Tulane Football Position Preview – Wide Receivers
Aug 25, 2019 | Football
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane football's passing game proved to be quite the handful for opposing secondaries, as the Green Wave developed a strong reputation for the big play in 2018.
The Green Wave had 19 plays that when for over 40 yards, including eight which went for 50-or-more yards.
Tulane enters the 2019 season in the hopes of building off of last year's explosive play with a combination of youth, experience and depth.
The 13-man wide receiver unit features four freshmen, four sophomores, three juniors, one senior and one graduate transfer.
THE UNIT
-Darnell Mooney returns for his senior season following a 2018 campaign that saw him post career highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns.
-Mooney, who was offered the final scholarship in head coach Willie Fritz's first recruiting class back in 2016 has seen a steady jump in his numbers each season.
-The Green Wave will need to replace Tarren Encalade, who graduated last spring.
-Replacing 44 receptions and 727 yards will be no easy task, but the Green Wave coaching staff believe that graduate transfer Jalen McCleskey could very well surpass the numbers Encalade put up as a senior.
-McCleskey transferred from Oklahoma State where he totaled 167 career receptions, 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns in four seasons.
-Jacob Robertson Jr. and Jaetavian Toles enter their junior seasons in the hopes of making an impact after seeing a fair of amount of action over the past two years.
-Redshirt sophomore Kevin LeDee, who is the tallest wide receiver on the team, makes his return to the lineup after missing the entire 2018 campaign following an injury.
-The Green Wave also will look to fellow sophomores Jorien Vallien and Dane Ledford to contribute in 2019. Ledford moved to receiver over the offseason spending the two previous as a quarterback.
-In addition, Tulane added freshman Jha'Quan Jackson and Tyrek Presley in the 2019 Signing Class.
-Jeff Conway begins his fourth season coaching the Green Wave wide receivers.
POSITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
-Tulane wide receivers accounted for nearly 90 percent of the Green Wave's yard and reception total from a year ago.
-Darnell Mooney posted team bests in receptions (48), receiving yards (993) and touchdowns (eight).
-Mooney's effort against ECU last season was a performance for the ages. His 217 yards were the most by a wide receiver in The American last season.
-Mooney became just the sixth wide receiver in Tulane history to surpass 200 yards receiving in a game.
Tulane opens the 2019 season on Thursday, August 29 at home against FIU with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The Green Wave are coming off a memorable 2018 campaign that was highlighted by a win in the AutoNation Cure Bowl and an American Athletic Conference West Division Co-Championship.
For season ticket information, please call 504-861-WAVE (9283), log on to 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 at @GreenWaveFB. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
The Green Wave had 19 plays that when for over 40 yards, including eight which went for 50-or-more yards.
Tulane enters the 2019 season in the hopes of building off of last year's explosive play with a combination of youth, experience and depth.
The 13-man wide receiver unit features four freshmen, four sophomores, three juniors, one senior and one graduate transfer.
THE UNIT
-Darnell Mooney returns for his senior season following a 2018 campaign that saw him post career highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns.
-Mooney, who was offered the final scholarship in head coach Willie Fritz's first recruiting class back in 2016 has seen a steady jump in his numbers each season.
-The Green Wave will need to replace Tarren Encalade, who graduated last spring.
-Replacing 44 receptions and 727 yards will be no easy task, but the Green Wave coaching staff believe that graduate transfer Jalen McCleskey could very well surpass the numbers Encalade put up as a senior.
-McCleskey transferred from Oklahoma State where he totaled 167 career receptions, 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns in four seasons.
-Jacob Robertson Jr. and Jaetavian Toles enter their junior seasons in the hopes of making an impact after seeing a fair of amount of action over the past two years.
-Redshirt sophomore Kevin LeDee, who is the tallest wide receiver on the team, makes his return to the lineup after missing the entire 2018 campaign following an injury.
-The Green Wave also will look to fellow sophomores Jorien Vallien and Dane Ledford to contribute in 2019. Ledford moved to receiver over the offseason spending the two previous as a quarterback.
-In addition, Tulane added freshman Jha'Quan Jackson and Tyrek Presley in the 2019 Signing Class.
-Jeff Conway begins his fourth season coaching the Green Wave wide receivers.
POSITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
-Tulane wide receivers accounted for nearly 90 percent of the Green Wave's yard and reception total from a year ago.
-Darnell Mooney posted team bests in receptions (48), receiving yards (993) and touchdowns (eight).
-Mooney's effort against ECU last season was a performance for the ages. His 217 yards were the most by a wide receiver in The American last season.
-Mooney became just the sixth wide receiver in Tulane history to surpass 200 yards receiving in a game.
Tulane opens the 2019 season on Thursday, August 29 at home against FIU with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The Green Wave are coming off a memorable 2018 campaign that was highlighted by a win in the AutoNation Cure Bowl and an American Athletic Conference West Division Co-Championship.
For season ticket information, please call 504-861-WAVE (9283), log on to 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 at @GreenWaveFB. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
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