The Tulane Green Wave will have to replace a big leader on and off the field.
It’s incredibly rare in today’s college football to have a player on the roster for five seasons, but the Tulane Green Wave were able to enjoy that with strong safety Bailey Despanie. He joined the team in 2021, and they went 2-10. He was an important depth player in the greatest single-season turnaround in college football history. He became a starter and a top defensive leader over the last three seasons. Now, Despanie will head to the 2026 NFL draft.
“First and foremost, I want to thank God for putting me in the position I'm in today,” Despanie wrote in his statement. “Every trial and tribulation has led me to this moment, and without Him, none of this would be possible. I also want to thank Tulane University and every coach I've crossed paths with throughout my athletic career. Thank you for pouring into me, pushing me, and helping me become a better version of myself both on and off the field.”
“To my family — I was just a young kid watching football with y'all, always talking about one day getting the opportunity to play in the NFL. Y’all believed in me from the start and did everything in your power to help make that dream a reality. So much has been sacrificed for me to reach this point, and I'm forever grateful for everything you've done.
With that being said, I am officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.”
Despanie ends his time at Tulane with 54 games played, 133 career solo tackles, 193 total, two interceptions, 11 pass deflections, and a fumble recovery. In 14 games started and played in this last season, Despanie posted 39 solo tackles, 63 total, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one interception. Despanie is a Louisiana native who signed with the Green Wave out of Carencro High School in Lafayette.
His nickname is “Slim” due to the size of him when he arrived at Tulane. His height and weight listed at the time of his recruitment are 6-foot-1, 160 pounds. He put in the work on the field and in the weight room in his five years with the Green Wave. He graduates from the football program now at 204 pounds.
He will always have a place in Tulane history as part of a program-changing and defining legacy, one that built the culture that has kept the Green Wave winning. He is one of few players to have been on the team for all four conference championship appearances, and two American title wins. He helped lead the secondary through a coaching change from Willie Fritz to Jon Sumrall. His impact off the field will be missed as much as his impact on it.