Recruiting: Tulane adds Destrehan’s Clark, Grambling gains Texas back Elder as 2018 commitments

Tulane and Grambling padded their 2018 football recruiting classes with each program adding a commitment.

The Green Wave received a pledge from Destrehan safety Macon Clark, 6-foot 185 pounder who considered offers from ULL, Nicholls, Troy and Texas State. His declaration represents Tulane’s 15th commitment for the ’18 class and the fifth from the Pelican state.

Clark makes good breaks on the ball, can play in the box, shows good blitzing skills, can cover in space and takes good first steps.

Tulane also has a couple of visitors lined up prior to early signing period December 20.

Yanez Rogers (6-2, 179) is ranked the 78th overall rated athlete in the country by 24/7 Sports. Currently committed to Cincinnati (June 27), he has offers from Tulane, Cincinnati, Temple, South Florida, UCF, Alabama State, Bethune Cookman, Central Michigan, Southern Miss and FIU. The Pompano Beach, Fla. native is very athletic and good football IQ.

A dual threat quarterback in high school, Rogers is projected to play receiver or even cornerback in college. Many are recruiting him as wide receiver.

Rogers, who visits Tulane on December 15, may stop at UCF for a visit prior to that. The Green Wave are expected to receive his last visit.

Ryan Wright, out of San Ramon, California is the 4th best punter in the nation according to 24/7 Sports. He will visit Tulane December 8 and Arizona the week prior. Once again, the Green Wave will get him on campus the week before early signing day Dec. 20.

Wright (6-3, 240) is a pro style quarterback as well, which would afford whomever lands him some options in punt formation. He is outstanding as a punter with eye popping numbers. One of his in-game offerings traveled 65 yards with a 4.78 second hang time and another went 62 yards with a 5.03 hang time. Many of his kicks hover around five second hang time.

Tulane appears to be in a battle with Arizona for Wright’s services. North Carolina State and Colorado are among his other top suitors.

How important would it be for a program like Tulane to land Wright? Think of the significance that Thomas Morstead has on the special teams unit for the New Orleans Saints over the years. Now, Wright may not end up in Morstead’s class, but he can be a difference maker for a program which has struggled on special teams in the past few seasons.

The Grambling State Tigers added their fourth commitment for 2018 when running back Keilon Elder (5-8, 205) out of Duncanville, Texas pledged the the SWAC power. He squats 550 pounds and has a 36.5″ vertical to his credit. Elder also has timed at a 4.48 forty to provided a fine strength/speed combo.

Elder slices through the hole with good vision and balance. A very patient runner, he jump cuts quickly and is strong enough to drag a would-be tackler.

Ricky Travis, an earlier pledge to Grambling, is a lanky 6-foot-4 dual threat quarterback from St. Helena. He chose the Tigers over offers from Jackson State, Arkansas Pine-Bluff, ULM, Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech.