Photo by: Parker Waters
Football Shifts Focus to Wake Forest as New Week of Camp Begins
Aug 20, 2018 | Football
NEW ORLEANS – Ten days away from kickoff, it's time to shift focus to Wake Forest.
At Tulane football's practice at Yulman Stadium on Monday morning, the team began working on its first opponent of the 2018 season.
"It was kind of Day 1," coach Willie Fritz said. "We tried to give a good look for both sides of the ball so everybody will be a scout team guy and a first-team defense will give a look for the first-team offense and vice versa. Just really try to give our guys the best look we can possibly give them."
Fritz continued to praise the depth of the secondary position on the team. With established veterans returning plus hungry newcomers, the secondary should be a position of strength for the Green Wave in 2018.
"We've got a bunch of guys," Fritz said. "There's probably going to be a couple guys back there who play a majority of snaps in their position. Those five spots we'll probably have seven, eight, nine guys play for us."
Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman De'Andre Williams spoke to the media after practice as well. Fritz and defensive end Robert Kennedy have spoken highly of Williams during camp, noting that he's quickly become a leader on the team.
"I think his body has changed," Fritz said. "You watch the uniform and it looks like a different guy. The light kind of turned on for him here after last season and he decided, 'I want to play more, and if I want to play more I've got to get better.'"
Williams started his Tulane career weighing in at about 250 pounds and redshirted his true freshman season. Last year, he was up to about 260-270 pounds and played in all 12 games for the Green Wave, making six total tackles. This year, he's up to 290 and could be a big factor on the defensive line.
He also spent time working out this summer with former Tulane player Tanzel Smart, now a defensive tackle with the NFL's Los Angeles Rams. Smart and Williams both attended Scotlandville Magnet High School in Baton Rouge. Williams was very impressed with Smart's work ethic, and that has inspired him coming into this year.
"Just watching him the way he worked drove me to work just as hard because I want to be where he's at," Williams said.
With a playing time under his belt last year and now another fall camp, Williams hopes to be a big contributor to the Tulane defense in 2018.
"I feel like I know what it takes to win even though I didn't play a lot of reps last year," Williams said. "Everybody sees my improvement because I want to be the best. I want this team to be the best. I want to win. That's all I do. I push everybody to be the best player they can be."
Tulane has will be back at Yulman Stadium for practice Tuesday morning.
The Green Wave open the 2018 season on Thursday, August 30 at home against Wake Forest.
For season ticket information, please call 504-861-WAVE (9283), log onto TulaneTix.com or visit the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
Follow Tulane football on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
At Tulane football's practice at Yulman Stadium on Monday morning, the team began working on its first opponent of the 2018 season.
"It was kind of Day 1," coach Willie Fritz said. "We tried to give a good look for both sides of the ball so everybody will be a scout team guy and a first-team defense will give a look for the first-team offense and vice versa. Just really try to give our guys the best look we can possibly give them."
Fritz continued to praise the depth of the secondary position on the team. With established veterans returning plus hungry newcomers, the secondary should be a position of strength for the Green Wave in 2018.
"We've got a bunch of guys," Fritz said. "There's probably going to be a couple guys back there who play a majority of snaps in their position. Those five spots we'll probably have seven, eight, nine guys play for us."
Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman De'Andre Williams spoke to the media after practice as well. Fritz and defensive end Robert Kennedy have spoken highly of Williams during camp, noting that he's quickly become a leader on the team.
"I think his body has changed," Fritz said. "You watch the uniform and it looks like a different guy. The light kind of turned on for him here after last season and he decided, 'I want to play more, and if I want to play more I've got to get better.'"
Williams started his Tulane career weighing in at about 250 pounds and redshirted his true freshman season. Last year, he was up to about 260-270 pounds and played in all 12 games for the Green Wave, making six total tackles. This year, he's up to 290 and could be a big factor on the defensive line.
He also spent time working out this summer with former Tulane player Tanzel Smart, now a defensive tackle with the NFL's Los Angeles Rams. Smart and Williams both attended Scotlandville Magnet High School in Baton Rouge. Williams was very impressed with Smart's work ethic, and that has inspired him coming into this year.
"Just watching him the way he worked drove me to work just as hard because I want to be where he's at," Williams said.
With a playing time under his belt last year and now another fall camp, Williams hopes to be a big contributor to the Tulane defense in 2018.
"I feel like I know what it takes to win even though I didn't play a lot of reps last year," Williams said. "Everybody sees my improvement because I want to be the best. I want this team to be the best. I want to win. That's all I do. I push everybody to be the best player they can be."
Tulane has will be back at Yulman Stadium for practice Tuesday morning.
The Green Wave open the 2018 season on Thursday, August 30 at home against Wake Forest.
For season ticket information, please call 504-861-WAVE (9283), log onto TulaneTix.com or visit the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
Follow Tulane football on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
DE
/ Football
NT
/ FootballMonday, March 09
Monday, March 09
Monday, March 09
Monday, March 09
