From a Louisiana native to a key transfer, Tulane's honorees show how the Green Wave build a sustainable roster.
The Tulane Green Wave have a lot of transfers coming into the program, and that’s how to build and maintain a roster nowadays.
Keeping and retaining talent on an annual basis is a challenge, but it’s how to sustain a standard and culture.
The Green Wave, for being a Group of 6 program, have figured out how to sustain a foundation, and that will be a key factor in their hopes for a successful season.
Looking at some of the preseason accolades that players have received, there’s a trend of that core being built.
Athlon Sports most recently released their 2026 Preseason American All-Conference Selections and the Tulane athletes who made the Second Team are a perfect mix of that.
Wide receiver Anthony Brown-Stephens and linebackers Chris Rodgers and Dickson Agu were named Second Team.
Agu is a Louisiana native who signed with the program out of high school, started his career under Willie Fritz, and is here two new hires later.
Rodgers came to the program when former coach Jon Sumrall over from the Troy Trojans and is heading into his third season with the program.
Brown-Stephens transferred in last season and will be a major factor on the offense.
Altogether, they show how important each type of returning player is to the roster.
Brown-Stephens is a redshirt senior who played in all 14 games and made eight starts for the Wave last season.
With leading receiver Shazz Preston transferring out from last season, Brown-Stephens was second on the team with 41 catches for 523 yards. He was one of five players to have more than one touchdown last season with two total.
However, he was the first touchdown by a receiver last season in the team’s loss back in September to Ole Miss in Week 4. With some more time on task with the eventual next starting quarterback, Brown-Stephens should look to make a major jump next season.
Rodgers is a senior linebacker who started all 14 games last season. He was also a First Team Preseason selection to Phil Steele. Rodgers was second with 80 tackles with seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.
He will be an instrumental leader on defense next season, learning next to Sam Howard last season and having to take on an elevated role with an injury to the other Second Team selection.
Agu rounds out the list as a redshirt junior who made five starts before a season-ending injury happened in the first game of conference play. He was named a Third Team Preseason selection by Phil Steele. Before his campaign ended, he still recorded an impressive 36 tackles, two tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.
And with linebacker coach Tayler Polk elevating to defensive coordinator, his unit will really look to be the glue of the defense this season.
