Tulane’s success includes emerging unsung heroes

The 8-1 Tulane Green Wave have been one of the major surprises in all of college football. Now 17th in the latest CFP rankings, the team is worthy of immense praise. To experience such success requires a total team effort, top to bottom.

Everyone is familiar with Michael Pratt and Tyjae Spears on offense. The defense is led by one of the best linebacker duos in the nation, Nick Anderson and Dorian Williams. But there are a handful of “worker bees” who have carved out crucial roles for the Wave through diligent work effort.

-RB ‘Shaadie’ Clayton-Johnson (6-0, 203)

After his 14 carries for 106 yards in last week’s win over Tulsa, the Warren Easton product has accumulated 219 yards rushing this season with 2 touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Willie Fritz feels like the Colorado is just hitting his stride.

“He’s just more comfortable,” Fritz said. “He was kind of banged up early in spring and also in preseason. I think he’s gotten healthy, I think he understands the offense.”

Clayton-Johnson had only 11 carries in this season’s first 3 games. He missed the Kansas State, Houston and East Carolina games. He is a strong, physical runner between the tackles.

-LB Jesus Machado (6-0, 220)

He doesn’t get as much attention with Williams and Anderson but the Miami, Fla. native who had 10 tackles against Tulsa has 22 stops this season. He also recorded six stops against Kansas State. Machado only registered 10 tackles last season.

A tribute to Tulane’s player development, Machado recognizes things quicker this year. In 2019, he was recognized as the class 5A Defensive Player of the Year in the Miami area. As an 8th grader, Machado received an offer from Alabama.

– RG Josh Remetich (6-4, 295)

He has spelled starter Kanan Ray since mid-September and has done a solid job. Remetich has played in four games this season after five starts as a true freshman in 2020 and five appearances last season.

The former 3-star local prospect out of Holy Cross is highly intelligent. He erases a previous bad play fromhis mind and moves onto the next. Remetich has also gotten reps at center, which may be his position moving forward.

-RB Iverson Celestine (5-10, 200)

He had 12 carries for 40 yards at Tulsa, the highest number of carries in game he has had. The Fontainebleau product has totaled 250 yards this season. His 4,171 career yards in high school impressed but Celestine his Green Wave journey this season as the fourth team running back.

Dangerous in space with excellent vision, Celestine is a good receiver and patient runner who waits for blocks. Like Clayton, he gives Tulane another capable back to turn to when not feeding the ball to Spears.

-NT Eric Hicks (6-2, 285)

An opportunity arose following the season-ending injury to starter Adonis Friloux. The Savannah, Georgia product had five tackles against Tulsa to give him 19 on the season. Hicks has totaled 62 tackles, 7.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks during his time with the Green Wave. He jams the middle, shoots the gap with good anticipation and locates the ball quickly. Hicks has gotten better with experience in another example of player development.

-DT Kam Hamilton (6-4, 280)

The 2022 signee out of Zachary had a half sack against Tulsa. He backs up Tulane transfer Patrick Jenkins, making strides each time on the field. With his athleticism for the edge, Hamilton Stepped up early in the preseason.

-DB/LB Devean Deal (6-3, 250)

The backup to Darius Hodges at the Joker spot, he held offers from Air Force, Syracuse, Kansas, Rice, Navy, Army, Bucknell and Dartmouth. product of El Paso, Texas arrived at Tulane at 225 pounds while expecting to play tight end. Deal played wide receiver in high school. In the Houston game, Hodges raced downfield and ran down a Cougar receiver headed for the endzone. He tore his ACL in 2021 but has played in eight games this season. Deal will continue to emerge.

-DT Tylo Phillips (6-3, 290)

The Lamar transfer has 15 tackles and 3 tackles for loss this season in nine games. The Collinsville, Miss. product played two years at Lamar, where he was named third team All Southland in 2020. Phillips has 4.96 speed, bench-presses 405 pounds, squats 540 and dead-lifts 615. He has played in a number of roles along the Green Wave defensive line, demonstrating skill to play inside or outside.

-DT Noah Taliancich (6-3, 275)

In nine game appearances, Taliancich has chipped in with 11 tackles, and a half-sack. The Destrehan product had a sports hernia as a freshman and it spilled over into last year, his sophomore campaign. Taliancich plays with a lot of energy and is mentally tough. His entire family have been hard-core Tulane fans.