Football Sees Seven Sign NFL Rookie Free Agent Contracts
May 6, 2024 | Football
New Orleans – Following the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft, Tulane's football team saw seven of its former players sign rookie free agent contracts.
Valentino Ambrosio (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)Sincere Haynesworth (Offensive Line – New Orleans Saints), Darius Hodges (Defensive Line – Carolina Panthers), Lawrence Keys (Wide Receiver – Buffalo Bills), Jarius Monroe – (Defensive Back – New York Jets), Kam Pedescleaux (Defensive Back – New York Giants) and Lance Robinson (Defensive Back - Cincinnati Bengals).
On Saturday April 27, Tulane's football team had two of its former players selected in the NFL Draft as wide receiver Jha'Quan Jackson went in the sixth round (182nd overall) to the Tennessee Titans) and quarterback Michael Pratt was selected in the seventh round (245th overall) by the Green Bay Packers.
The two were the 149th and 150th Tulane players ever selected in the NFL Draft. This is the second straight year that Tulane has had multiple draft picks, fourth time since 2020 and seventh time since 2000. The program has had 24 players selected in the NFL Draft since 2000.
Jackson's selection is the fourth of a Tulane player all-time by the Tennessee Titans and the second straight year after running back Tyjae Spears was chosen in the third round of the 2023 draft by the Titans. The team previously played in Houston as the Oilers and had chosen three other Tulane players under that moniker. Jackson is the first Tulane receiver that has been chosen in the NFL Draft since Darnell Mooney was selected by the Chicago Bears in 2020 in the fifth round.
Pratt's selection by the Packers was the first time that they have chosen a Tulane player since Jerald Sowell was taken in the seventh round in 1997. Overall, Pratt is the 15th player that the Packers have ever chosen from Tulane. The 15 selections over the years are the most of any NFL team. He is the first Tulane quarterback that has been chosen in the draft since JP Losman was a first-round pick in 2004 by the Buffalo Bills.
Updated 2023 bios for each of the seven rookie free agent signees are featured below:
Valentino Ambrosio, Kicker
Career: Played in 23 career games…Is the most accurate kicker in school history (84.2 percent)…Scored 181 career points (ninth all-time)…Had 32 career field goals (10th all-time)…Had 85 PATS (ninth all-time).
2023 Season: Played in all 14 games…Totaled 105 points on 21 field goals and 42 extra points…Lead the team and ranked second in the AAC in total points scored…His average of 7.5 points per game placed him fifth in the conference…Placed fourth in the league in field goal percentage (80.8) and led the conference in field goals per game (1.5)…His 105 points responsible for were 10th in the AAC.
Sincere Haynesworth, Offensive Line
Career: Played in 63 career games including starting 52 games at center in his final four years as member of the Green Wave…A four-time All-ACC selection
2023Season: Tabbed the AAC's Center and Offensive Lineman of the Year by College Football Network … Claimed Second Team Group of Five All-America honors from HERO Sports … Named a Fourth Team All-American and First Team all-conference pick by Phil Steele … Voted First Team All-AAC by the league's coaches … Earned First Team All-LSWA honors … Helped Tulane total 5,181 yards in total offense this season … The program also scored 41 touchdowns … The team scored over 20 points in 12 times and over 30 points in six contests with a high of 37 against South Alabama … Named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, the Rimington Trophy, the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and was a Second Team Preseason All-American by the Athletic and the Senior Bowl Watch List.
Darius Hodges, Defensive Line
Career: In 47 career games at Tulane ended with 117 tackles (85 solo and 32 assisted), 36 tackles for loss (tied for eighth all-time at the school) for 158 yards in lost yardage, four passes defended, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovered and 18.5 sacks (fifth all-time at the school)
2023 Season: Was a First Team All-AAC selection…Earned a Second Team spot on Phil Steele's American Athletic All-Conference Team…A First Team All-State by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA)…Played in 13 games…Led the team and ranked fourth in the conference with 7.5 sacks…Totaled 25 tackles…Recorded 9.5 stops for loss.
Lawrence Keys III, Wide Receiver
Career: In 23 career games at Tulane ended with 63 catches for 895 yards and 9 touchdown receptions….Averaged 14.2 yards per catch in his career…Also had nine carries for 85 yards and a touchdown plus recorded 698 return yards for a total of 1675 all-purpose yards in his career.
2023 Season: Was a Fourth Team All-AAC selection…Totaled 33 catches for 599 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games played…His seven receiving touchdowns led the team and were tied for fifth in the conference.
Jarius Monroe, Defensive Back
Career: In 27 games played at Tulane ended up with 97 tackles (69 solo, 28 assists), 4.5 stops for loss, a forced fumble, a sack, six interceptions and 18 pass breakups.
2023: All-America honoree by HERO Sports, College Sports Network and Sports Info Solutions … Claimed First Team All-AAC honors from the league's head coaches and Phil Steele … Earned Second Team All-LSWA honors … Played in 13 games and totaled 48 tackles, 3.5 stops for loss, a sack, three interceptions, 10 pass breakups and a forced fumble this season … Named to the Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List...A Preseason candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award...Named to the Bednarik Award Watch List... On the Senior Bowl Watch List.
Kam Pedescleaux, Defensive Back
Career: In 14 games played at Tulane ended up with 56 tackles (33 solo, 23 assists), 4.0 stops for loss, 12 pass breakups and two interceptions
2023 Season: Third Team Group of Five All-American selection by HERO Sports … College Football Network's AAC Safety of the Year … First Team All-AAC pick by Phil Steele and a Second Team mention by the league's head coaches … Earned Second Team All-LSWA honors… Led the defense with 12 pass breakups … Also picked up 56 tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble … Had a season-high seven tackles against SMU in the AAC Championship Game … Interceptions came against Memphis and UTSA … Tackles for loss came against Ole Miss, Nicholls, Tulsa and UTSA … Named AAC Defensive Player of the Week following the 29-16 win over UTSA.
Lance Robinson, Defensive Back
Career: In 36 games played at Tulane ended up with 86 tackles (64 solo, 22 assists), 3.0 stops for loss, 12 pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and five interceptions
2023 Season: First Team LWSA and Second Team All-AAC...Played in 14 games and totaled 43 tackles (31 solo and 12 assists), seven pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and four interceptions for 54 yards…Had a career-high nine tackles against North Texas (10/21/23).
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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 23-5 over the last two 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.
Tulane's football team will start the 2024 season on Thursday, August 29, with a home contest against Southeastern Louisiana at Yulman Stadium. The program has home games against Kansas State (September 7), South Florida (September 28), Rice (October 19), Temple (November 9) and Memphis (November 28). The road games for the 2024 season include trips to Oklahoma (September 14), Louisiana (September 21), UAB (October 5), North Texas (October 26), Charlotte (October 31) and Navy (November 16).
TICKETS
Tickets 2024 baseball season and the upcoming football season 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 -
Valentino Ambrosio (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)Sincere Haynesworth (Offensive Line – New Orleans Saints), Darius Hodges (Defensive Line – Carolina Panthers), Lawrence Keys (Wide Receiver – Buffalo Bills), Jarius Monroe – (Defensive Back – New York Jets), Kam Pedescleaux (Defensive Back – New York Giants) and Lance Robinson (Defensive Back - Cincinnati Bengals).
On Saturday April 27, Tulane's football team had two of its former players selected in the NFL Draft as wide receiver Jha'Quan Jackson went in the sixth round (182nd overall) to the Tennessee Titans) and quarterback Michael Pratt was selected in the seventh round (245th overall) by the Green Bay Packers.
The two were the 149th and 150th Tulane players ever selected in the NFL Draft. This is the second straight year that Tulane has had multiple draft picks, fourth time since 2020 and seventh time since 2000. The program has had 24 players selected in the NFL Draft since 2000.
Jackson's selection is the fourth of a Tulane player all-time by the Tennessee Titans and the second straight year after running back Tyjae Spears was chosen in the third round of the 2023 draft by the Titans. The team previously played in Houston as the Oilers and had chosen three other Tulane players under that moniker. Jackson is the first Tulane receiver that has been chosen in the NFL Draft since Darnell Mooney was selected by the Chicago Bears in 2020 in the fifth round.
Pratt's selection by the Packers was the first time that they have chosen a Tulane player since Jerald Sowell was taken in the seventh round in 1997. Overall, Pratt is the 15th player that the Packers have ever chosen from Tulane. The 15 selections over the years are the most of any NFL team. He is the first Tulane quarterback that has been chosen in the draft since JP Losman was a first-round pick in 2004 by the Buffalo Bills.
Updated 2023 bios for each of the seven rookie free agent signees are featured below:
Valentino Ambrosio, Kicker
Career: Played in 23 career games…Is the most accurate kicker in school history (84.2 percent)…Scored 181 career points (ninth all-time)…Had 32 career field goals (10th all-time)…Had 85 PATS (ninth all-time).
2023 Season: Played in all 14 games…Totaled 105 points on 21 field goals and 42 extra points…Lead the team and ranked second in the AAC in total points scored…His average of 7.5 points per game placed him fifth in the conference…Placed fourth in the league in field goal percentage (80.8) and led the conference in field goals per game (1.5)…His 105 points responsible for were 10th in the AAC.
Sincere Haynesworth, Offensive Line
Career: Played in 63 career games including starting 52 games at center in his final four years as member of the Green Wave…A four-time All-ACC selection
2023Season: Tabbed the AAC's Center and Offensive Lineman of the Year by College Football Network … Claimed Second Team Group of Five All-America honors from HERO Sports … Named a Fourth Team All-American and First Team all-conference pick by Phil Steele … Voted First Team All-AAC by the league's coaches … Earned First Team All-LSWA honors … Helped Tulane total 5,181 yards in total offense this season … The program also scored 41 touchdowns … The team scored over 20 points in 12 times and over 30 points in six contests with a high of 37 against South Alabama … Named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, the Rimington Trophy, the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and was a Second Team Preseason All-American by the Athletic and the Senior Bowl Watch List.
Darius Hodges, Defensive Line
Career: In 47 career games at Tulane ended with 117 tackles (85 solo and 32 assisted), 36 tackles for loss (tied for eighth all-time at the school) for 158 yards in lost yardage, four passes defended, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovered and 18.5 sacks (fifth all-time at the school)
2023 Season: Was a First Team All-AAC selection…Earned a Second Team spot on Phil Steele's American Athletic All-Conference Team…A First Team All-State by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA)…Played in 13 games…Led the team and ranked fourth in the conference with 7.5 sacks…Totaled 25 tackles…Recorded 9.5 stops for loss.
Lawrence Keys III, Wide Receiver
Career: In 23 career games at Tulane ended with 63 catches for 895 yards and 9 touchdown receptions….Averaged 14.2 yards per catch in his career…Also had nine carries for 85 yards and a touchdown plus recorded 698 return yards for a total of 1675 all-purpose yards in his career.
2023 Season: Was a Fourth Team All-AAC selection…Totaled 33 catches for 599 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games played…His seven receiving touchdowns led the team and were tied for fifth in the conference.
Jarius Monroe, Defensive Back
Career: In 27 games played at Tulane ended up with 97 tackles (69 solo, 28 assists), 4.5 stops for loss, a forced fumble, a sack, six interceptions and 18 pass breakups.
2023: All-America honoree by HERO Sports, College Sports Network and Sports Info Solutions … Claimed First Team All-AAC honors from the league's head coaches and Phil Steele … Earned Second Team All-LSWA honors … Played in 13 games and totaled 48 tackles, 3.5 stops for loss, a sack, three interceptions, 10 pass breakups and a forced fumble this season … Named to the Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List...A Preseason candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award...Named to the Bednarik Award Watch List... On the Senior Bowl Watch List.
Kam Pedescleaux, Defensive Back
Career: In 14 games played at Tulane ended up with 56 tackles (33 solo, 23 assists), 4.0 stops for loss, 12 pass breakups and two interceptions
2023 Season: Third Team Group of Five All-American selection by HERO Sports … College Football Network's AAC Safety of the Year … First Team All-AAC pick by Phil Steele and a Second Team mention by the league's head coaches … Earned Second Team All-LSWA honors… Led the defense with 12 pass breakups … Also picked up 56 tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble … Had a season-high seven tackles against SMU in the AAC Championship Game … Interceptions came against Memphis and UTSA … Tackles for loss came against Ole Miss, Nicholls, Tulsa and UTSA … Named AAC Defensive Player of the Week following the 29-16 win over UTSA.
Lance Robinson, Defensive Back
Career: In 36 games played at Tulane ended up with 86 tackles (64 solo, 22 assists), 3.0 stops for loss, 12 pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and five interceptions
2023 Season: First Team LWSA and Second Team All-AAC...Played in 14 games and totaled 43 tackles (31 solo and 12 assists), seven pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and four interceptions for 54 yards…Had a career-high nine tackles against North Texas (10/21/23).
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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 23-5 over the last two 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.
Tulane's football team will start the 2024 season on Thursday, August 29, with a home contest against Southeastern Louisiana at Yulman Stadium. The program has home games against Kansas State (September 7), South Florida (September 28), Rice (October 19), Temple (November 9) and Memphis (November 28). The road games for the 2024 season include trips to Oklahoma (September 14), Louisiana (September 21), UAB (October 5), North Texas (October 26), Charlotte (October 31) and Navy (November 16).
TICKETS
Tickets 2024 baseball season and the upcoming football season 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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