If you’re a Tulane fan, you know the offseason rarely stays quiet for long.
Every week seems to bring a new recruiting commitment, roster move, or schedule update that could shape the Green Wave’s future.
I’ve been tracking Tulane football closely, and the program has packed plenty of news into a short stretch.
The biggest headlines? Tulane landed a strong group of 2027 recruits, saw two former Green Wave standouts earn opportunities on NFL rosters, and finalized a 2026 schedule that includes two challenging road games against Power Four opponents.
Those developments offer an early look at where the program is heading and what fans should watch next.
Let’s break down the latest Tulane football news and why each story matters.
The Quick Hit: Top Tulane Football Stories This Week
Before I get into the details, here’s the fast version of what’s happening around the Green Wave right now:
- Seven new 2027 commits. Tulane continued its recruiting momentum by adding seven commitments to the 2027 class, giving the coaching staff an early foundation for the program’s future.
- Two former Green Wave players earned NFL opportunities. The pair secured spots on NFL rosters, reinforcing Tulane’s reputation for developing talent capable of reaching the professional level.
- The 2026 schedule is officially set. The Green Wave will open the season at Duke and face two Power Four opponents on the road, creating some of the most anticipated matchups on the calendar.
- Expectations remain high after an 11-win season. With an American Athletic Conference title already in hand from 2025, Tulane enters the next chapter with growing attention from fans and opponents alike.
Tulane Football Recruiting Update: Meet the 14 Commits in the 2027 Class
It started with a single tweet.
On Saturday night, June 6, Tulane Football General Manager Kelly Comarda posted a teaser asking how many Class of 2027 commitments would drop over the next few hours, then followed it with a string of replies that added up to a busy recruiting stretch for the Green Wave.
The result was a group of fourteen announced commits, each bringing something different to the roster. Here’s how the Class shapes up so far:
| Name | Position | Height / Weight | High School / State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ray’Quan Williams | WR | 6’0”, 163 lbs | St. Augustine (New Orleans), LA |
| Kingston Johnson | QB | 5’11”, 180 lbs | Starkville, MS |
| Sharontae Bailey | OT | 6’4”, 290 lbs | Anniston, AL |
| Peyton Perkins | ATH | 6’1”, 175 lbs | Eupora, MS |
| De’Shawn Wylie | S | 6’1”, 195 lbs | Calvary Day School (Savannah), GA |
| Anquan Jackson | WR | 6’0”, 184 lbs | South Jones (Ellisville), MS |
| Kavarris Duncan | DL | 6’1”, 290 lbs | Winterboro (Alpine), AL |
| Owen Reineck | IOL | 6’3”, 280 lbs | Bayside Academy (Daphne), AL |
| Tavares Stinson | CB | 5’11”, 175 lbs | Spalding (Griffin), GA |
| Devin Lavalais | S | 6’2”, 180 lbs | Marksville, LA |
| Teddy Graff | TE | 6’5”, 220 lbs | Ensworth (Nashville), TN |
| James Tyson | CB | 5’11”, 180 lbs | St. Charles Catholic (La Place), LA |
| Jackson Shaw | OT | 6’5”, 260 lbs | Baton Rouge Catholic, LA |
| Gus Faulkner | S | 6’2”, 212 lbs | Fairhope, AL |
A few of these stand out to me right away.
Teddy Graff (TE) is the kind of guy who turns heads.
At 6’5“ and 220 pounds, he held offers from national champion Indiana and Iowa State, and he also plays lacrosse, which shows up in his agility on routes.
His downfield blocking gives Tulane a true dual-threat piece in both the run and pass game.
Peyton Perkins (RB) is a quarterback-turned-running back, and his tape backs it up.
He racked up nearly 2,000 total yards and 33 touchdowns as a junior, with highlights full of hurdling, sidestepping, and breaking tackles. There’s a lot of upside in a 6’2 “, 190-pound back with that kind of burst.
Ray’Quan Williams (WR) brings a local pedigree out of New Orleans’ St. Augustine.
He’s a three-star recruit ranked the 103rd wide receiver nationally and the 23rd-best prospect in Louisiana on the 247Sports Composite, with 31 catches for 647 yards and 7 touchdowns to his name.
Two Greenies Make the NFL Jump
It’s not just the incoming Class making noise.
Two former Green Wave players have landed on NFL rosters this offseason, a sign of the kind of talent Tulane has been putting out.
Johnny Pascuzzi (TE) > Los Angeles Chargers.
Pascuzzi signed with the Chargers on May 12. A 2025 transfer from Iowa, the Kansas native caught 12 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown in his lone season at Tulane before earning his shot.
He’s currently active on the roster, listed as the fifth-string tight end on the depth chart, and now he gets to prove he belongs at the next level.
Derrick Graham (OT) > Houston Texans.
Roughly four weeks later, on June 2, the Texans signed offensive tackle Derrick Graham. He transferred in from Texas A&M in 2024 and became a steady anchor on the Green Wave offensive line.
Graham is listed as active and currently sits as the fourth-string left tackle, giving Houston a developmental piece with real size and starting experience under his belt.
Tulane’s pro pipeline runs deep for a Group of Five program. Beyond these two, five former Green Wave players earned NFL rookie minicamp invites this spring alone.
The 2026 Tulane Football Schedule: Key Matchups to Watch
The full 2026 slate is locked in, and a few dates jump off the page for me. Here’s how the season lays out:
- Sept 5, at Duke: Opening on the road against the defending ACC champ, and a rematch of last year’s 34-27 Tulane win.
- Sept 12 vs. South Alabama: Home opener, a rematch of last season’s 33-31 nail-biter in Mobile.
- Sept 19, at Kansas State: The second Power Four road test, nearly four years after Tulane’s 17-10 win in Manhattan back in 2022.
- Sept 26 vs. Southern Miss (Hall of Fame Game): The marquee non-conference date. More on this below.
- Oct 10, at Army: American Conference play opens.
- Oct 16, vs. Memphis: Friday-night conference matchup.
- Oct 24, vs. UTSA
- Oct 30, at Charlotte: Friday night.
- Nov 7, vs. Tulsa (Homecoming)
- Nov 14, at Rice
- Nov 21, vs. North Texas
- Nov 27/28, at South Florida: Regular-season finale.
The one I’ve already circled is Sept 26 against Southern Miss.
It doubles as the program’s Hall of Fame Game and marks the return of the Battle for the Bell, the in-state rivalry that hasn’t been played since 2023, when Tulane took it 21-3 in Hattiesburg.
That kind of history under the lights at home should make for one of the louder nights of the season.
You can find kickoff times and any updates on the official 2026 schedule.
Tulane Football Roster Watch: New Faces to Know
The transfer portal brought in a few names worth knowing. The biggest is running back Jaylin Lucas, who comes to Tulane from Florida State (after starting his career at Indiana).
As a freshman, he was a First-Team All-American and Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year.
Over four seasons, he returned 54 kickoffs for 1,420 yards and three touchdowns, so I expect him to be a threat on special teams right away.
Joining him is wide receiver Destyn Hill, a New Orleans native (Edna Karr) arriving from LSU to strengthen a thin receiver group.
The third headliner is running back Johnnie Daniels, a 5-foot-10 back from Mississippi State who ran for 540 yards in 2024 and is here for his final year of eligibility.
The running back room is now a real strength. Lucas and Daniels join returning standout Jamauri McClure, and Oklahoma State transfer DJ Dugar adds even more depth.
My one concern is the offensive line. Tulane rebuilt it through the portal with center Gavin Marks (Mercer) and tackles Riley Rushing and Ryan Mickow, among others.
All that speed in the backfield only pays off if a mostly new line can hold its own, and that is the matchup I will be watching most this season.
How to Stay Updated on Tulane Football News
Following GM Kelly Comarda and the official @TulaneFB account is my fastest way to catch commit drops as they happen. I will also be giving updates for it here.
Comarda often kickstarts recruiting waves himself with real-time tweets.
- Bookmark the official schedule page for kickoff-time updates: Game times are usually finalized on rolling six- and twelve-day windows once TV networks pick their broadcast slots, so check back often.
- Watch the Spring Showcase recaps: These practice and scrimmage reports are where I spot breakout freshmen and transfers early, often weeks before they show up on a depth chart.
- Set a Google Alert for “Tulane football” plus “transfer portal” during portal windows: It pushes signings straight to your inbox so you never miss a roster move during the busiest stretches.
Pick two of these and stick with them rather than trying to track everything. The @TulaneFB account paired with a portal-window Google Alert covers the vast majority of breaking news with almost no effort, and you can layer in the rest when you want to go deeper.
At the End
Put it all together, and the picture is clear: a program fresh off an 11-win, conference-title season is stacking 2027 talent, sending players to the NFL, and bracing for road tests at Duke and Kansas State.
What strikes me most is the timing.
This recruiting push and roster overhaul are happening while expectations are higher than they have been in years, which tells me the staff is building for sustained success, not a one-year run.
The transfer portal speed, paired with homegrown Louisiana commits, signals a program that knows exactly who it wants to be.
Here is what I will be watching when fall camp opens: if that rebuilt offensive line gels fast enough to spring Jaylin Lucas.
There is a lot of season left to unpack, so bookmark this page or follow along, and we can track every twist of it together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tulane’s Head Football Coach in 2026?
Will Hall leads the Green Wave after previously serving as the program’s offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2020.
What Conference does Tulane Football play in?
Tulane competes in the American Athletic Conference, where it won the 2025 championship title.
Where does Tulane Play its Home Games?
The Green Wave host home games at Yulman Stadium on the Tulane campus in New Orleans.
