McClure, who made a massive impact for the Green Wave in the second half of the season, is set to continue playing for Tulane.
The Tulane Green Wave continues to add some key pieces to its 2026 roster.
On Wednesday evening, freshman running back Jamauri McClure took to X to share that he'd be staying with the Green Wave heading into the 2026 season. There's no doubt that the star rusher could have garnered some major interest if he would have chosen to enter the transfer portal, but he's choosing to stick with the program that has given him major opportunities in big moments.
McClure got better and better with each passing game throughout the season. He appeared in 10 of the team's 14 games this year, but the majority of that playing time came in the second half of the year.
The standout picked up a few yards here and there early in the season, but he put together his first big game against the Florida Atlantic Owls on November 15th. McClure burst on the scene in that contest, carrying the ball 10 times for 94 yards and one touchdown -- that's an average of nearly 10 yards per rushing attempt.
Somehow, McClure only got stronger from there. He recorded a season-high 122 rushing yards on 17 carries the following weekend against the Temple Owls, then totaled 11 rushing attempts for 69 yards in the program's win over the Charlotte 49ers.
McClure put together a game-changing performance in the American Conference Championship game against the North Texas Mean Green with a season-high 22 carries for 121 yards and one touchdown, while also adding a 12-yard reception through the air. He carried much of that momentum into the first round of the College Football Playoff, and despite the eventual loss to the Ole Miss Rebels, McClure added 84 rushing yards on 14 carries.
In total, it was quite the debut year for the kid from Goshen, Alabama. McClure finished the season with 540 total rushing yards and two touchdowns on 83 carries -- that's an average of 6.5 yards per rush. Of note, the freshman also had just one lost fumble on the season.
McClure's return is massive news for a Green Wave program that is looking to figure out what next year will look like under newly-named head coach Will Hall. There's no doubt that McClure will only improve in the months leading up to kickoff in August, and he will continue to be a focal point on offense for as long as he wears the Sky Blue and Olive Green.