Tulane @ Army Championship Preview

Patrick Harkness • December 4, 2024

Tulane Green Wave

@

Army Knights


By: Patrick Harkness



Spread: Tulane -5

Total: 45.5


Tulane travels to Michie Stadium in West Point, New York to square off against the Army Knights. Jeff Monken is in his 11th year with the Army Knights and has an overall record of 80-56. Their offense mainly consists of flexbone options, pistol options, and shotgun. They're ranked 134 passing with 89 yards average, 1st in the nation running the ball at 312 yards a game, and 32nd for points scored at 32. Defensively (3-4 multiple) they are ranked 8th in the nation for points against, ranked first in the AAC for least amount of yards per game at 295, 5th in the AAC for passing at 220 yards a game, and 1st in the AAC for stopping the run at 103 yards a game.   

   


Offense


Quarterback- Mensah


Army is a very good run defensive team, and we all know Tulane loves to run the football. Let's hope this Tulane team has a little trick up their sleeve and try to start this game with some shots down field. Opening up the passing attack and try to get some yards against a weak Army secondary that is prone to giving up some big plays. It's time to let Mensah to put this team on his shoulders and show the college football world how great of a quarterback he is going to be. 


Army QB Bryson Dailey- There are running quarterbacks and then there is Bryson Dailey. Through the air he has 860 yards with 8 touchdowns and 1 interception, with a 56-completion percentage. The guy is basically a running back who has some passing skills; he has totaled 1,348 yards rushing with 25 touchdowns.     


Ty Thompson


If Tulane is trying to play catch up all game, we may not see Ty for another week.



Running Back


It may be a very hard day for the Tulane running backs to get going. Army has a very good defensive front led by linebacker Andon Thomas 75 tackles on the year, a sack, and an interception. It would be nice to see Makhi and Shadie help out in the passing game but If Tulane can get their running game going against this Army team, they should be able to handle their business all game long.   


       



Receiving Game


The receiving game of Tulane must step up and play a much better game than they did last week on Thanksgiving night. Drop passes and fumbles in the rezone will cost any team a W. They have a chance against this Army secondary to rack up some yards and make some big plays. Army does have some guys who can get their hands on the ball. Casey Larkin the linebacker/safety has three picks and Corner Jaydan Mayes does as well. 3 other guys for Army have 2 picks on the year Justin Weaver, Donavon Platt, and Max Didemencio.   



Offensive Line


The offensive line of Tulane must play better in the run blocking scheme if the Wave come out like usual and try to get the run game going. All five of the starters from this Unit received some sort of all conference honors which is well deserved by their play all year long. They are some of the best pass pro blockers out there, but Army does have a strong front seven they will have to deal with. Elo Modzie, the pass rushing linebacker, leads the team with 4.5 sacks. Kyle Lewis the 6-3 280 NT has 4 sacks on the year, the other blitzing linebacker Brett Gerena has 3 sacks followed by the defensive lineman Kody Harris-Miller with 2 sacks. 


X Factor: Throw the ball and challenge the secondary


Defense


Defensive Line 


This game will be won or lost in the trenches especially by a team like Army who loves to use the option run to the fullest. The defensive front of Tulane must be able to create havoc in the backfield and disrupt the option offense quickly. The defensive ends and Linebackers must also be on the same page with one group having to decide to take the quarterback and the other to stay in the running backs. Mathew Fobbs White could have a big game. Bryson Dailey (QB), Cayenne Udoh (RB), and Noah Short (RB) is Armies three headed option running monster they must shut down and try to force them to beat them through the air.




Linebackers


Sam Howard and Tyler Grubbs need to be on a mission in this game. After a bad defensive performance last week these two must step up and lead the defense to a victory by helping slow down the running attack of Army. The defensive ends and linebackers have to be on the same page in order to have success against this style of offense Army runs.



Secondary


Army is not known for throwing the ball, but they do have a couple of guys Tulane must account for. Wide Receiver Casey Reynolds leads the team in all categories with 16 catches, 409 yards and 3 touchdowns. Running back Noah Short can come out of the backfield and make some plays in the passing game, catching 15 passes for 305 yards and 3 touchdowns. Look for Caleb Ransaw and Bailey Despaine to be used a lot in this game to help out with the option attack of Army. 



X Factor: Load the Box and stop the Run. Make Byrson beat you through the air.




Special Teams



Kicker/Punter/Return Game


K- Patrick Durkin went 3 for 3 on extra points and hit a 44 yarder last game 


P-Will Karrol had 3 punts for 100 yards averaging 33.3 with a long of 37 last game



For more Tulane Football news, check out Wave Watch on YouTube at The Kneaux!


Roll Wave!!


This is Patrick Harkness and you can follow me on X @RollDatWave and @BeInTheKneaux everywhere.



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Football player in red kicks as teammate kneels on field during game, crowd blurred in background

Transfer Portal Spotlight: Jackson Courville

By Patrick Harkness • August 20, 2026
K 
Jackson Courville- Ohio State 
He committed on January 12, 2026 (after entering the portal January 2) and is now on Tulane’s 2026 roster as a redshirt junior (#96, 5’10”, 185 lbs) from Centerville, OH (Centerville HS). 
Here’s why Courville aligns so well with the Green Wave program: 
• Proven Leg Strength and Clutch MAC Production
: In two seasons as Ball State’s starting kicker (2023-24), he went 26-of-34 on field goals (76.5%) and 54-of-56 on extra points. Highlights include a game-winning 52-yard FG as time expired vs. Northern Illinois (2024), his career long, plus multiple makes from 50+ yards. He was automatic inside 40 yards and showed the power and accuracy Tulane needs after the departure of standout Patrick Durkin. 
• P4 Experience and Fresh Start
: After battling for the job at Ohio State in 2025 (limited to just 4 XPs in one appearance), he brings valuable Big Ten reps and camp competition experience. Now at Tulane, he’s locked in a competitive spring battle with Cooper Helmke and Zach Marini. 
• Immediate Depth and Competition in a Reloading Unit
: Tulane aggressively addressed special teams via the portal after losing Durkin. Courville arrives as a high-upside veteran with two years of eligibility left, ready to compete for the starting job and provide reliable kicking depth right away. 
In short, Jackson Courville is a smart, high-character portal pickup who brings proven production, big-leg power, and built-in chemistry with the offense to a position group that needed reinforcements. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
Dagan Bruno football player in teal helmet, number 14, during action pose with name and stats graphic.

PWO Spotlight: Dagan Bruno

By Patrick Harkness • August 20, 2026
Dagan Bruno: The Local Walk-On Made Some Noise in Tulane’s Quarterback Room during Spring Camp Dagan Bruno is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound redshirt sophomore quarterback wearing No. 14 for the Tulane Green Wave. A Preferred Walk-On from New Orleans and John Curtis Christian School, the hometown product has steadily transformed from scout-team specialist into a legitimate competitor in the quarterback room under head coach Will Hall. Bruno arrived at Tulane as a late addition to the 2024 class after a standout multi-sport career at John Curtis. As a junior in 2022, he helped lead the Patriots to a Division I Select state championship and was named the most outstanding player in the title game. In his senior season he completed over 72 percent of his passes for 1,504 yards with 13 touchdowns and just one interception while adding 527 rushing yards and eight scores. A true three-sport athlete who also excelled in basketball and baseball, Bruno maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school. At Tulane he redshirted in 2024 and spent the bulk of his first two seasons running the scout-team offense, particularly the triple-option looks used by Army and Navy. His experience in John Curtis’s split-back veer made him uniquely valuable in preparing the defense. Playing time was limited, and the lack of consistent reps tested his confidence. Everything changed in spring 2026. Bruno forced his way into the conversation with accurate, decisive play. In the final spring scrimmage he went 5-of-5 for 69 yards, capping the day with a perfect 40-yard touchdown strike down the sideline to Antwaun Parham. Coach Will Hall was emphatic in his praise: “You can win with Dagan Bruno. This is not some feel-good story anymore… Dagan can play. I love his competitive spirit. He’s a tough guy, a winner and a leader.” Bruno has made it clear he wants to shed the “option quarterback” label. “A lot of people tried to push me into being the option quarterback guy,” he said. “I’m trying to break away from that a little bit and become a real quarterback that can go out there and throw the ball around, make the right checks and just do everything right.” Heading into fall camp and the 2026 season, Bruno sits in a competitive four-man race alongside Zeon Chriss-Gremillion, Kadin Semonza, and true freshman Trace Johnson. While the early days of camp have been a mixed bag for him after his strong spring, his accuracy, athleticism, toughness, and local knowledge continue to make him a valuable piece of the room. Whether he earns the starting job, serves as a key backup, or provides package plays, the John Curtis product has already proven he belongs. For a preferred walk-on who stayed home and kept working when the spotlight was elsewhere, Dagan Bruno’s rise is a classic New Orleans football story, one that Green Wave fans should watch closely. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
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