Tulane reloaded at wide receiver, enjoying emergence of Hicks on defensive front

Tulane practiced in helmets and shorts Monday, again focusing on the kicking game as well as 7-on-7 work. At the end of practice, the Green Wave worked on their two-minute drill.

While the Green wave graduated the explosive duo of Darnell Mooney and Jalen McCleskey, head coach Willie Fritz really likes his receiving corps in 2020.

“I think we’re pretty deep at receiver,” Fritz said. “With the addition of (Deuce) Watts and Mykel Jones. We’ve got some veteran guys. When you get a guy from the junior college ranks, especially a quality junior college (player) like Jones, that’s a tough league over there in Mississippi. That’s good football over there. They’ve really adapted well. Jha’Quan Jackson is a dynamic football player. Sorrell Brown has been banged up since he’s been here.”

Dane Ledford and Jacob Robertson are others that Fritz mentioned.

Fritz added another weapon he likes in the passing game.

“It was a great move moving Christian Daniels out there to that tight end position,” Fritz said. “He’s runs super routes, he’s got excellent speed. I think he was fifth in the state in North Carolina so he’s got great speed. We’ve got some options out there.”

The receivers are benefiting from solid quarterback play.

“The quarterbacks are really doing a super job of being accurate throwing the football,” Fritz said. “You can have all the players you want out there. If the quarterback’s not accurate and not you’re not providing good pass protection, a good stable of receivers can look like they’re bad.”

Tulane’s best position may be defensive line and while the top players are known to all, another player is emerging and getting a lot of time with the first unit.

“I think Eric Hicks has gotten much better,” Fritz said. “He’s the kind of a guy that’s kind of a little bit unknown to everybody because he didn’t get to play much last year. I think we played him maybe one or two games. He got in under the new redshirt rule. He comes from a super program in Benedict High in Savannah, Georgia. I think he did an excellent job in the time we were away in training. When he came back, he looked a little bit like a different guy.”

BIG (OPENING) GAME HUNTING

Athletic Director Troy Dannen told Fritz that there is still one possibility for a week one opponent on September 3.

“If we’re not going to play week one game, we’ll adjust our practices because we will not be playing until the 12th (September), Fritz said. “We’ve been practicing under the assumption that we were going to play a week one game. If it’s not going to happen, I want to give these guys a couple of days off in a row, at least.”