Three more key Tulane Green Wave offensive players were spotted in the team's offseason program, building a strong core of returning players.
While observing the Tulane Green Wave football team’s attempt to beat the Gauntlet, their offseason conditioning program, last Friday, it was also a chance to check for a few more unannounced returnees. A lot of players announced their returns on social media over the last few months, and others were quiet through the offseason and transfer portal window. Focusing on the offensive side of the ball, there was a bit of clarity of which skill players were also returning for the Green Wave under new head coach Will Hall, who spent a lot of time with that side of the ball last year as the passing game coordinator.
The following had already announced their intents to return: running back Jamauri McClure, right tackle Reese Baker, offensive tackle Darion Reed, offensive guard John Bock, offensive guard Elijah Baker, and wide receivers Zycarl Lewis Jr., Oliver Mitchell, and Shaun Nicholas. A few more were revealed through some social media postings by the school, like wide receiver Kellen Tasby and Garrett Mmahat. While it was an incredibly chaotic hour watching the Gauntlet, there were a few faces that stuck out.
Namely, running back Maurice Turner, wide receiver Anthony Brown-Stephens, and tight end Ty Thompson were the notable players seen participating in the Gauntlet, and they are all players who should be expected to take a jump in their 2026 campaign. Turner began the 2025 season as the team’s starting running back, but suffered an ankle injury in the season opener and didn’t see as much time as anticipated throughout the year. However, he has a year in the system under coach Brock Hays and should complement a strong room headlined by McClure. Turner appeared in eight games last season and had 28 carries for 127 yards, with no touchdowns.
Thompson has been on the team since the 2024 season but hasn’t seen the field much. After losing the starting quarterback job to Darian Mensah, Thompson had one start in the Gasparilla Bowl loss before converting to tight end. Unfortunately, Thompson got injured during spring practice and ended up redshirting through the 2025 season. However, in limited action during the spring, Thompson showed real promise as a big pass catcher with an impressive catch radius and high point at 6-foot-4, 224 pounds. He’ll be exciting to watch develop in his new position for a second year.
Brown-Stephens played a solid role in the Tulane’s run to the College Football Playoff last year. The redshirt senior transferred in last spring from Kentucky. He appeared in all 14 games for the Green Wave and recorded 41 catches for 523 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown in the Sept. Ole Miss loss was the first touchdown reception by a wide receiver for the Wave last year. Brown-Stephens also had 15 kickoff returns for 257 yards, with a long of 40 yards. He was second on the team in receptions and yards behind Shazz Preston, who transferred to the Indiana Hoosiers.
So, that now makes a running back room of McClure, Turner, and newcomers Jaylin Lucas, DJ Dugar, and Johnnie Daniels, and a wide receiver room headlined by Brown-Stephens, Lewis, Mitchell, Nicholas – who was injured and played defensive back last year – Mmahat, and Tasby, with newcomers Destyn Hill and Gabe Daniels.