Tulane QB Michael Pratt uses Manning Passing Academy as latest step to achieve lofty Heisman, NFL Draft goals

At last year’s Manning Passing Academy event, the media swarm largely surrounded Bryce Young and Myles Brennan. The right corner Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt sat in received some coming and going visitors, but never much of a large crowd.

That wasn’t the case in 2023 though, as it was rarely possible to even see Pratt from a distance with the amount of cameras, microphones and reporters from all over that surrounded him at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.

This sea change did not happen by pure chance though.

As Pratt has gone from a quarterback who hardly came up in FBS quarterback conversations to one considered among 2023’s very best returnees, all of the attention he’s garnered was well earned. It likely has come come far later than he truly deserved for those who couldn’t see past a 2-10 record and look at quarterback evaluation from an individual standpoint.

Pratt finished out the 2022 season with a 63.6% completion rate, passing for 3,010 yards with 27 touchdowns and just five interceptions on 338 attempts. In addition to being an accurate quarterback who generally showed good decision-making and sound lower-body mechanics, Pratt is known perhaps slightly more for his ambitious running ability and toughness. It’s an X-factor that top quarterbacks often possesses.

The three-year Green Wave starter managed 478 rushing yards and 10 scores on 129 carries in 2022. Needless to say, Pratt played a key role in Tulane’s historic turnaround.

For what offseason showcases are worth, he has only continued to build upon his chances of being both an early-round NFL draft pick and a potential Heisman Trophy candidate. According to NFL sources, Pratt is receiving plenty of buzz among the prospects behind a pair of potential Top 5 overall picks, USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye.

Pratt also was named the “MMQB” by the Shrine Bowl director Eric Galko, who had high praise for the Boca Raton, Fla. native after viewing his efforts at the MPA. Pratt was one of the most consistent performers during the “Friday Night Lights” event, drawing additional attention during the skills challenge.

“Got to visit with (Tulane football) then see Michael Pratt this weekend at MPA,” Galko tweeted. “Awesome to see the culmination of a fantastic college career. He’s been among my favorite QBs since his freshman emergence… expectations are deservedly high for Pratt and his standout WRs.”

#ShrineBowl MMQB: Got to visit with @GreenWaveFB then see Michael Pratt this weekend at MPA.

Awesome to see the culmination of a fantastic college career. He’s been among my favorite QB since his freshman emergence

Expectations are deservedly high for Pratt and his standout WRs pic.twitter.com/fUZ4jcyMzv

— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) June 26, 2023

At the event, Pratt emphasized how excited he was for the start of the upcoming season. His enthusiasm was not only for what Tulane can accomplish this fall but how much the team has drawn so much more attention locally and nationally. Pratt also takes pride in how Tulane’s student body now excited about more than just what the university’s coveted degrees mean.

“Tulane is a very academic school,” Pratt said. “So looking at the student body, I think a lot of kids now know what it feels like to be excited about football. I think that’s something that the school has emphasized and the media and everything, so I think the amount of people that are fired up for this next season, that (gives me) just a little bit of extra motivation going in.”

How Pratt could potentially rise up the draft boards and awards watch lists will be just one storyline to watch as the Green Wave’s gets underway with a home matchup against the South Alabama Jaguars on Sept. 2. at 7 p.m. CT.