Football’s Rayshawn Pleasant Honored by the AAC
Oct 7, 2024 | Football
IRVING, TX – Tulane football's redshirt sophomore defensive back Rayshawn Pleasant was honored by the American Athletic Conference (AAC) as the Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday following the sixth week of action.
Pleasant answered UAB's first scoring play with a 100-yard kickoff return to give the Green Wave an early 13-3 lead on its way to a 71-20 road win – Tulane's 12th consecutive American Athletic Conference victory. Pleasant became the first Tulane player with two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same season and is the only FBS player to score twice on kickoff returns in 2024. Pleasant also added three tackles, including a tackle for loss.
On the season, Pleasant is averaging an astounding 44.7 yards per kick return, with a pair of touchdowns on his six attempts. He leads the AAC in kick return average and would lead the NCAA if he had enough attempts to qualify. He also on defense has 17 tackles, a stop for loss, a fumble recovery and an interception return for a touchdown this season.
The selection make it seven times that a Tulane football player has been honored by the league office this season following Pleasant's own selection as AAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 2, Darian Mensah being chosen to the Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 9, Tyler Grubbs earning recognition to the Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 16, Makhi Hughes being selected to the Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 23, Mensah choice for the Weekly Honor Roll again on Sept. 30 and Gerrod Henderson earning Defensive Player of the Week recognition on Sept. 30
Tulane Weekly AAC Honors
Sept. 2 – Rayshawn Pleasant – Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 9 – Darian Mensah – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 16 – Tyler Grubbs – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 23 – Makhi Hughes – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 30 – Gerrod Henderson – Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 30 – Darian Mensah – Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 7 – Rayshawn Pleasant – Special Teams Player of the Week
Tulane's football team was chosen for third in the AAC Preseason Media Poll with 362 points plus two first-place votes at the annual conference media day.
This season, Tulane brings back three of the team's five starters on the offensive line (Shadre Hurst, Josh Remetich, Rashad Green), the leading rusher in the conference (Makhi Hughes), two of the team's top four receivers (Alex Bauman, Yulkeith Brown), the team's punter (Will Karoll) and long snapper (Ethan Hudak), the team's top three tacklers (Jesus Machado, Tyler Grubbs and Bailey Despanie) and three of the six leading defensive players in tackles for loss (Patrick Jenkins, Grubbs and Kameron Hamilton)
Tulane finished the 2023 season with a mark of 11-3 and a perfect 8-0 record in the American Athletic Conference. The program concluded the campaign with the 16th bowl appearance at the GoBowling Military Bowl contest against Virginia Tech. It was the fifth time in the last six years that Tulane has appeared in a bowl game. The team is 24-5 over the last three seasons.
The school announced the hiring of Jon Sumrall as the 42nd head coach of the team on December 8, 2023. The Huntsville, Alabama native was one of the most successful head coaches in the country the last two seasons. He guided Troy University to a 23-4 record, two Sun Belt Conference championships and a pair of double-digit winning streaks. He was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of Year and was twice named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year honor. Sumrall returns to Tulane after serving as the Green Wave's Co-Defensive Coordinator for three years (2012-14). In 2013, he was a crucial part of Tulane's run to the New Orleans Bowl, the program's first postseason appearance since 2002 and third since 1988. Sumrall also was named a finalist for FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year.
Next, Tulane's football team, after a bye this week, hosts Rice on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Yulman Stadium at a yet to be announced time and network. The team's remaining schedule includes home games against Temple (Nov. 9) and Memphis (Nov. 28). The team's 2024 road games includes trips to North Texas (October 26), Charlotte (October 31) and Navy (November 16).
TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball and the upcoming men's and women's basketball seasons 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.
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.
- TulaneGreenWave -
Pleasant answered UAB's first scoring play with a 100-yard kickoff return to give the Green Wave an early 13-3 lead on its way to a 71-20 road win – Tulane's 12th consecutive American Athletic Conference victory. Pleasant became the first Tulane player with two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same season and is the only FBS player to score twice on kickoff returns in 2024. Pleasant also added three tackles, including a tackle for loss.
On the season, Pleasant is averaging an astounding 44.7 yards per kick return, with a pair of touchdowns on his six attempts. He leads the AAC in kick return average and would lead the NCAA if he had enough attempts to qualify. He also on defense has 17 tackles, a stop for loss, a fumble recovery and an interception return for a touchdown this season.
The selection make it seven times that a Tulane football player has been honored by the league office this season following Pleasant's own selection as AAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 2, Darian Mensah being chosen to the Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 9, Tyler Grubbs earning recognition to the Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 16, Makhi Hughes being selected to the Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 23, Mensah choice for the Weekly Honor Roll again on Sept. 30 and Gerrod Henderson earning Defensive Player of the Week recognition on Sept. 30
Tulane Weekly AAC Honors
Sept. 2 – Rayshawn Pleasant – Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 9 – Darian Mensah – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 16 – Tyler Grubbs – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 23 – Makhi Hughes – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 30 – Gerrod Henderson – Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 30 – Darian Mensah – Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 7 – Rayshawn Pleasant – Special Teams Player of the Week
Tulane's football team was chosen for third in the AAC Preseason Media Poll with 362 points plus two first-place votes at the annual conference media day.
This season, Tulane brings back three of the team's five starters on the offensive line (Shadre Hurst, Josh Remetich, Rashad Green), the leading rusher in the conference (Makhi Hughes), two of the team's top four receivers (Alex Bauman, Yulkeith Brown), the team's punter (Will Karoll) and long snapper (Ethan Hudak), the team's top three tacklers (Jesus Machado, Tyler Grubbs and Bailey Despanie) and three of the six leading defensive players in tackles for loss (Patrick Jenkins, Grubbs and Kameron Hamilton)
Tulane finished the 2023 season with a mark of 11-3 and a perfect 8-0 record in the American Athletic Conference. The program concluded the campaign with the 16th bowl appearance at the GoBowling Military Bowl contest against Virginia Tech. It was the fifth time in the last six years that Tulane has appeared in a bowl game. The team is 24-5 over the last three seasons.
The school announced the hiring of Jon Sumrall as the 42nd head coach of the team on December 8, 2023. The Huntsville, Alabama native was one of the most successful head coaches in the country the last two seasons. He guided Troy University to a 23-4 record, two Sun Belt Conference championships and a pair of double-digit winning streaks. He was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of Year and was twice named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year honor. Sumrall returns to Tulane after serving as the Green Wave's Co-Defensive Coordinator for three years (2012-14). In 2013, he was a crucial part of Tulane's run to the New Orleans Bowl, the program's first postseason appearance since 2002 and third since 1988. Sumrall also was named a finalist for FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year.
Next, Tulane's football team, after a bye this week, hosts Rice on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Yulman Stadium at a yet to be announced time and network. The team's remaining schedule includes home games against Temple (Nov. 9) and Memphis (Nov. 28). The team's 2024 road games includes trips to North Texas (October 26), Charlotte (October 31) and Navy (November 16).
TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball and the upcoming men's and women's basketball seasons 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.
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.
- TulaneGreenWave -
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