Tulane has entered every season in the post Michael Pratt era with uncertainty at the games most important position. In 2024, Ty Thompson was the presumptive starter only to be beaten out by Darian Mensah. In 2025, Brendan Sullivan was the presumptive starter only to be bested by the shocking arrival of Jake Retzlaff.
That brings us to 2026 and the QB Comp is more wide open than ever. Coach hall has narrowed the group of potential starters to four.
Let’s meet the protagonists of this years QB competition:
Kadin Semonza #3
Semonza arrived in 2025 fresh off a 29 TD MAC freshman of the year campaign in 2024 at Ball State.
A lot of folks I spoke with thought he had a shot to start last season, but he found himself 3rd on the depth chart. Kadin did not take a snap in a Green Wave uniform last year, but decided to stay and compete for the job this year rather than testing the portal. Semonza has shown a live arm and a variety of arm angles in his arsenal given his size at 6’1. He has struggled with deep ball accuracy thus far. Given the year in the system and work with Will Hall, it would be right to assume he is the favorite to win this competition. That said, he has yet to separate himself so far this summer and had left the door open for his challengers.
Zeon Chriss-Gremillion #9
Zeon Chriss started his career as a Ragin’ Cajun in 2022. He transferred to Houston to play for Willie Fritz after success at Louisiana. He has taken by far the most meaningful snaps at the p4 / high g5 level with 4 seasons of appearances and 2 as a starter. Chriss found more success on the ground than as a passer at both stops. He has elite speed and true home run ability as a runner. Where Semonza is the more accurate short/intermediate passer whose deep ball needs polish, Chriss-Gremillion is the faster, higher-ceiling athlete whose accuracy and decision-making are the important traits to watch. Chriss has arm strength, speed and experience on his side. All on display here in his Houston highlights from his lone season as a starter in 2024.
My guess is that if Will hall does not feel one of the four QBs in the competition has won outright, he will go with the most experienced player and name Zeon the week 1 starter.
Trace Johnson #11
Trace Johnson is a true freshman, and in my opinion the most intriguing participant in this QB competition. Johnson comes from an NFL family where his father Doug played for Steve Spurrier at Florida and then spent five seasons in the NFL. Trace spent the last two years under the tutelage of another star college quarterback in Carson Palmer who is now the head football coach at Santa Margarita Catholic, his alma mater. Trace and Carson brought home a state championship to cap an incredible 2025 season.
The kid has been turning heads throughout the spring and summer. He was an early enrollee and his decision to join the team as soon as high school ended has paid dividends. Johnson finds himself in the thick of a wide open QB competition as an 18 year old.
The question becomes, does Will hall trust his extremely high pressure first year as head ball coach to an 185 pound 18 year old. This is unlikely, but if it does happen it means the kid took the competition outright with zero questions similar to Darian Mensah’s outstanding 2024 camp. This one’s unlikely but if you want a high upside dark horse, Trace is your guy.
Dagan Bruno #14
Dagan Bruno may not be a household name to wave fans across the country but he certainly is in New Orleans high school football. During his senior season, the local kid completed over 72% of his passes for 1,504 yards with 13 touchdowns and only one interception. He also ran for over 500 yards and eight touchdowns in his final year at John Curtis.
Many fans have pigeon holed him as an option QB due his time running the Veer at John Curtis, but Bruno has proven he can throw the ball this spring.
Dagan strikes me as the Garrett Mmahat of the QB room. A local kid who walked onto the team and continually turns heads in camp and practice. Mmahat parlayed these qualities into playing time in 2025, could Bruno do the same? Time will tell.
As we sit here on the precipice of August, I believe Tulane does not currently have a QB1. Will hall will pick one not multiple over the next four weeks. My bet is that if no one separates themself, it’ll be the veteran transfer Zeon Chriss that leads the wave into battle in Durham come September. Trace, Kadin and Dagan have a few weeks to change that narrative. Let’s see what happens.
Tulane Football Blog 
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