The Tulane Green Wave's new talent and returning secondary pieces have coaches excited about what this group can become.
New Orleans, La. – The Tulane Green Wave football team lost key pieces at every position, including the secondary. However, rather than concern, the room has coaches fired up as they hit the second half of spring camp. Safeties coach Bryan Berezowitz explained why several factors have him excited about what the Green Wave’s defensive back room can become in 2026. Mainly, staff continuity and a disciplined, young group that was bolstered by a handful of key transfers.
Comfortability is a major advantage, and it’s frankly a luxury in today’s transfer portal era of college football. It leads to continuity. Tulane only picked up about 17-18 transfers or so, but it wasn’t due to missing out on targets as much as it was the ability to retain a legitimate core.
The safeties room in particular has that with Jack Tchienchou returning and guys like Kevin Adams and Joshua Moore looking to mold into starters. They’re all already familiar with their coach in Berezowitz. Same goes for his twin, Brayden, and his spears group that includes the returning TJ Smith. JJ McCleskey, longtime cornerbacks coach, has a bit more new faces, but has one returning starter in E’zaiah Shine who will look to make a jump this year with the game slowing down. Those types of relationships and familiarity will pay off down the road.
With the addition of exciting talent, Berezowitz thinks this group has a “chance to be whatever we want to be.” A key add to watch will be Macho Stevenson from the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Importantly, former Green Wave defensive coordinator Shiel Wood employs the same system as coordinator for the Red Raiders, alongside his current co-DC and former Tulane safeties coach, Rob Greene. That allowed Stevenson to immediately settle in and show off his physical traits, including great length, speed, and athleticism. Berezowitz thinks his IQ sets him apart more than anything.
Another add with pre-existing familiarity is cornerback Justin Agu, brother of linebacker Dickson Agu. All of those relationships and comfortability are an asset to Berezowitz. With the first real scrimmage of spring camp coming this Saturday, that group will really get tested as the quarterback competition continues in full swing for the Green Wave. Being able to see that group in full speed and full go will show a lot about what this team can become. The group is young and still developing. But it has the foundation to be a special group, and that’s something that has started to take form in the second half of spring.