Class of 2026 Spotlight: 
Jordyn Crites

Patrick Harkness • July 31, 2026

DE


Jordyn Crites- @JordynCrites26

6-7/274

Friendswood, TX



Jordyn Crites is a towering defensive lineman from Friendswood High School in Friendswood, Texas, class of 2026. 



Standing at 6-7 and weighing 274 pounds, Crites combines exceptional length with athleticism, making him a disruptive force on the edge or interior. 



He signed with Tulane on December 3, 2025, after committing on June 14, 2025, choosing the Green Wave over 16 FBS offers, including Power 4 programs like Baylor, TCU, Oregon State, Texas Tech, and others such as Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, North Texas, Rice, San Diego State, Tulsa, UNLV, and UTEP.     



Crites transferred to Friendswood after attending Edmond Memorial in Oklahoma for his freshman and sophomore years, where he began building his profile.   



He also played tight end, showcasing versatility, but his future is on defense. Crites was noted as a “riser” in recruiting circles.   



His recruitment heated up with official visits to TCU, Tulane, and Baylor in June 2025.  Crites was praised for his potential as one of the top defensive linemen from Texas, with Power 4 interest. 



Scouting Report:

  • 
Frame and Length: 
  • Enormous wingspan and height make him a mismatch nightmare, allowing him to disrupt passing lanes and engulf ball carriers. His reach helps in shedding blocks and maintaining leverage.   
  • 
Power and Hand Usage: 
  • Violent, heavy hands at the point of attack; primary move is a pure power rush that overwhelms offensive linemen. He can swim and dodge as counters, showing developing technique. 
  • 
Athleticism and Bend: 
  • Exceptional bend for his size, allowing him to break down in the backfield and pursue with speed. His 4.8 40 and vertical translate to explosive get-off and closing burst. 
  • 
Motor and Production: 
  • High-motor player who lives in the backfield, generating sacks, hurries, and numerous tackles for loss (TFLs). Effective against both run and pass, with a dynamic presence that wrecks games. 
  • 
Versatility and Upside: 
  • Two-way experience (DE/TE), with unreal potential due to size, power, and athleticism. He’s come into his own recently, suggesting continued growth. 
  • 
Intangibles: 
  • Strong academics, track background, and resilience shown in transferring schools.


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Transfer Portal Spotlight: Ryan Mickow

By Patrick Harkness • July 31, 2026
OT 
Ryan Mickow- BC 
Ryan Mickow fits Tulane as a 6’7”, 317-pound versatile offensive tackle with proven ACC experience at both right and left tackle, elite length/leverage, and immediate starting potential who anchors a revamped offensive line needing size, physicality, and competition after multiple key departures. 
He’s a redshirt junior transfer from Boston College (ACC) who committed on January 9, 2026, via the portal (entered January 5). A three-star high school recruit out of powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL), he has two years of eligibility remaining (#58). 
Athletic Profile and Scheme Fit: Tulane’s offense (under head coach Will Hall and OL coach Cody Kennedy) demands tackles who can handle both run-blocking in the trenches and pass protection on the edge in their system. Mickow is a natural fit as the new right tackle. 
• Size and length: Massive 6’7”/317 frame with long arms and a strong base that creates natural leverage and mismatches against edge rushers, ideal for dominating at the point of attack and sealing the edge in Tulane’s run game. 
• Versatility and experience: Played both RT and LT at BC, plus extra OL packages. Proven special teams contributor (field goal/PAT protection). Shows football IQ and adaptability in a Power-conference environment, exactly what Tulane targeted to stabilize the line. 
• Physicality and intangibles: High school multi-positional OL (LT/RT/C) experience on back-to-back state title teams demonstrates technique and toughness. National Honor Society member who brings leadership and smarts to the room. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

Part Of The Core: Chris Olave Extended

By Kaden Arkeder • July 30, 2026
Chris Olave has signed a contract extension valued at 4 years 132 million dollars, 90 million guaranteed with an AAV of 33M. All the contract talk is finally over for Chris Olave as it always felt like it was a matter of time before the deal would get done. Olave is too important to the Saints success this season and beyond to not get a deal done. Coming off a breakout 2025 campaign where Olave earned a second team All pro nomination after putting up his best season of his career. This extension gives the Saints and Tyler Shough their guy at WR for the foreseeable future. When you have a young quarterback like Tyler Shough you have to have proven talent around him and Olave has shown he can be a security blanket for Shough to aid in his development. But not only will Olave help Shough develop as he enters his sophomore season but Olave will also be able to help mentor rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. With Olave in the fold for the long haul the Saints hope the duo of Olave and Tyson become one of if not the best WR duo in the league one day soon. But for now Tyson gets to get his feet wet in his first NFL training camp and learn from one of the best in Chris Olave. Olave’s extension begins signals the beginning of a new core for the Saints as Olave certainly won’t be the last player extended in the near future if the Saints continue to trend in the right direction. It’s an exciting time to be Saints fan after feeling stuck in doldrums the last few years and deals like this help show the Saints are well on their way to contending once again.
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