McCleskey and Montano to Continue Their Football Dreams in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS – Former Tulane University student-athletes Jalen McCleskey and Christian Montano will continue their respective professional football careers where they concluded playing in college – in New Orleans.

Earlier this week, both former Greenies inked professional deals with the New Orleans Saints where they both will have an opportunity to compete for a roster spot.

McCleskey earned his professional contract after he enjoyed an extremely productive college career from 2015-19 at Tulane and Oklahoma State where he posted career totals of 2,446 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns in 56 games.

After earning his bachelor's degree at Oklahoma State, McCleskey spent his final season of eligibility in 2019 as a graduate transfer at Tulane, where he saw action in 13 games and caught 37 passes for 581 yards (15.7 avg.) and four touchdowns, leading the Green Wave in yards per catch. He concluded his college career by catching two passes for 87 yards and one touchdown in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl against Southern Mississippi.

Montano inked his deal following a highly successful career Tulane and Brown where starred on the offensive line for both schools (2014-19). During his lone season at Tulane in 2019, Montano started every game at center and helped pave the way for the nation's No. 11 rushing attack.

Montano played a key role in guiding the Green Wave to back-to-back bowl games for the first time in program history. He also excelled in the classroom as a graduate student during the 2019 campaign.

In addition, the Orange, Connecticut, native was selected as a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year and was named the 2019 Walter Camp Football Foundation Connecticut Player of the Year.

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McCleskey and Montano to Continue Their Football Dreams in New Orleans

Players Mentioned

Jalen McCleskey

Christian Montano

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