2026 Tulane D-Line, Reloading and a Talent Infusion
2026 Tulane D-Line, Reloading and a Talent Infusion
This Fall, the Green Wave defensive front looks to be the strength of a very stout defense.Doug Joubert|
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Over the last month, we have taken a look at the Tulane quarterback situation, the Green Wave running back room, Wave receivers, and the offensive front going into 2026. This week, we glance at a defensive front that has a whole new look, but boasts a big step up in abilities and strengths.
If you look at the starting defensive line from the College Football Playoff game against Ole Miss last season, you won't find a returnee: Kam Hamilton is now with the New Orleans Saints, while the other three transferred elsewhere for their final year of eligibility: Harvey Dyson to NC State, Santana Hopper to Colorado, and Trevor McAlpine to Kansas.
So, at first glance, you'd think, "starting all over." Nope. This is a true case of reloading. Though the starters from that playoff game are all gone, the Green Wave rotated defensive linemen all season long, so returnees have a ton of experience. Add to that a pair of outstanding portal additions, and you have what we at On SI Tulane believe is a stronger defensive line than what you had at any time last season.
Plugs the Hole, Out-Strongs O-Line: Derrick Shepard, Jr.
After transferring to Tulane from UAB in 2025, Derrick Shepard, Jr saw action in every game of the CFP season. The 6' 3", 324-pound D-lineman can absolutely plug up any running lane. Though a big man, he has quick steps and powerful hands that can make a difference in any play, run or pass. Expect big things from this big man.
Big, Athletic, Bone-Jarring: Gerrod Henderson
After seeing action in every game of his sophomore year, Gerrod Henderson had big expectations for his redshirt junior season, but mid-way through the Memphis game, he suffered a significant leg injury during the first half of that contest in November 2025. The injury kept him sidelined for the remainder of the regular season and the College Football Playoff. The 6' 2", 246-pound defensive end is athletic and can deliver some of the most cleat-clearing hits you'll see. He comes back at full strength in the Fall.
Big Presence in the Middle: Armondous Cooley
Redshirt senior defensive lineman Armondous Cooley transferred from Southern Miss in 2025 and, much like the aforementioned Shepard, saw action in every game. At 6' 3", 307-pounds, Cooley is a run stopper who just plugs up the middle. His pass rushing skills are something he has worked on, and it showed in Spring training.
Pass Rusher/Bandit: Jah'rie Garner
In case you don't know, the Bandit position is like a stand-up defensive end/linebacker. They can rush the passer or drop back into pass coverage. Jah'rie Garner did both. The redshirt junior from St. Augustine is a solid 6' 3", 232-pounds and saw action in all fourteen games the Green Wave played last year, piling up fourteen tackles, five of those solo.
Trio of Transfers Means Size and Speed
Tulane head coach Will Hall and his coaches dipped into the transfer portal to bring in young and old. These in particular will help fill in the gaps from those who transferred out.
Disruptive, Active, Pressure: Ed Smith IV
The Green Wave went looking for immediate help on the pass rush and got it from South Alabama transfer Ed Smith IV. The redshirt senior started all 12 games for the Jaguars in 2025 finishing with 33 total tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss, blocked a kick against Arkansas State and recorded tackles for loss against Morgan State, Tulane and ULM. Smith appeared in all 13 of South Alabama's games in 2024 totaling 23 total tackles on the year with 10 solo stops. He missed his sophomore year, 2023 due to a season-ending knee injury, but returned as a redshirt sophomore and junior to put up those numbers.
Coming Home: Reshad Sterling
Lutcher defensive lineman Reshad Sterling headed to Houston with high hopes last year, but only played in one game for 13-snaps, garnering three tackles before being redshirted. He decided to come home to continue his college career. The 6' 3", 262-pounder was a four-star recruit who wanted to come home to play for Will Hall. Fox 8's Garland Gillen did an outstanding expose on the youngster from the bayou parishes.
No doubt, some of the best high school football in America comes from Louisiana. Reshad Sterling is a beast from "The Boot."
— Garland Gillen (@garlandgillen) May 17, 2026
Sterling dominated on the d-line for the Lutcher Bulldogs. After a year at the University of Houston, he's back in South Louisiana playing for the Tulane… pic.twitter.com/QoMOjpjvPU
Quick Attack, Great Lateral Movement: Jordan McAllister
Playing defensive end for New Hampshire for two season, Jordan McAllister has incredible quickness, can pressure from the edge, and move along the line laterally to stop wide runs or sweeps. The redshirt junior is expected to play bandit for the Green Wave after having a breakout year in 2025 for the Wildcats, recording 33 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.
More Depth on the D-Line
Others who could make contributions this season:
- PaLanding Drammeh, R-Fr, 6' 2", 297-pounds: Saw action in five games last season as a true freshman including the CFP game vs. Ole Miss. From Hoover, Alabama.
- Geordan Guidry, R-Soph, 6' 2", 278-pounds: Played in every game last year as a redshirt freshman, including the CFP game. Totaled 15-tackles, 8-solo.
Tulane Stadium: A Century-Old Look Back
In celebration of this year being the 100th anniversary of the opening of old Tulane Stadium on the Uptown campus, we are looking back at the greatest athletes to grace the old field and beyond. A month ago, we chose what we think was the greatest quarterback in Tulane history, the next week, who the most outstanding running back was, then our selection of the greatest Tulane wide receiver. Since On Si Tulane looked at this season's defensive linemen this week, on Wednesday we take a stab at who we think was the best D-lineman in the 100-plus years of Green Wave football.
Published 2 hours ago | Modified 10 minutes ago
DOUG JOUBERTDoug has covered a gamut of sporting events in his fifty-plus years in the field. He started doing sideline reporting for Louisiana Tech football games for the student radio station. Doug was Sports Director for KNOE-AM/FM in Monroe in the mid-80s, winning numerous awards from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association for Best Sportscast and Best Play-by-Play. High school play-by-play for teams in Monroe, Natchitoches, New Orleans, and Thibodaux, LA dot his resume. He did college play-by-play for Northwestern State University in Natchitoches for nine years. Then, moving to the Crescent City, Doug did television PBP of Tulane games and even filled in for legendary Tulane broadcaster, Ken Berthelot in the only game Kenny ever missed while doing the Green Wave games. His father was an alumnus of Tulane in the 1940s, so Doug has attended Tulane football games in old Tulane Stadium, the Superdome, and Yulman. He was one of the 86,000 plus on December 1, 1973, sitting in the North End Zone to seeTulane shutout the LSU Tigers, 14-0. He was there when the Posse ruled Fogelman and in Turchin when the Wave made it to the World Series. He currently is the public address voice of the Tulane baseball team.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
