Tag: Tulane

2024 NFL Draft prospect Michael Pratt emphasizing ‘first down, get down’ mentality

Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt is putting more emphasis on protecting himself for the remainder of the 2023 season.

Tulane head coach Willie Fritz describes his quarterback, Michael Pratt, as one who is “always on.”

“He (doesn’t get) burned out and he doesn’t get screwed up,” Fritz said. “He doesn’t play calm. He’s a very excitable guy, he’s fired up and into it all the time. But it’s in a good way, you know, it’s not where he’s panicking in any way shape or form.”

A lot of that is reflected in Tulane signal-caller’s aggressive running style that has earned him a lot of recognition (and additional yards on the ground for the Green Wave) but has also come at a price at some times.

Fritz has said throughout the season that he’d like to see Pratt take less hits, something that seems to be a point of emphasis for him personally now that he’s had to sit out arguably the two most important games of his career where draft stock is concerned due to injury.

Those are the 2022 matchup against the Houston Cougars in which Kai Horton shined in an overtime victory as the third man up at quarterback and the contest against Ole Miss in which the Green Wave came up short in 2023.

Pratt sustained a knee injury during the fourth quarter of the team’s Week 1 meeting with South Alabama, making his return against Nicholls State on Saturday.

When he did, one of the things that stood out was that he was sliding more, though with a little more of an unorthodox, headfirst motion.

“Normally, I’ll slide more like a baseball slide, but with my knee, I didn’t want it to kind of feel weird so this week was more of a headfirst slide,” Pratt laughed. “So, gotta get used to that.”

Moving forward, it seems to have resonated with him more how running the ball in risky fashion, or perhaps even unnecessarily at times, can have its consequences that include taking him out of games that greatly alter his overall resume as a draft prospect.

“It just kind of comes with experience,” Pratt said. “I’ve gotta be a little better with that. Not try to do too much with the ball and just take what they give me and be able to get down better.”

Heading into Week 5 against UAB, Pratt holds an 84.2% completion rate, passing for 484 yards with 6 touchdowns and 1 interception as he continues to show marked improvement as a passer.

He’s carried the ball 20 times for 72 yards with 1 rushing touchdown in 2023.

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Saints send five scouts to survey Tulane-Ole Miss game

The Saints weren’t just one of the only teams to send multiple scouts to survey Tulane’s matchup with Ole Miss. They had five representatives at Yulman Stadium on Saturday:

It was a wild scene at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium on Saturday afternoon with the Green Wave hosting Ole Miss in front of a sold-out crowd and a large group of NFL scouts. Our own Crissy Froyd reported that a dozen teams had scouting personnel at the game — with just two teams, the New York Giants and hometown New Orleans Saints, sending multiple scouts to the game.

The Giants had two representatives in the building. But the Saints had five. It makes sense to maintain a presence at local games like this, but it’s noteworthy that the Saints sent so many people to watch the 2024 draft prospects competing in a hard-fought game.

Unfortunately, some of the game’s best NFL prospects were sidelined by injuries. Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt was held out due to a knee issue. Ole Miss tight end Caden Prieskorn was sidelined after late-summer foot surgery. Still, Prieskorn’s teammate Michael Trigg (a potential early-round pick at tight end) caught a 21-yard touchdown pass, but there are some reps the Tulane offensive line will be wanting back after backup quarterback Kai Horton struggled under pressure in the second half.

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New Orleans Saints scouting Tulane’s home opener vs. South Alabama

The New Orleans Saints are scouting Tulane’s home opener with South Alabama. Which prospects should be hot on their radar?

The New Orleans Saints’ college scouting staff is busy this week, the first full schedule of the 2023 college football season — with plenty of 2024 NFL draft prospects hitting the field. Our own Crissy Froyd is covering Tulane’s home opener at Yulman Stadium against South Alabama, and she reports that several NFL teams have sent scouts to observe the game in person.

Those teams include the Saints, Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts, and New York Giants in addition to Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy; Tulane standouts Tyjae Spears and Dorian Williams both impressed at the college all-star game earlier this year, and there’s a good chance some more promising players draw attention Saturday night.

So who could be hot on their radar? Five members of the Green Wave made the cut for the preseason Senior Bowl watch list: quarterback Michael Pratt, center Sincere Haynesworth, left tackle Cameron Wire, left guard Prince Pines, and cornerback Jarius Monroe. And five players from South Alabama are on that watchlist, too: quarterback Carter Bradley, wide receiver Caullin Lacy, running back La’Damian Webb, defensive tackle Wy’kevious Thomas, and safety Yam Banks.

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Tyjae Spears excited for return to New Orleans, already inundated by ticket requests

Rookie Tennessee Titans RB Tyjae Spears says he’s excited for his return to New Orleans, though he’s already inundated by ticket requests:

A local celebrity will be suiting up for next Sunday’s game at the Caesars Superdome — though Tyjae Spears will have a lot of fans wearing Tennessee Titans colors at the New Orleans Saints’ home game. The rookie running back was sensational at Tulane and became something of a folk hero while helping the Green Wave to their historic turnaround.

He was certainly a favorite among Saints fans throughout the pre-draft process. But between his subpar size (by their standards) and a concerning injury history, New Orleans passed on Spears in favor of Kendre Miller, a bigger back who better fit the athletic thresholds they value. Miller was held out of offseason practices while recovering from a college knee injury, and he’s missed more time as of late with a hamstring issue.

That doesn’t mean Spears isn’t excited to come back home — far from it. He told ESPN’s Turron Davenport that he’s excited to play his first game as a pro in New Orleans, adding that he’s been inundated with requests for tickets from friends and family. The Ponchatoula High School graduate has plenty of local support, and it’ll be on display Sept. 10 when he and his new teammates kick off the NFL regular season with the Saints.

How big of a role Spears will have in the lineup behind Derrick Henry remains to be seen, but the Saints will need to guard him carefully every chance he gets.

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Report: New Orleans Saints waive rookie linebacker Nick Anderson

Report: New Orleans Saints waive rookie linebacker Nick Anderson, a fan-favorite out of Tulane

This is a tough break: the New Orleans Saints have reportedly waived rookie linebacker Nick Anderson, a fan-favorite who signed with the team as an undrafted free agent to stay close to home. The Tulane product was a big part of the Green Wave’s historic turnaround last season but he struggled to find snaps in the crowded Saints linebacker corps.

Anderson is an easy guy to root for, and we’ll be hoping he lands on his feet somewhere around the league. It’s possible he could return to New Orleans’ practice squad but he’ll have better opportunities to play on other teams.

The Saints typically roster six or seven linebackers and stash another one on their practice squad. If Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Jaylon Smith, and Zack Baun are safe (as is widely expected in media covering the team), it leaves younger players like D’Marco Jackson, Nephi Sewell, and Anfernee Orji pushing veterans including Ty Summers and Ryan Connelly (who is dealing with a significant knee injury) for those last few spots on the team. Stay tuned to see how this shakes out.

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Tulane head coach Willie Fritz pays a visit to Saints practice

Tulane head coach Willie Fritz recently stopped in to visit the Saints facility during a training camp practice session | @crissy_froyd

Tulane Green Wave head football coach Willie Fritz recently stopped by the New Orleans Saints practice facility to observe training camp, where one of his former players, linebacker Nick Anderson, is competing for a roster spot.

This is not exactly out of the ordinary considering the strong relationship between Saints and Tulane; the Green Wave have practiced in the Saints’ facility at times during their own camp.

Fritz has visited the facility before, notably stopping by during the 2019 offseason in his fourth year on the job. College coaches are a common sight at Saints training camp: they also hosted Dave Aranda and Joe Brady, formerly with the LSU Tigers, in the same time period. Jeff Brohm, formerly of the Purdue Boilermakers, also stopped in.

Since that visit, Fritz has taken the team to new heights, most recently helping lead the Green Wave to the greatest turnaround in college football history as Tulane flipped the script with a 10-2 overall record after going 2-10 the previous year, capping it all off with a memorable Cotton Bowl victory over USC.

Others that stopped in during Fritz’s most recent appearance in Metairie included wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson and photographer Parker Waters.

It will be interesting to see how Fritz continues to elevate the Wave in a year with high expectations. It’s plenty possible for his team to run the table and maintain continuity as what can be called one of the best teams in college football, even though it’s not being said enough.

Why Tulane QB Michael Pratt belongs on Saints 2024 NFL Draft watch list

Why Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt belongs on your New Orleans Saints 2024 NFL draft watch list | @crissy_froyd

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It’s not been long that the 2023 NFL draft has been in the books, but there is always room for early predictions for the next event — especially when it comes to the doldrums of the offseason.

There is no sure telling what the 2024 NFL draft will hold for the New Orleans Saints (and it will be a while before anyone has a clue as to just what the picture will look like).

Depending on a number of factors, it could be possible that the Saints pick up another signal-caller in next year’s draft. And based on how the chips fall, prospects like Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt — who reasonably has a mid-round grade on him going into 2023 — could be a potential option should he choose to declare. According to some NFL sources, Pratt is being talked about not far behind Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, largely ranked as the top two quarterbacks in the upcoming draft class.

Pratt was a key piece of the Green Wave’s historic 2022 turnaround from 2-10 to 10-2, making some personal strides of his own as he finished out the year with a 63.6% completion rate, 3,010 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and just five interceptions on 338 passing attempts.

While there are some things to clean up including some aspects surrounding processing and cleaning up footwork, Pratt brings a complete package as a quarterback who is a clean and accurate passer with solid arm strength, has everything one could ask for intangibly speaking and shows the ability to improvise when the pocket collapses and use his legs in tough fashion without being overly reckless.

He expects to shine through even more as a passer this year.

“I think footwork-wise, I’m understanding the offense and being in the offense for two years with Coach Nagle has been a huge bonus,” Pratt told me this offseason. “Being on the same page with him and knowing what he’s looking for. I think better footwork has led to improved accuracy and I’ve been getting the ball out faster and more on time.”

There is no questioning that quarterback has been a point of issue for the team since the departure of future Hall of Fame signal-caller Drew Brees when he made the decision to retire from the NFL.

It’s obvious at this point that Jameis Winston projects as no more than a high-end backup based on the inconsistent body of work he has put up over the course of his NFL career. There’s room for doubt about his future, as reflected not only by the tape, but by the fact the Saints signed him to just a one-year amended deal ahead of the season.

There are question marks surrounding just how much Derek Carr will pan out with a change of scenery. And, regardless, there is no denying that he is in the final years of his career based on age alone.

The Saints spent a late-round draft pick on former Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener, who projects as a player with a high floor and a solid ceiling.

Between all three of these players, how things shake out with their performances this season, who the Saints choose to hold onto, where the Saints finish among the NFL and how Pratt performs on 2023 will all need to be factored in, but there’s plenty of intrigue surrounding the idea of keeping the Uptown quarterback in New Orleans.

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Tulane hires former Saints assistant Greg McMahon as special teams coach

Tulane hires former Saints special teams coach Greg McMahon as their new coordinator, bringing championship experience via @DillySanders:

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The Tulane Green Wave recently announced a return to the city of former New Orleans Saints assistant Greg McMahon, naming him as their new special teams coach.

McMahon was a member of the Saints’ special teams staff for a long stretch from the 2006 to 2016 seasons, of course earning a Super Bowl ring in the process. As the special teams coordinator at the time, McMahon was a part of the reason of the success of the iconic “Ambush” onside kick after the halftime of Super Bowl XLIV.

It’s not his only Louisiana football championship ring, as he joined the LSU Tigers coaching staff after his time in New Orleans. McMahon was in Baton Rouge from 2017 to 2021, being a part of the legendary 2019 season. Most recently, he spent time in the USFL with the Houston Gamblers and the XFL with the Houston Roughnecks.

Now, he joins Willie Fritz’s surging program after the best season in school history. Though he is not a Louisiana native, he’s been a part of some of the biggest parts of the state’s football history, so it’s nice to see him back in the city.

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2024 NFL draft prospect: Tulane QB Michael Pratt

After leading Tulane to a 12 win season, Michael Pratt has been a popular name at the quarterback position. How is he as a prospect?

Welcome to SKOL Search!

This series will be your guide to the 2024 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.

We are getting a head start this year by looking at the talent projected to be available in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft. Why start in the summer? It’s a good way to see how the players grow from year-to-year and we will be looking at players from a Vikings perspective.

Right now, the Vikings will have seven draft picks in the 2024 NFL draft.

  • 1st round
  • 2nd round
  • 4th round
  • 4th round (via Lions)
  • 5th round (via Chiefs)
  • 5th round (via Browns)
  • 6th round

Saints rookie LB Nick Anderson is determined to prove himself right

After signing with the New Orleans Saints out of Tulane, rookie linebacker Nick Anderson is determined to prove himself right, via @MaddyHudak_94:

Initially, former Tulane linebacker Nick Anderson didn’t want the No. 40 jersey number he chose to wear again as a New Orleans Saints undrafted free agent. It’s where his quiet chip on his shoulder lies. Beneath Anderson’s calm, cerebral nature and leadership is the scrappy mentality of a fighter. One who overcame no invites to college showcases like the Senior Bowl or the Combine. Who chose to forgo his childhood SEC dream for a better route to the NFL.

When Anderson was deciding between Ole Miss and Tulane, his defensive coordinator at Jones Junior College warned of him becoming just another guy. Nick ultimately bet on himself. He was disappointed to arrive in New Orleans with a number that belonged to former starting linebacker and team captain, Zach Harris. “I grew to love that number simply because I didn’t want it,” he told me.

“They made the comparison of me to Harris when I first got there,” Nick continued. “He was a great player. But I wanted to make a name for myself. I’m in No. 40. Why not do that in this number versus being compared to somebody else? I put that chip on my shoulder and wanted people to know Nick Anderson is No. 40 and not the players in the past. It’s surreal to wear it going into the NFL, because I’m adapting and bringing that same mentality and allowing people to see who I am regardless of what number I have on.”

Nick Anderson had to prove himself at Tulane and knows it’s time to do the same in the NFL. Rather than dwell on hearing his name called on the last day of the NFL draft, Anderson found beauty in the opportunity to make a decision for the first time in this process. Just as he found in a jersey number he didn’t want to wear.