Football’s Rayshawn Pleasant Named AAC Defensive Player of the Week
Sep 2, 2024 | Football
IRVING, TX  – The Tulane football team's sophomore defensive back Rayshawn Pleasant was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday following the first week of action.
Pleasant had the defensive highlight of Week 1 in The American as part of Tulane's 52-0 shutout against Southeastern Louisiana, in which the Green Wave defense limited the Lions to 201 yards of offense and only 99 passing yards. Pleasant led the way a spectacular 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, becoming only the second American Athletic Conference player to go end-to-end on a pick six and the first since East Carolina's Josh Hawkins against Tulsa Oct. 17, 2015.
Pleasant's 100-yard interception return tied David Herbert's school record of 100-yards set against Rice in 1971.
He is the first Tulane football player to be named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week since Kam Pedescleaux on Nov. 27, 2023 following the team's 29-16 victory over UTSA to earn the opportunity to host SMU in the league's championship game.
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 will host No. 17 Kansas State on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 11 a.m. at Yulman Stadium in a game broadcasted on ESPN. The team's remaining schedule includes home games against South Florida (Sept. 28), Rice (Oct. 19), Temple (Nov. 9) and Memphis (Nov. 28). The team's 2024 road games includes trips to Oklahoma (September 14), Louisiana (September 21), UAB (October 5), North Texas (October 26), Charlotte (October 31) and Navy (November 16).
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming football, volleyball, 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.
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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.
                                             - TulaneGreenWave -
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Pleasant had the defensive highlight of Week 1 in The American as part of Tulane's 52-0 shutout against Southeastern Louisiana, in which the Green Wave defense limited the Lions to 201 yards of offense and only 99 passing yards. Pleasant led the way a spectacular 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, becoming only the second American Athletic Conference player to go end-to-end on a pick six and the first since East Carolina's Josh Hawkins against Tulsa Oct. 17, 2015.
Pleasant's 100-yard interception return tied David Herbert's school record of 100-yards set against Rice in 1971.
He is the first Tulane football player to be named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week since Kam Pedescleaux on Nov. 27, 2023 following the team's 29-16 victory over UTSA to earn the opportunity to host SMU in the league's championship game.
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 will host No. 17 Kansas State on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 11 a.m. at Yulman Stadium in a game broadcasted on ESPN. The team's remaining schedule includes home games against South Florida (Sept. 28), Rice (Oct. 19), Temple (Nov. 9) and Memphis (Nov. 28). The team's 2024 road games includes trips to Oklahoma (September 14), Louisiana (September 21), UAB (October 5), North Texas (October 26), Charlotte (October 31) and Navy (November 16).
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming football, volleyball, 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.
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.
                                             - TulaneGreenWave -
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