The Tulane Green Wave will need to replace several starters, and they'll have options in some returning players who could compete.
The Tulane Green Wave need to replace a decent number of starters for the 2026 college football season between graduating seniors and those departing in the transfer portal. Depth, however, is just as important as the starting 11 on each side. Development is all but lost in the sport of college football, but when teams can hold onto some promising young talent, it really helps a foundation be built and sustained. New Green Wave coach Will Hall will have to do a bit of rebuilding the foundation, but there will be a core of continuity to shore up around.
Most of the returning players for Tulane are on the defensive side of the ball: linebackers Chris Rodgers, Dickson Agu, and Makai Williams. Running back Jamauri McClure was probably the most important announcement of returnees on offense for the Green Wave. But three more players have announced that they’ll be returning for the 2026 season.
The first is freshman receiver Oliver Mitchell, who was the team’s first signee from local high school Edna Karr in New Orleans since 2011. Mitchell was a three-star prospect who also competed in track and field in the 200 and 400-yard dashes in high school. Mitchell participated in all 14 games for Tulane but mostly on special teams. He did record two receptions for seven yards against Northwestern and South Alabama respectively. The Green Wave will need to replace graduating seniors Bryce Bohanon and Tre Shackelford, and presumably Shazz Preston who intends to enter the transfer portal. Mitchell could certainly make a jump to be one of those next men up in year two.
The next announcement on offense is backup left guard Elijah Baker. Baker appeared in eight games for Tulane last season, including the College Football Playoff. He also made his first collegiate start against Ole Miss in September, when guard Shadre Hurst moved to left tackle to replace Derrick Graham, who was out with injury. As Hurst has also announced his intent to enter the transfer portal, Baker, who was named offensive player of the game in the Sept. 20 loss, could easily compete to take that role.
The third player was almost lost in the shuffle as he announced before the team played in the CFP. Backup guard/center John Bock will spend his final year of eligibility with the Green Wave. Bock got hurt during the preseason but was slated to start at right guard. The team needs to replace Jordan Hall, who declared for the 2026 NFL draft, at guard, and also center Jack Hollified, who graduated. Bock will be a strong asset at either one.
Mitchell will enjoy continuity under returning wide receivers coach Carter Sheridan, while Baker and Bock will receive new coaching from offensive line coach Cody Kennedy.