Football Sees Eight Sign NFL Rookie Free Agent Contracts
May 2, 2023 | Football
New Orleans – Following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft, Tulane's football team saw eight of its former players sign rookie free agent contracts.
Nick Anderson (linebacker – New Orleans Saints), Larry Brooks (defensive back – Cincinnati Bengals), Macon Clark (defensive back – Chicago Bears), Tyrick James (tight end – Kansas City Chiefs), Will Wallace (tight end – Washington Commanders), Duece Watts (wide receiver – Green Bay Packers), Shae Wyatt (wide receiver – San Francisco 49ers) and Lummie Young IV (defensive back – Indianapolis Colts),
On Friday night, Tulane's football team had two of its former players selected in the third round of the NFL Draft as running back Tyjae Spears went No. 81 overall to the Tennessee Titans and linebacker Dorian Williams was selected No. 91 by the Buffalo Bills. The two were the 147th and 148th Tulane players ever selected in the NFL Draft. It was the first time since 1961 that Tulane has had multiple players (Tommy Mason and Phil Nugent) drafted before the end of the third round. Spears was the highest draft choice from Tulane since 2008 when Matt Forte went 44th overall to the Chicago Bears. Tulane was one of 22 schools nationally with multiple picks in the first three rounds of this year's NFL Draft. The Green Wave have now had six NFL Draft picks since 2020. Since 2006, Tulane's football team has had 34 players drafted.
Updated 2022 bios for each of the eight rookie free agent signees are featured below:
Nick Anderson, Linebacker
Career: In 50 career games at Tulane, he ended with 283 tackles (177 solo and 106 assisted), 29 tackles for loss (tied for 10th all-time at the school), six passes defended, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovered, a blocked kick and 10.5 sacks
2022-23 Season: Was a Second Team All-AAC selection…Earned a Second Team spot on Phil Steele's American Athletic All-Conference Team…A member of the 2023 Hampshire Honor Society…Was named to the 2022 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List…Honored as the AAC's Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 18 and Oct. 3…Played and started all 14 games…Ranked second on the team with 113 tackles (62 unassisted and 51 assisted) and two forced fumbles…Placed fourth on the team with seven tackles for loss and two sacks…Ranked eighth in the AAC in total tackles.
Larry Brooks, Defensive Back
Career: In 60 career games at Tulane, he ended with 216 tackles (161 solo and 55 assisted), four tackles for loss, 12 passes defended, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a sack and nine interceptions (tied for 12th all-time at the school).
2022-23 Season: Was an Honor Mention All-AAC selection…Earned a Third Team spot on Phil Steele's American Athletic All-Conference Team…Ranked third on the team in tackles with 91 (63 solo and 28 assisted)…Tied for second on the club with two interceptions and two forced fumbles…Tied for sixth on the team with four pass breakups… Played and started all 14 games.
Macon Clark, Defensive Back
Career: In 59 career games at Tulane, he ended with 203 tackles (153 solo and 50 assisted), 19.5 tackles for loss, nine passes defended, four forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered, five sacks and nine interceptions (tied for 12th all-time at the school).
2022-23 Season: Was a First Team All-AAC selection…Earned a First Team spot on Phil Steele's American Athletic All-Conference Team…Earned the AAC's Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5 and Oct. 10…Played and started all 14 games…Ranked fourth on the team with 68 tackles (54 solo and 14 assisted)….Placed tied for second on the team with two interceptions…Tied for third on the team with eight tackles for loss…Fifth on the squad with four pass breakups.
Tyrick James, Tight End
Career: In 63 career games at Tulane, he ended with 97 catches for 1,247 yards and 12 touchdown receptions.
2022-23 Season: Was an Honorable Mention All-AAC selection…Earned a Third Team spot on Phil Steele's American Athletic All-Conference Team…Named to the 2022 John Mackey Award Watch List…Played in all 14 games…Fifth on the team with his 25 catches for 284 yards…Ranked third on the squad with four touchdown catches… Also served as a key part of a Tulane offensive attack that totaled 2,867 yards and 34 touchdowns on the ground and 3,312 yards and 30 touchdowns through the air.
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Will Wallace, Tight End
Career: In 55 career games at Tulane, he ended with 31 catches for 338 yards and four touchdown receptions.
2022-23 Season: Played in 12 games and totaled four catches for 22 yards… Also served as a key part of a Tulane offensive attack that totaled 2,867 yards and 34 touchdowns on the ground and 3,312 yards and 30 touchdowns through the air.
Duece Watts, Wide Receiver
Career: In 37 career games at Tulane, he ended with 85 catches for 1,500 yards and 17 touchdown receptions (tied for 10th all-time at the school)….Averaged 17.6 yards per catch in his career (second-best all-time at the school).
2022-23 Season: Had a breakout season as senior in leading the team with eight touchdown receptions…Second on the team in catches (33) and receiving yards (657)…Led the team and the AAC in yards per reception (19.91)…Placed eighth nationally in yards per catch…His 19.91 yards per reception ranks fourth on the Tulane single season record list…Ranked fifth in the AAC in touchdown receptions (8)….Had a receiving touchdown in four straight games (9/30-10/22)…Picked up a career-best 134 yards receiving plus a touchdown in the AAC Championship Game against UCF (12/3).
Shae Wyatt, Wide Receiver
Career: In 26 career games at Tulane, he ended with 68 catches for 1,068 yards and 10 touchdown receptions….Averaged 15.7 yards per catch in his career.
2022-23 Season: Led the squad in receptions (35) and receiving yards (692) in his final season…Ranked second in the conference and 12th in the nation in yards per reception (19.77)…Topped 100 yards receiving in three games with a high of 130 against Alcorn State (9/10)…Recorded two receiving touchdowns against UCF in the AAC Championship Game (12/3).
Lummie Young IV, Defensive Back
Career: In 14 career games at Tulane, he had 52 tackles (34 solo, 18 assists), three passes defended and an interception.
2022-23 Season: Ranked fifth on the team in tackles (52)…Also had an interception and three pass defended.
Tulane's football team completed a magical 12-2 campaign, culminating with an American Athletic Conference title and a 46-45 win over USC in the Cotton Bowl. At season's end, the Green Wave finished with a ninth overall ranking, the second-highest in program history.
TICKETS
Tickets for the 2023 baseball season and the upcoming football campaign can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
Social Media
Follow Tulane football on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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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.
Nick Anderson (linebacker – New Orleans Saints), Larry Brooks (defensive back – Cincinnati Bengals), Macon Clark (defensive back – Chicago Bears), Tyrick James (tight end – Kansas City Chiefs), Will Wallace (tight end – Washington Commanders), Duece Watts (wide receiver – Green Bay Packers), Shae Wyatt (wide receiver – San Francisco 49ers) and Lummie Young IV (defensive back – Indianapolis Colts),
On Friday night, Tulane's football team had two of its former players selected in the third round of the NFL Draft as running back Tyjae Spears went No. 81 overall to the Tennessee Titans and linebacker Dorian Williams was selected No. 91 by the Buffalo Bills. The two were the 147th and 148th Tulane players ever selected in the NFL Draft. It was the first time since 1961 that Tulane has had multiple players (Tommy Mason and Phil Nugent) drafted before the end of the third round. Spears was the highest draft choice from Tulane since 2008 when Matt Forte went 44th overall to the Chicago Bears. Tulane was one of 22 schools nationally with multiple picks in the first three rounds of this year's NFL Draft. The Green Wave have now had six NFL Draft picks since 2020. Since 2006, Tulane's football team has had 34 players drafted.
Updated 2022 bios for each of the eight rookie free agent signees are featured below:
Nick Anderson, Linebacker
Career: In 50 career games at Tulane, he ended with 283 tackles (177 solo and 106 assisted), 29 tackles for loss (tied for 10th all-time at the school), six passes defended, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovered, a blocked kick and 10.5 sacks
2022-23 Season: Was a Second Team All-AAC selection…Earned a Second Team spot on Phil Steele's American Athletic All-Conference Team…A member of the 2023 Hampshire Honor Society…Was named to the 2022 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List…Honored as the AAC's Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 18 and Oct. 3…Played and started all 14 games…Ranked second on the team with 113 tackles (62 unassisted and 51 assisted) and two forced fumbles…Placed fourth on the team with seven tackles for loss and two sacks…Ranked eighth in the AAC in total tackles.
Larry Brooks, Defensive Back
Career: In 60 career games at Tulane, he ended with 216 tackles (161 solo and 55 assisted), four tackles for loss, 12 passes defended, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a sack and nine interceptions (tied for 12th all-time at the school).
2022-23 Season: Was an Honor Mention All-AAC selection…Earned a Third Team spot on Phil Steele's American Athletic All-Conference Team…Ranked third on the team in tackles with 91 (63 solo and 28 assisted)…Tied for second on the club with two interceptions and two forced fumbles…Tied for sixth on the team with four pass breakups… Played and started all 14 games.
Macon Clark, Defensive Back
Career: In 59 career games at Tulane, he ended with 203 tackles (153 solo and 50 assisted), 19.5 tackles for loss, nine passes defended, four forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered, five sacks and nine interceptions (tied for 12th all-time at the school).
2022-23 Season: Was a First Team All-AAC selection…Earned a First Team spot on Phil Steele's American Athletic All-Conference Team…Earned the AAC's Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5 and Oct. 10…Played and started all 14 games…Ranked fourth on the team with 68 tackles (54 solo and 14 assisted)….Placed tied for second on the team with two interceptions…Tied for third on the team with eight tackles for loss…Fifth on the squad with four pass breakups.
Tyrick James, Tight End
Career: In 63 career games at Tulane, he ended with 97 catches for 1,247 yards and 12 touchdown receptions.
2022-23 Season: Was an Honorable Mention All-AAC selection…Earned a Third Team spot on Phil Steele's American Athletic All-Conference Team…Named to the 2022 John Mackey Award Watch List…Played in all 14 games…Fifth on the team with his 25 catches for 284 yards…Ranked third on the squad with four touchdown catches… Also served as a key part of a Tulane offensive attack that totaled 2,867 yards and 34 touchdowns on the ground and 3,312 yards and 30 touchdowns through the air.
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Will Wallace, Tight End
Career: In 55 career games at Tulane, he ended with 31 catches for 338 yards and four touchdown receptions.
2022-23 Season: Played in 12 games and totaled four catches for 22 yards… Also served as a key part of a Tulane offensive attack that totaled 2,867 yards and 34 touchdowns on the ground and 3,312 yards and 30 touchdowns through the air.
Duece Watts, Wide Receiver
Career: In 37 career games at Tulane, he ended with 85 catches for 1,500 yards and 17 touchdown receptions (tied for 10th all-time at the school)….Averaged 17.6 yards per catch in his career (second-best all-time at the school).
2022-23 Season: Had a breakout season as senior in leading the team with eight touchdown receptions…Second on the team in catches (33) and receiving yards (657)…Led the team and the AAC in yards per reception (19.91)…Placed eighth nationally in yards per catch…His 19.91 yards per reception ranks fourth on the Tulane single season record list…Ranked fifth in the AAC in touchdown receptions (8)….Had a receiving touchdown in four straight games (9/30-10/22)…Picked up a career-best 134 yards receiving plus a touchdown in the AAC Championship Game against UCF (12/3).
Shae Wyatt, Wide Receiver
Career: In 26 career games at Tulane, he ended with 68 catches for 1,068 yards and 10 touchdown receptions….Averaged 15.7 yards per catch in his career.
2022-23 Season: Led the squad in receptions (35) and receiving yards (692) in his final season…Ranked second in the conference and 12th in the nation in yards per reception (19.77)…Topped 100 yards receiving in three games with a high of 130 against Alcorn State (9/10)…Recorded two receiving touchdowns against UCF in the AAC Championship Game (12/3).
Lummie Young IV, Defensive Back
Career: In 14 career games at Tulane, he had 52 tackles (34 solo, 18 assists), three passes defended and an interception.
2022-23 Season: Ranked fifth on the team in tackles (52)…Also had an interception and three pass defended.
Tulane's football team completed a magical 12-2 campaign, culminating with an American Athletic Conference title and a 46-45 win over USC in the Cotton Bowl. At season's end, the Green Wave finished with a ninth overall ranking, the second-highest in program history.
TICKETS
Tickets for the 2023 baseball season and the upcoming football campaign can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
Social Media
Follow Tulane football on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Â
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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