Tulane Football 2017 Position Preview: Quarterbacks

NEW ORLEANS – Tulane football returned to the Yulman Stadium field Monday morning after an off day for a two-hour practice to begin the third week of preseason camp.

As the 2017 season approaches, with just 19 days to kickoff, the units are rounding into shape, and previews of each position will follow on TulaneGreenWave.com in the coming days and weeks. Today: quarterbacks.

The Green Wave return to the practice field Tuesday morning for a workout at the New Orleans Saints facility in Metairie. Practices are closed to the public.

Quarterbacks
Tulane will likely have a new look behind center this fall, as junior transfer Jonathan Banks is the frontrunner to take the first snaps of the 2017 season. Behind him, however, is sophomore Johnathan Brantley, and freshmen Khalil McClain and Dane Ledford, as well as junior Glen Cuiellette, sophomore P.J Hurst and freshman Miles Lapeyre.

Banks, a native of Humble, Texas, came to Tulane from Independence Community College after a season at Kansas State. He enrolled in January, and received the advantage of learning the Wave offense during the spring. Brantley, a Houston native, played in eight games with two starts as a freshman last season, rushing for 202 yards on 46 attempts. Cuiellette played in all 12 games with 10 starts last season, compiling 1,309 passing yards and 216 rushing yards and 10 passing touchdowns.

“Banks is our clear-cut number one right now. Johnathan Brantley has an advantage over the other guys because he understands what we’re doing,” head coach Willie Fritz said. “He looks good throwing it, and it always goes to the right place, but he just has to be consistent with his delivery. We have a battle for that third spot, between Khalil McClain and Dane Ledford.”

McClain and Ledford are a pair of athletic true freshmen that have stood out during fall camp. McClain is a 6’3”, 220-pounder from Creekside, Ga., who passed for 1,720 yards and 10 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,272 yards and 18 scores as a senior. Ledford is a 6’0”, 195-pounder from Argyle, Texas, who passed for 4,622 yards in his high school career, and also spent stints at safety and wide receiver. Hurst, from Pacific Palisades, Calif., is in his second year at Tulane, while Lapeyre is a product of Newman High School in New Orleans.

“The quarterbacks are competing hard,” offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Doug Ruse said. “Johnathan Brantley continues to play really well consistently every day. We still have a battle with two true freshmen for that third spot. The older guys are doing a nice job of helping us coach them up, and talking about different situations. That’s the only way you learn that stuff – to get the reps and go against those live looks. Right now we’re installing offense, but we’ll pare that down when it gets closer to the first ballgame, and we’ll know that scheme inside and out.”

Season tickets and mini-plans are on sale now, and can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging onto TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center. Season tickets that includes all six home games during the 2017 season start as low as $200 for a single book and $300 for a family four-pack. Mini plans include the 3rd & Goal package for $75 and the Homecoming & Lagniappe package for $65. Seats are available in locations throughout Yulman Stadium.

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