Tulane Football Announces December Newcomers

NEW ORLEANS – Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall announced the Green Wave's 17 December newcomers in the Class of 2024 on Friday afternoon.

"I'm pleased with the caliber of the young men who became part of Tulane Football this week," said head football coach Jon Sumrall. "We are ready to welcome them to Uptown and look forward to the positive impact that they'll make on the culture of our program."

The Green Wave (11-2 overall) will face Virginia Tech (6-6) on Wednesday (ESPN, 1 p.m. CT) in the 2023 Military Bowl presented by GoBowling.com.

The Olive and Blue advanced to its second American Athletic Conference title game in as many years and has amassed a 23-4 mark (15-1 in league play) over the last two seasons.

A complete list of this week's newcomers is below. Sumrall will hold a press conference in February to discuss this group plus those who will join the program from the NCAA's Transfer Portal between now and then.

Elijah Baker, OL
6-3, 280
Hattiesburg HS (MS)
Hattiesburg, MS

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com and On3.com … Named to the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game … Earned all-state honors twice and all-region honors three times … Squats 600 pounds with a deadlift of 575 pounds and a 275-pound clean … Played both center and guard at Hattiesburg.

Armani Cargo, DB
5-10, 170
John Ehret HS (LA)
Marrero, LA

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com and On3.com … Posted 35 tackles and four interceptions as a junior where he played corner and free safety … Boasts a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, 33-inch vertical leap, 365-pound squat and a bench press of 250 pounds … Also runs track at John Ehret, winning the 5A state title in the 100 meters (10.45 seconds) and 200 meters (21.15) as a junior.

Kionte Curry, DB
6-0, 205
Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (MS)
Mims, FL

Prior to Tulane: Transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, who began his career at Illinois … Posted 33 tackles (25 solo) with five interceptions in 10 games this fall, playing at both free safety and corner … Rated a three-star prospect out of Cocoa High School by 247Sports.com and Rivals.com … Recorded 32 tackles, one interception and 10 pass breakups as a high school senior.

Tristen Fortenberry, OL
6-6, 275
Pascagoula HS (MS)
Pascagoula MS

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com … Played offensive tackle at Pascagoula … Deadlifts 370 pounds and squats 315 … First-team all-state and all-region honoree as a senior … Played in the Bernard Blackwell North-South All-Star Game … Also played basketball at Pascagoula.

Chase Green, DB
5-10, 185
Largo HS
Largo, FL

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com, On3.com and Rivals.com … Two-way player (safety and running back) at Largo, where he helped lead the school to a 9-3 record as a junior and a regional final appearance … As a junior, recorded 68 tackles, four interceptions, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles on defense, while piling up 635 total yards and three touchdowns on offense … Had 61 more tackles, including three tackles for loss on defense and 322 offensive yards from scrimmage (4 TDs) as a senior … Also runs track (100 and 200 meter-dash) at Largo.

Geordan Guidry, DL
6-2, 255
Ruston HS (LA)
Ruston, LA

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com, On3.com and Rivals.com … Played defensive end at Ruston where he helped lead the school to the 2023 state championship … Posted a 40-yard dash of 4.87 seconds … Boasts a 34-inch vertical leap, 500-pound squat and 460-pound deadlift … Earned first-team all-district honors twice … Also throws the shot for Ruston's track and field team.

Jamauri McClure, RB
5-10, 190
Goshen HS (AL)
Goshen, AL

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com, On3.com and Rivals.com … Helped turn around a Goshen program that went winless during his freshman season to winning nine over the course of his senior campaign … Ran for 1,618 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior … Boasts a 40-yard dash of 4.49 seconds and runs the 100 meters in 10.7 seconds … Deadlifts and squats 405 pounds with a clean of 260 … Also plays basketball and runs track at Goshen.

DK McGruder, DB
6-2, 175
Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (MS)
Natchez, MS

Prior to Tulane: Played in 19 games at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, amassing 23 tackles (13 solo) with two tackles for loss and eight pass breakups … Played football (for head coach David King), baseball, basketball and track at Adams County Christian School … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds.

Guiseann Mirtil, TE
6-2, 210
Winter Haven HS (FL)
Winter Haven, FL

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com and On3.com … Played tight end, outside linebacker, middle linebacker and defensive end at Winter Haven … Caught 29 passes for 466 yards and six touchdowns as a junior … On defense, he racked up 44 tackles (10 for loss) and three sacks … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds … Boasts a 37-inch vertical leap and a 123-inch broad jump … Also plays basketball.

Jayce Mitchell, OL
6-3, 275
Destrehan HS (LA)
Destrehan, LA

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com, On3.com and Rivals.com … Played tackle and guard at Destrehan where he helped the program go unbeaten in district play and rack up a 34-2 mark during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons … Earned Louisiana Football Coaches Association (LFCA) first-team all-state honors … Also throws the discus for Destrehan's track and field team.

Shaun Nicholas, WR
6-4, 185
West Jefferson HS (LA)
Harvey, LA

Prior to Tulane: Played wide receiver and cornerback for West Jefferson … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds … Squats 370 pounds and has a bench press of 300 … Also runs track.

E'zaiah Shine, DB
6-1, 185
Mainland HS (FL)
Daytona Beach, FL

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com and Rivals.com … Played cornerback at state title-winning Mainland and at quarterback earlier in his high school career … Has also seen action at free safety … Multi-sport athlete that also plays basketball and runs track … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, with a 10.8 100-meter time … Squats 370 pounds, deadlifts 315 and cleans 225 … Also plays basketball.

Dominic Steward, OL
6-5, 270
Westlake HS (GA)
Atlanta, GA

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com and On3.com … All-region honoree … Played tackle and defensive end at Westlake and helped lead the school to nine wins as a junior and a berth in the third round of the state playoffs … Deadlifts 600 pounds, squats 500 and cleans 285 … Bench presses 345 pounds … Also plays basketball.

Kellen Tasby, QB
6-6, 215
Prestonwood Christian Academy (TX)
Plano, TX

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com and On3.com … Earned first-team all-state and academic all-state honors as a senior … Was also named first-team all-district and the team's co-Offensive MVP … Completed 418 of 668 passes over the course of his junior and senior seasons for 5,434 yards and 46 touchdowns with 11 more scores on the ground … Also plays basketball.

Ladarius Webb, Jr., DB
5-10, 175
Oklahoma State (OK)
Opelika, AL

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com, On3.com and Rivals.com … Played in four games for the Cowboys in the fall of 2023 … Earned NJCAA All-America honors and all-conference honors twice at Jones College in Ellisville, Mississippi … Tallied 28 tackles, four tackles for loss, six pass breakups and six interceptions in 10 games played his sophomore year … His six picks tied for the national lead … In 2021, he tallied 29 tackles, three tackles for loss, a team-high nine pass breakups (12th in the NJCAA) and three interceptions.

Javion White, DB
6-0, 180
Franklin Parish HS (LA)
Winnsboro, LA

Prior to Tulane: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com and On3.com … Played cornerback, wide receiver and free safety at Winnsboro … Picked off five passes and recovered three fumbles, while amassing 48 tackles (34 solo) … Scored 28 touchdowns, posting 3,136 all-purpose yards and 2,180 yards of total offense … Also an outfielder for Franklin Parish's baseball team.

RJ Whitehead, OL
6-5, 300
Northeast CC (MS)
Lambert, MS

Prior to Tulane: Rated a two-star prospect by 247Sports.com … Played tackle at Northeast … Began his prep career at Horn Lake High School where he also played defensive end … Also played basketball and threw the discus for the track and field team.

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