Tulane Football Lands Nine Phil Steele Preseason All-American Selections

The Tulane Green Wave football team is gaining some national recognition ahead of their 2026 season, and individual stars are earning attention. In Phil Steele’s 2026 Preseason American All-Conference Team, the Green Wave had nine selections total, and three First Team selections.

The selections span across offense, defense, and special teams, illustrating the depth of the program and a successful core bolstered by transfer portal additions under new head coach Will Hall. It signals what is shaping up to be a high expectations campaign for the Wave.

Those three standouts on First Team are linebacker Chris Rodgers, safety Jack Tchienchou, and defensive back/return specialist Tavare “TJ” Smith.

Rodgers started all 14 games for the Green Wave last season and became incredibly important with a season-ending injury to linebacker Dickson Agu and a midseason injury to star linebacker and leader Sam Howard. He was second on the team with 80 total tackles and had seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

Tchienchou also started all 14 games at free safety and led the team with 83 tackles while posting 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, three pass breakups, one fumble recovery, and a forced fumble. Several of those turnovers came in the American Conference Championship game, leading to him earning Most Outstanding Player. Tchienchou was also a First Team All-Conference selection by coaches vote in 2025.

Smith was sensational as a kick return specialist, averaging 26.7 yards per return while playing a key role at backup spear behind Javion White last season. He contributed 24 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack on defense. His efforts on special teams earned him Third Team All-Conference by coaches vote in 2025.

Rounding out the selections for the Wave are wide receiver Destyn Hill on second team, followed by linebacker Dickson Agu and running back Jaylin Lucas on third team.

Hill is a transfer from the LSU Tigers after spending his first two seasons with Florida State. He has eight catches for 109 yards in 20 career games, but his pedigree was noticeable during camp as he brings Power Four-caliber traits to the wide receiver room.

Agu only started four games last season before his season-ending injury, but racked u p36 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. His return will significantly boost that room.

Lucas is also a transfer, hailing from the Seminoles after beginning his career with the Indiana Hoosiers. Lucas was a First Team All-American returner and the Big Ten Return Specialists of the Year at Indiana in 2022. He has 55 total kick returns for 1,420 yards and three touchdowns. As a running back, Lucas adds 145 rushes for 719 yards and 64 receptions for 456 yards.

The Fourth Team selections are converted quarterback to tight end Ty Thompson, right tackle Reese Baker, and cornerback E’zaiah Shine.

The nine selections highlight how Tulane is positioned to be a contender in the American Conference with a strong defensive core illustrated in the three First Team selections.