Football to Say Goodbye to 20 Seniors on Saturday

NEW ORLEANS – At the end of Saturday's game against Navy, 20 Tulane football seniors will be walking out of Yulman Stadium having played their final home game for the Green Wave.

They may be leaving, but their presence will be felt Uptown for years to come.

A diverse group of talented student-athletes from across the country, Tulane's 2018 senior class accomplished incredible feats on the field and off. Their academic accomplishments have made their families, coaches and the university proud. Some have already graduated, and others will hear their names called during commencements in December and May. will m

But their places in the Green Wave football record book? All of them still have time to write that story.

"I know all the seniors this year really want to leave a legacy for the upcoming freshmen and everybody that come to Tulane after," said offensive lineman John Leglue, who has already earned his bachelor's degree in finance and is working on an MBA. "We should go to a bowl game this year and win that so teams after us continue to go to a bowl game. We should set the standard at a high level."

Leglue is one of five seniors on the offensive line who will be playing their last game at Yulman Stadium on Saturday. Also included in that group are Dominique Briggs, Devon Johnson, Noah Fisher and Hunter Knighton. Leglue has played in the most games at Tulane of any with 45 including 35 starts, but all have been a huge part of Tulane's rushing game and pass protection since they arrived on campus.

Making up the largest group of seniors this year would be the pass catchers: TE Kendall Ardoin, WR Jabril Clewis, WR Terren Encalade, WR/RB Devin Glen, TE Charles Jones II and WR Brian Newman.

Encalade is the name most fans would be familiar with, as he has started 42 consecutive games for the Green Wave after arriving from Belle Chasse High School. Against East Carolina on November 10, Encalade eclipsed 2,000 yards receiving in his career with a 74-yard touchdown pass. He is now 11th all-time in Tulane history in receiving yards.

The others have made a big impact as well. Ardoin has three touchdown receptions in his career, Clewis has nearly 300 yards receiving, Glenn averages nearly 20 yards per kick return, Jones has eight touchdowns and Newman was put on scholarship this year after walking on in 2017. The receiving corps seniors have tried to put their stamp on the program as well.

"As seniors, we try to lead the team the right way and are trying to get these guys to a bowl game," Encalade said. "That's something nobody on the team has ever been to. We want to raise the bar even more. A bowl game is our first step, and then after that see what you can do after that."
On the defensive side of the ball, defensive backs Donnie Lewis Jr., Roderic Teamer Jr. and Taris Shenall will be seeing the final home games of their career Saturday. Lewis and Teamer are two of the leaders on the defense this season and combined with Shenall the trio has racked up more than 400 tackles in their careers.

Linebacker Zachery Harris has been a menace to offenses his whole career. Tulane's third-leading tackler in 2017 and top tackler this season, he will also be playing his final home game against Navy.

On the defensive line, Robert Kennedy and Peter Woullard are saying goodbye to Tulane. Woullard has 21 tackles in his career while Kennedy has accounted for more than 80 tackles and five sacks for the Olive & Blue.

"To us this season is really everything," Kennedy said. "We've always been moving toward change, and this year is definitely that positive change. Turning this whole program around is happening. There's no doubt in any of the seniors' minds that this year is the year for change and we're the group to do it."

The Green Wave have three more seniors who will be recognized on Senior Day. Running back Jared Bertrand has played a huge role on the practice squad in his time with the team and earned four carries in his career. Punter Zachary Block has booted the ball 350 times in his Green Wave career, averaging 39.3 yards per punt and 61.2 yards per kickoff.

Last but not least is quarterback Jonathan Banks. A starter for all but one game in 2017, Banks has the lowest interception percentage in Tulane history with a mere seven picks thrown on 358 attempts. He has tallied 17 passing and nine rushing touchdowns in his Tulane career while accounting for nearly 3,000 passing yards.

All told, these 20 seniors have been instrumental as Tulane football looks to grow as a program. They have laid the groundwork for the future, and the future is bright.

"I don't even think about the fact that it's my last year," Teamer said. "I know it's creeping up on me, but I'm just trying to enjoy every day as it comes to me. Every day I'm getting closer to the end of playing football at Tulane so I'm just trying to enjoy it."

Football to Say Goodbye to 20 Seniors on Saturday

Players Mentioned

Kendall Ardoin

Jonathan Banks

Jared Bertrand

Zachary Block

Dominique Briggs

Jabril Clewis

Terren Encalade

Noah Fisher

Zachery Harris

Devon Johnson

Charles Jones II

Robert Kennedy

Hunter Knighton

John Leglue

Donnie Lewis Jr.

Brian Newman

Taris Shenall

Roderic Teamer Jr.

Peter Woullard

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