellow first year phenom, Shadre Hurst.
The Cartersville, GA native was a high school wrestling champion. The 6’2 305 rising sophomore boasts a bench press of 405 pounds and a squat of 545. Returning offensive line coach, Dan Roushar, said before the season “The sky’s the limit” for Hurst.
Shadre had massive shoes to fill when Prince Pines sat out against UAB. He rose to the occasion helping block for a season high 264 rushing yards. He filled in all over the line in 2023 amassing 9 starts and allowing 0 sacks. It is not a stretch to say Shadre has the highest upside of any player on the 2024 offensive line.
Few players can successfully start at guard and tackle at this level, Shadre is one of them. If the other two are in pen, write Shadre in as starting left guard in dark pencil. The only way he’s not starting there is if he’s starting somewhere else on the line. The kid is the real deal.
Picking the first 3 starters was easy, they’ve all started at least 9 games for the green wave and there is no reason to think they will stop now. The problem is that none of those 3 play the most coveted position up front.
Even casual football fans know one position on the line. We’ve all seen The Blind Side, we know how important left tackle is.
The biggest question mark on Tulane’s 2024 offensive line must grow into being Ty Thompson’s most trusted asset. If the offense is going to have any hope of getting the ball to Shazz or Mario, we will need to protect the edge. You’ve heard of triple, meet triple T. Tackle Trey Tuggle.
#72 T Trey Tuggle
Standing at 6’6 310 Tuggle is the first name that comes to mind for the left tackle competition. He has starting experience. A very good technician who can play multiple spots.
Tuggle much like Shadre is a state champion in another sport having brought home the Mississippi state championship in Discus. I prefer my lineman to be athletic, and success in multiple sports is a huge plus.
Tuggle was also all-state in football garnering offers from Mississippi State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt to name a few.
A strong prospect that got a chance right away to start for Tulane in 2020 only to find himself behind Wire and Green in 2023. Expect a motivated Tuggle to push for the every day LT spot in 2024.
The other name to watch for the left tackle job is 6’7 mastodon Sully Burnes.
The word out of last year’s camp from Coach Roushard was that the redshirt freshman Burnes “is improving, he needs to become more physical. He has traits that we’re excited about.”
There is potential there with his massive size and length to be a really strong tackle at this level. Expect him to be the potential surprise star of the offensive line if he finds his footing. Behind Shadre, I think Burnes is the most intriguing member of the potential 2024 starting group.
We’ve gone through tackles and guards but saved the biggest shoes to fill for last. Who will step into the positioned filled by the incomparable Haynseworth? The man in the middle will have to replace a 5 year starter, but I think he’s ready.
Center
Speaking to Josh Remetich, he agreed that center is a current unknown. “That’s up in the air right now. A couple of people are gonna get a shot at it. We’ll see who the best fit is.” Despite my best journalistic effort, I couldn’t get him to pick a name so I’ll give it a guess myself.
#58 Caleb Thomas
Caleb joins Josh and Rashad as rising seniors. Similar to Tuggle, the 6’3 300 pound Californian made starts in 2020 only to find himself on a crowded depth chart the next few years. His ability to play center and guard in the past shows his willingness to do whatever he can to help the team. His years of experience with the Wave and ability to play center should give him the first crack at snapping the ball to Ty Thompson in 2024.
Many thought the cupboard to be essentially empty up front coming in to 2024, as outlined above we will likely have a player that’s started for Tulane at least 4 times at every position on the line. There has also been a healthy recruiting class, and an expectation Sumrall will bring in some more big men during the spring portal. There’s a chance this group is a lot better than people expect.
Tulane Football Blog 
Leave a comment