WHAT IF The Transfer Portal Never Existed! Defense Edition
Same rules as the offense: only original Tulane high-school recruits, including guys who later left. No portal arrivals (Ed Smith IV, Reshad Sterling, Derrick Shepard, Chris Rodgers, Jack Tchienchou, Anthony Rogers, Macho Stevenson, Dalton Hughes, Justin Agu, Kajuan Banks, etc.).
Tulane’s current defense is a 4-2-5.
Defensive line
DE Geordan Guidry/Josh Lewis/Gerrod Henderson
DT Kameron Hamilton/Maxie Baudoin
DT Maxie Baudoin IV/Jordyn Crites
Hamilton (Zachary HS) is the big keep, multi-year starter, 12 career sacks, back for a fifth year.
Guidry (Ruston HS, 2024 class) is a homegrown edge still on the roster. Lewis is a young homegrown end.
The 2025 CFP front was mostly portal/graduates (Harvey Dyson, Santana Hopper, Tre’Von McAlpine). Without the portal you don’t get those Power-4-bound imports or the 2026 replacements (Smith, Sterling, Shepard).
Bandit (hybrid DE/OLB)
Matthew Fobbs-White/Jah’rie Garner/Warren Roberts Jr
Garner (St. Augustine, New Orleans) is already the 2026 starter and a true homegrown product.
Fobbs-White (Neville, Monroe) signed with Tulane, became a 2024 starter at bandit, then left for Baylor. In this world he never leaves, so you have a proven local edge duo instead of leaning on portal rushers.
Linebackers
MLB Makai Williams/Jesus Machado
WLB Cory Platt Jr/Dickson Agu/JC Joseph
Agu (Dutchtown, Geismar) is a homegrown starter right now.
Williams (Cibolo Steele, TX, 2023 class) is a long-time Tulane recruit and the next man up.
Chris Rodgers, the current WLB, came from Troy with Sumrall, so he doesn’t count here. The room loses portal depth (Dalton Hughes) but keeps two original Wave LBs who already play.
Secondary
CB E’zaiah Shine/Jahiem Johnson
CB Reyshaun Pleasant/Armani Cargo
Spear Javion White/Micheal Igbinoghene
SS Kevin Adams III/Josh Simms
FS Kentrell Webb/Joshua Moore
Shine (Mainland, FL, 2024 class) is already a 2026 starter. Nicholas is a West Jefferson / Harvey product.
Adams (Destrehan) is a homegrown safety and current starter.
Moore (Clear Falls, TX) was a 2023 signee and would start at free safety instead of Troy transfer Jack Tchienchou.
Javion White (playmaking sophomore safety/nickel who left for Houston) and Jahiem Johnson (starting CB, 4 INTs in 2025, left for Arkansas) were developed at Tulane after signing there.
If they stay, the back seven is actually one of the stronger parts of this hypothetical.
Jayden Lewis, a 4-star 2025 high-school signee who later entered the portal, adds another homegrown corner.
Bottom line
The back seven is playable Agu, Adams, Shine, Garner, Williams, Moore, plus leavers like Fobbs-White, White, and Johnson.
The front is the problem. Without portal D-linemen, you’re asking Hamilton and a bunch of younger homegrown ends/tackles to replace an entire CFP rotation that walked to Power 4 schools.
Special Teams
K Patrick Durkin
P William Carroll
LS Jason Arrendendo
If I’m missing anyone please let me know.
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