Tulane Football Unveils 27-Member 2017 Recruiting Class

Green Wave inks 21 on National Signing Day

Signing Day News Conference

NEW ORLEANS – The next wave of additions to the Tulane football program were revealed by head coach Willie Fritz on Wednesday, featuring 21 initial signees and six mid-year enrollees.

The Green Wave’s 2017 recruiting class is one its most geographically diverse in recent history with the additions coming from 11 states. The class boasts 15 players on the offensive side (three quarterbacks, five offensive linemen, two running backs, four wide receivers and one tight end) and 12 on the defensive side (four defensive linemen, four linebackers and four defensive backs).

“We wanted to bring in a class that fit the profile of our program and the university,” Fritz said. “We feel like we did that, with young men who can compete in the classroom first and foremost, with the type of character that fits our culture here at Tulane and are top-notch athletes who can compete to win championships in the American Athletic Conference.”

Bolstering Tulane’s signing day class is its six mid-year enrollees. Three came from the junior college ranks in Jonathan Banks (QB/Humble, Texas/Kansas State/Independence CC), Dominique Briggs (OL/Tulsa, Okla./Coffeyville CC) and Jabril Clewis (WR/San Diego, Calif./San Diego State/Grossmont College), two transferred to Tulane from Division I schools in Corey Dauphine (RB/Port Arthur, Texas/Texas Tech) and Hunter Knighton (OL/Pottstown, Pa./Miami (Fla.)) and one enrolled early from high school in Stephon Huderson (RB/Petal, Miss./Petal HS). Of the Wave’s Division I transfers, Knighton will be eligible immediately as a graduate transfer, while Dauphine must sit out the 2017 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Both will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Fritz said he looks for these six to make an immediate impact once spring practice gets underway in March.

“It’s big to have those guys here, because they get the benefit of lifting with our players, doing conditioning, meeting with the coaches and going through 15 spring practices, so by the time the season rolls around, they’re more like a veteran than a rookie,” Fritz said. “We feel these guys will have an opportunity to compete for a starting position.”

Fritz’ crop of initial signees includes seven three-star recruits – Joey Claybrook (OL/Starkville, Miss./Starkville HS), Corey Dublin (OL/New Orleans/Jesuit HS), Chase Kuerschen (DB/Knoxville, Tenn./Knoxville Catholic HS), Khalil McClain (QB/Creekside, Ga./Creekside HS), Cameron Sample (DE/Snellville, Ga./Shiloh HS), Michael Scott (DE/Tallahassee, Fla./North Florida Christian HS) and Will Wallace (TE/Nachez, Miss./Cathedral HS).

Notable among the Green Wave’s signees, seven come from the state of Texas — Banks, Dauphine, Quentin Brown (LB/Conroe, Texas/Conroe HS), Kevin LeDee (WR/Cypress Ridge, Texas/Cypress Ridge HS), Dane Ledford (QB/Argyle, Texas/Argyle HS), Jaylon Monroe (DB/Mesquite, Texas/West Mesquite HS) and Jaetavian Toles (WR/Stratford, Texas/Stratford HS) — with two New Orleans-area additions in Dublin and Cameron Jackel (OL/Marrero, La./Archbishop Shaw HS).

“We wanted to increase our athletic talent pool with this class,” Fritz said. “We had a really good group come in this semester that I think are going to be able to help immediately. We feel like the freshmen we signed today will have the chance to be able to play right away as well. We wanted to make sure we recruited guys that could compete at a high level in The American. We’re very, very, very excited about this class.”

To renew or purchase season tickets for the 2017 season, please call 504-861-WAVE (9283), log onto TulaneGreenWave.com or visit the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.

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2017 Tulane Football Signing Class

*Mid-year Enrollee
^Division I Transfer