The Tulane Green Wave are starting to accumulate depth at positions of need through their transfer portal efforts. So far, they have added 16 transfers as of Tuesday afternoon to mix in with a considerable number of returning players, six of which have been announced on offense. Perhaps the most importance announcement on offense is running back Jamauri McClure returning after a breakout 2025 season. He will continue to be led by returning running backs coach Brock Hays. Hays has a lot of attrition to replace, but that unit has now three transferring players to work with.
Oklahoma State running back D.J. Dugar announced that he’s transferring to the Green Wave after spending his freshman season with the Cowboys. He joins transfers Johnnie Daniels from Mississippi State and Jaylin Lucas from Florida State – all former Power Four players. Dugar did not play in his freshman year, but the Leander, Tex., native was a sensation in high school.
Dugar rushed for nearly 4,000 yards and 48 touchdowns at Glenn High School, setting the single-season and career rushing records. He was the No. 30 running back out of Texas and No. 64 overall prospect in the state, and also competed in track, baseball and basketball. Dugar was named first-team all-district and district MVP three times in his high school career.
He hasn’t yet been able to show his talents at the collegiate level, but Tulane was very strong at developing departing true freshman Javin Gordon at the position last season, in addition to McClure over two years – who had never played football until late in high school. The Green Wave will lose Gordon, Zuberi Mobley, and Arnold Barnes in the transfer portal. Now, quarterback Jake Retzlaff was the leading rusher for Tulane last year with 16 rushing scores. However, those backs all played an important role in the Green Wave’s offense. Gordon ran for 516 yards and five touchdowns last year, Mobley had 184 yards and two touchdowns, and Barnes had 217 yards and no touchdowns.
McClure played in 13 games but didn’t take over as the starter until late in the season but returns with 540 yards and two touchdowns. He became the lead back against the FAU Owls and nearly rushed for 100 yards – he would hit that mark in two of their last four games after that. He is the back that the offense will be built around, especially as they search for the next starting quarterback. But they’ll need depth to form an attack, and Dugar gives them a lot of untapped talent to add to the room.