The Tulane Green Wave are beginning to reload their roster in the transfer portal.
The Tulane Green Wave need to replace a lot of members in their secondary for the 2026 season between graduating seniors and those departing in the transfer portal -- through the transfer portal. They had a lot of success in the 2024 season finding transfers from FCS programs who were poised to make the FBS jump. Both of those players are now on NFL rosters. Last season, the Green Wave rolled the dice a bit more with inexperience at cornerback that showed at times, including in the College Football Playoff loss.
As of now, they have to replace Jahiem Johnson at boundary, Javion White at spear or slot, and Bailey Despanie at strong safety. On Saturday, they signed their second player out of the FCS level who may look to compete at those roles. Anthony Rogers from Nicholls State is transferring over to Tulane and will look to be in the mix at cornerback and possibly at the slot role.
The redshirt freshman posted 33 solo tackles, 55 total, one tackle for loss, three interceptions, and five pass breakups in 12 games for the Colonels, showing real potential for ballhawk skills. Rogers allowed 32 receptions on 60 targets and was solid in tackling and against the run as a young player.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Rogers also hails from the same university that the Green Wave picked up current New York Jet Jarius Monroe from. Originally from Mississippi, Rogers went to Laurel High School where he helped lead his team to a state title as a senior. He posted 97 tackles and four interceptions, earning All-State First Team and All-District First Team honors. He also scored six touchdowns on offense and had over 600 return yards on special teams.
Cornerback is a position where experience is critical to success and can’t be replicated by anything besides in-game snaps. Those can be just as valuable at the FCS level, where Tulane has picked up Monroe, and starters Micah Robinson and Johnathan Edwards from 2024. It’s a level often overlooked in favor of shiny toys at the FBS level.
But much like Juco guys, there are real diamonds out of the FCS. Often, they may not have had their growth spurt until after high school and are better poised for the size needed in FBS. Or they needed better game tape and took that opportunity versus trying to walk on to an FBS program somewhere. Rogers looks to be a strong grab and one with inherent ball skills that may be a real asset to the Green Wave defense next season.