No. 20/No. 20/No. 25 Football’s Sam Howard Named AAC Defensive Player of the Week
Nov 18, 2024 | Football
IRVING, TX – No. 20 (AP) / No. 20 (Coaches) / No. 25 (CFP) Tulane football's junior linebacker Sam Howard was honored by the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and named the Defensive Player of the Week on Monday following the 12th week of action. It was the fifth straight week that Tulane has been honored by the league office this season. Howard is the third different Tulane player that has been named as Defensive Player of the Week by the AAC.
Howard had a hand in two key turnovers and led a Tulane defense that limited Navy to 113 total yards and eight first downs in a 35-0 win, clinching a spot in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game. Howard had a first-quarter interception to set up the Green Wave's first touchdown and he added a fumble recovery on the Navy 20-yard line in the fourth quarter to set up the final touchdown. Howard, who leads the nation with five fumble recoveries, finished with four tackles and one tackle for loss along with his two takeaways. His five fumbles recovered are also a team record this season. The shutout of Navy was the first for Tulane in a conference game since 1960 against Vanderbilt.
On the season, Howard ranks tied for second on the team with 37 tackles. He leads the team and the nation with five fumbles recovered. Howard also has four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception and a pass breakup in his first year at Tulane.
The selection makes it 12 times that a Tulane football player has been honored by the league office this season following Rayshawn Pleasant (Defensive Player of the Week - Sept. 2), Darian Mensah (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 9), Tyler Grubbs (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 16), Makhi Hughes (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 23), Mensah (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 30), Gerrod Henderson (Defensive Player of the Week - Sept. 30), Pleasant (Special Teams Player of the Week - Oct. 7), Hughes (Weekly Honor Roll – Oct. 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4 and Nov. 11) and Sam Howard (Defensive Player of the Week – Nov. 18)
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
Oct. 21 – Makhi Hughes – Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 28 – Makhi Hughes – Weekly Honor Roll
Nov. 4 – Makhi Hughes – Weekly Honor Roll
Nov. 11 – Makhi Hughes – Weekly Honor Roll
Nov. 18 – Sam Howard – Defensive Player of the Week
Tulane has started the 2024 season with an 9-2 record and 7-0 mark in the AAC. The Green Wave earned a road conference victory in a 35-0 shutout of Navy on Nov. 16. Quarterback Darian Mensah threw a pair of touchdown passes and also ran for a career-high 57 yards plus a rushing touchdown. The win was Tulane's eighth straight overall and the 17th consecutive AAC regular victory dating back to the 2022 campaign. Tulane has now tied the AAC record for consecutive regular season conference victories. Both losses for Green Wave this season have come to teams that were ranked in Associated Press Top 25 including a 34-27 home defeat to then No. 17 Kansas State on Sept. 7 and a 34-19 road loss to then No. 15 Oklahoma on Sept. 14.
Tulane leads the AAC and the nation with six defensive touchdowns. The program is placed second in passing efficiency in the conference with a 169.10. Makhi Hughes is placed No. 5 nationally in rushing this season with 1,291 yards.
Tulane became ranked in both polls for the first time this season as the program is currently No. 20 nationally in the Coaches and the Associated Press (AP) Polls. It was the second straight week that the program has earned an AP national ranking. The team is also ranked No. 25 in the College Football Playoffs ratings that was released on Nov. 11.
The Green Wave'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 32-7 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 returns home to take Memphis on November 28 at 6:30 p.m. in a game that will also be shown on ESPN.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football and the 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.
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                                                   - TulaneGreenWave -
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Howard had a hand in two key turnovers and led a Tulane defense that limited Navy to 113 total yards and eight first downs in a 35-0 win, clinching a spot in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game. Howard had a first-quarter interception to set up the Green Wave's first touchdown and he added a fumble recovery on the Navy 20-yard line in the fourth quarter to set up the final touchdown. Howard, who leads the nation with five fumble recoveries, finished with four tackles and one tackle for loss along with his two takeaways. His five fumbles recovered are also a team record this season. The shutout of Navy was the first for Tulane in a conference game since 1960 against Vanderbilt.
On the season, Howard ranks tied for second on the team with 37 tackles. He leads the team and the nation with five fumbles recovered. Howard also has four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception and a pass breakup in his first year at Tulane.
The selection makes it 12 times that a Tulane football player has been honored by the league office this season following Rayshawn Pleasant (Defensive Player of the Week - Sept. 2), Darian Mensah (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 9), Tyler Grubbs (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 16), Makhi Hughes (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 23), Mensah (Weekly Honor Roll - Sept. 30), Gerrod Henderson (Defensive Player of the Week - Sept. 30), Pleasant (Special Teams Player of the Week - Oct. 7), Hughes (Weekly Honor Roll – Oct. 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4 and Nov. 11) and Sam Howard (Defensive Player of the Week – Nov. 18)
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
Oct. 21 – Makhi Hughes – Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 28 – Makhi Hughes – Weekly Honor Roll
Nov. 4 – Makhi Hughes – Weekly Honor Roll
Nov. 11 – Makhi Hughes – Weekly Honor Roll
Nov. 18 – Sam Howard – Defensive Player of the Week
Tulane has started the 2024 season with an 9-2 record and 7-0 mark in the AAC. The Green Wave earned a road conference victory in a 35-0 shutout of Navy on Nov. 16. Quarterback Darian Mensah threw a pair of touchdown passes and also ran for a career-high 57 yards plus a rushing touchdown. The win was Tulane's eighth straight overall and the 17th consecutive AAC regular victory dating back to the 2022 campaign. Tulane has now tied the AAC record for consecutive regular season conference victories. Both losses for Green Wave this season have come to teams that were ranked in Associated Press Top 25 including a 34-27 home defeat to then No. 17 Kansas State on Sept. 7 and a 34-19 road loss to then No. 15 Oklahoma on Sept. 14.
Tulane leads the AAC and the nation with six defensive touchdowns. The program is placed second in passing efficiency in the conference with a 169.10. Makhi Hughes is placed No. 5 nationally in rushing this season with 1,291 yards.
Tulane became ranked in both polls for the first time this season as the program is currently No. 20 nationally in the Coaches and the Associated Press (AP) Polls. It was the second straight week that the program has earned an AP national ranking. The team is also ranked No. 25 in the College Football Playoffs ratings that was released on Nov. 11.
The Green Wave'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 32-7 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 returns home to take Memphis on November 28 at 6:30 p.m. in a game that will also be shown on ESPN.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football and the 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.
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                                                   - TulaneGreenWave -
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/ FootballTulane Tuesday: HC Jon Sumrall - 9/23/25
Tuesday, September 23
Tulane Tuesday: S Bailey Despaine - 9/23/24
Tuesday, September 23
Tulane Tuesday: OL Shadre Hurst - 9/23/25
Tuesday, September 23
Postgame: HC Jon Sumrall and WR Anthony Brown-Stephens - 9/20/25
Sunday, September 21
