Tag: Tulane

Report: Saints to open the 2023 season at home against the Titans

The Saints will open the 2023 season at home against the Titans, local favorite Tyjae Spears, and two-time NFL rushing champ Derrick Henry, per @brookechesney:

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This is big: the New Orleans Saints will kick off their 2023 season at home against the Tennessee Titans, led by a couple of high-profile running backs. It’s a homecoming for Tyjae Spears, the local favorite out of Tulane, but he’s playing second-fiddle to Derrick Henry — the two-time NFL rushing champion. WWL-TV’s Brooke Chesney first reported the news.

Ironically, this is going to be the first time Henry has played against the Saints. New Orleans has only faced the Titans twice before with him on their roster but he was an inactive due to injury for both of those matchups. Dont’ expect such luck this time.

Make no mistake: this will be a challenging game for the Saints run defense, which experienced a ton of turnover this offseason. New Orleans signed several free agent defensive tackles (Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders) and drafted another (Bryan Bresee) to reinforce a defensive front that hadn’t met expectations as of late. If they start strong against Henry, Spears, and their Tennessee teammates, watch out.

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Catching up with the Boston Celtics’ 2023 NBA draft workouts

Boston is likely looking for players who’d be able to help right away, or a player with some upside to stash abroad or as a two way player.

As the 2023 NBA draft draws ever closer, the Boston Celtics have kept themselves very busy working out prospective targets for the top of the 2023 draft’s second round, with a pick owed them from either the Portland Trail Blazers (35th overall) or the Houston Rockets (33rd overall), pending the outcome of complicated protections which will be determined the night of the draft lottery.

The Celtics are looking for players who would be able to help a little depth-wise right away, or perhaps a player with some upside to stash abroad or as a two way player with the extra slot having been added in the league’s new collective bargaining agreement.

Let’s take a look at the prospects we know the team has worked out (thanks to Rookie Wire’s Cody Taylor) that we have not already covered on the Celtics Wire (see our previous articles on wing Landers Nolley II, big man Oscar Tshiebwe, and center Isaiah Miranda).

Jaylen Forbes to work out for the Thunder in pre-draft visit

Jaylen Forbes will work out for the Thunder in pre-draft visit, per @RookieWire

The 2023 NBA draft combined is scheduled to take place soon from May 15 to May 21, which means the draft season is right around the corner.

It looks like the Oklahoma City Thunder are underway with draft evaluations as they have begun conducting pre-draft visits. One of those visits includes Tulane guard Jaylen Forbes.

In an interview with Rookie Wire’s Cody Taylor, Forbes detailed that he plans on visiting with the Thunder sometime next week. The full interview can be read here.

“Everything has been good. I have just been staying in the gym to keep trying to get better. I’m still at school right now. I still have a couple of final exams I have to finish. After I work out with Oklahoma City next week, I’ll be traveling to Dallas and that’s where I’ll be working out at.”

The 22-year-old averaged 18.5 points on 42.5% shooting, five rebounds and 1.7 assists in 31 games last season. He also shot 38.8% from 3 on 7.3 attempts.

The 6-foot-5, 185-pound senior spent four seasons in college — one with Alabama and the final three with Tulane. Forbes is currently being projected as a potential second-round pick, which the Thunder own two picks in.

The 2023 NBA draft is scheduled to happen on Thursday, June 22.

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Personal pitch from another team’s head coach couldn’t keep Nick Anderson from the Saints

A personal recruiting pitch from another team’s head coach couldn’t keep former Tulane linebacker Nick Anderson from signing with the Saints:

Here’s a really great scoop from WWL’s Brooke Kirchhofer, who shares that former Tulane Green Wave linebacker Nick Anderson was personally pitched by another NFL team’s head coach before he heard from the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent, but it would take more than that to sway him from staying in the 504.

“I was ready. I was on the phone with (Seattle Seahawks head coach) Pete Carroll actually, and discussing everything, and that’s when my agent said the Saints were on the phone,” Anderson recalled with a laugh. “I was like, okay, yeah I want to talk to the Saints.”

A native of Vicksburg, Miss., the prospect of playing three-and-a-half hours from home was too good to pass up. Even if the Seattle offer was compelling, a cross-country move was daunting, and in Anderson’s mind the relationship he cultivated with team personnel throughout his pre-draft experience had its own value.

Anderson continued, “They always really showed great interest. They were transparent with me about the whole process. They told me they would love to have me a part of the team, they would do everything in their power to make me a Saint. They said things may not go as planned throughout the draft. But if I was there, and they had the opportunity to get me, they would get me.”

He had hoped to be one of the team’s two seventh-round draft picks, but the Saints traded those away to move up and pick other players earlier on. So once Round 7 drew to a close, they called Anderson (while he was already on the phone with the Seahawks), and the rest is history. It didn’t take long for him to agree to terms with the Saints and throw on a Sam Mills jersey in celebration.

“They made me a solid offer, and I couldn’t turn it down, because that’s where I wanted to be,” he added.

Kirchhofer reports that Anderson received $25,000 in guarantees from the Saints, including a $15,000 signing bonus and $10,000 of guaranteed salary. He’ll have a good opportunity to compete with for a roster spot through his efforts on special teams, an area he’s well-versed; Anderson played at least 164 snaps in the kicking game each season in four years at Tulane, getting experience on five of the six units (everywhere but the field goal kicking team, where he isn’t exactly built to be a blocker at 5-foot-9 and 230 pounds). He’s an easy young man to root for. Our own Maddy Hudak shared Anderson’s story while he was preparing for the 2023 draft, and now Saints fans will get to see him continue playing football in the city he’s come to love.

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Former Michigan basketball F Gregg Glenn chooses transfer destination

Best of luck.

There was a ton of hope when Michigan basketball landed Gregg Glenn III in the 2022 recruiting class. Glenn had all the big-time offers you want to see, especially from a Florida native: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma State and LSU. He chose the Wolverines.

The former four-star and top-100 recruit entered the transfer portal after his long season in Ann Arbor didn’t go as planned. He joined Hunter Dickinson, Kobe Bufkin, Jett Howard and Isaiah Barnes as departing players by either the portal or entering the NBA draft.

On Tuesday, Glenn made his decision on a new school. According to Jeff Goodman, Glenn is headed to Tulane where he will have four years of eligibility.

He played in four games this past season with the maize and blue where he averaged 1.5 points during that span. He had a career-high of two points in three different games.

Michigan has landed some key players in the portal to replenish the cupboard and there is still hope, as of this writing, the Wolverines may get Hunter Dickinson back in the fold.

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Tulane’s Nick Anderson picked the perfect jersey to celebrate signing with the Saints

Tulane’s Nick Anderson picked the perfect jersey to celebrate signing with the Saints. He’s hoping to follow in the footsteps of the legendary “Field Mouse” Sam Mills:

Congratulations are in order for former Tulane Green Wave linebacker Nick Anderson, who picked the perfect jersey to celebrate his signing with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent — the 5-foot-9 linebacker is drawing some inspiration from a “Dome Patrol” legend who was also called too short and small, flexing for the world to see in a Sam Mills jersey.

Now, Anderson may not be bound for the Pro Football Hall of Fame like the “Field Mouse” once was, but this is a great role model for him to draw inspiration from. Anderson figures to compete for a job on the Saints special teams units (where he has a ton of experience, with 756 career snaps in college) and if that goes well, maybe he makes his case as a backup for Demario Davis. For now, we’ll congratulate him on getting the opportunity to go pro in New Orleans, and see where his football life takes him.

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New Orleans Saints sign undrafted Tulane linebacker Nick Anderson

New Orleans Saints sign former Tulane linebacker Nick Anderson as an undrafted free agent, via @DillySanders

The New Orleans Saints are keeping Nick Anderson home by signing the undrafted linebacker after the 2023 NFL draft, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.

Anderson played four seasons at Tulane and was fairly productive in his time. He had 283 career tackles, 29 for a loss and 8.5 sacks. He played both along the defensive line and in the box for Tulane, as well as a lot of special teams. He’s a well-rounded defender that will be able to fight for a spot on the roster with solid playing experience.

His athletic was fairly average, earning a 7.41 Relative Athletic Score. Mostly due to his size as a small linebacker, coming in at 5-foot-9.

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NFL Draft: 12 mid/late-round prospects that could be steals for the Eagles

We’re looking at 12 mid to late-round NFL draft prospects that could end up being steals for the Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have had success hitting on late-round picks in the past few years, with Jordan Mailata (2018), Kenneth Gainwell (2021), Jack Driscoll (2020), Quez Watkins (2020), Josh Sweat (2018), Nathan Gerry, Jalen Mills, and Jason Kelce being some of the late round picks who’ve played in a Super Bowl.

The 2023 NFL draft offers Philadelphia another opportunity to reload in the late rounds.

The expectation is that GM Howie Roseman will move around the board, acquiring draft assets and a large group of undrafted free agents.

With the draft just three weeks away, we’re taking an early look at 12 mid to late-round prospects that could end up as steals for the Eagles.

Tulane transfer Jalen Cook announces return to LSU

Matt McMahon improved his backcourt with the addition of Cook, who began his career in Baton Rouge.

After a rough Year 1, [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] is giving the rebuild another go.

LSU has been active in the portal and has reportedly been involved with several players. McMahon landed one of the best transfers of his tenure yesterday with the commitment of [autotag]Jalen Cook[/autotag].

Cook began his career at LSU before transferring to Tulane. He averaged 18 and 19.9 points in his two years with Tulane. In 2020-21 with LSU, Cook appeared in 20 games, averaging 3.2 points per contest.

This is a big get for the Tigers. LSU struggled to score last year and lacked a dynamic backcourt presence. In Cook, McMahon now has a guy that scored almost 20 points per night over two years against decent American Athletic Conference competition.

Cook also made 2.2 three-pointers per night with the Green Wave to go along with 4.2 assists and 1.7 steals. Cook was a three-star recruit in the class of 2020 and the second-best recruit from the state of Louisiana.

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Seahawks take Tulane RB Tyjae Spears in Round 3 of this mock draft

While there are plenty of good backs to choose from, the most Seahawky RB prospect in the 2023 NFL draft is Tyjae Spears out of Tulane.

With Rashaad Penny on the Eagles and Travis Homer with the Bears, the Seahawks will definitely be drafting at least one running back this year to boost their depth behind starter Ken Walker. While there are plenty of good backs to choose from, the most Seahawky RB prospect in the 2023 NFL draft is Tyjae Spears out of Tulane.

In a new three-round mock draft from Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire, Spears comes off the board at No. 82 overall. Spears comes equipped with the prototypical build for a Seattle running back (he’s listed at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds), ability as a receiver and that all-important quality of delighting in grinding out extra yards after contact.

Spears is coming off a breakout Senior year, having totaled 19 touchdowns and 1,581 yards on 229 carries, which comes out to 6.9 yards per attempt. He added another 256 yards and two scores as a receiver.

Here’s a look at the highlights.

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