Football’s Gerrod Henderson and Darian Mensah Honored by the AAC
Sep 30, 2024 | Football
IRVING, TX – Tulane football's redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Gerrod Henderson and redshirt freshman quarterback Darian Mensah were both honored by the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in the weekly awards on Monday following the fifth week of action.
Henderson was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week after helping lead Tulane to a 45-10 victory over USF in the conference opener for both teams on Sept. 28. The Green Wave defense allowed just 201 total yards and 10 first downs plus forced two turnovers in the victory. Henderson had four tackles to go with two sacks and a forced fumble which led to a touchdown. Henderson anchored a defensive line that yielded only 26 rushing yards to help Tulane to its 11th consecutive AAC regular season win.
The sacks recorded were the first two in the career of Henderson as was his forced fumble.
Mensah completed 18 of 22 passes (81.8 completion percentage) for 326 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in a 45-10 win against South Florida. He completed each of his first 10 passes of the game and led Tulane's offense to 528 total yards plus 30 first downs. The 528 yards on offense were a season-high and the most for the program since getting 539 against USC in the 2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl. Mensah's 326 yards passing was his second career 300+ passing performance. His three touchdown passes was the third time in five games that he has recorded multiple touchdowns through the air.
On the season Mensah is 72-for-112 with nine touchdown passes and two interceptions. He has thrown for 1,122 yards with a completion percentage of 64.3 percent and a quarterback efficiency rating of 171.4. He leads the conference in passing efficiency and yards per completion (15.6). Mensah is second in the AAC in passing touchdowns.
The two selections make it six times that a Tulane football player has been honored by the league office this season following Rayshawn Pleasant's 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 and Makhi Hughes being selected to the Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 23.
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
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 gets on the road to take on UAB in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 12 p.m. at Protective Stadium in a game broadcasted on ESPN+. The team's remaining schedule includes home games against Rice (Oct. 19), 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 -
Henderson was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week after helping lead Tulane to a 45-10 victory over USF in the conference opener for both teams on Sept. 28. The Green Wave defense allowed just 201 total yards and 10 first downs plus forced two turnovers in the victory. Henderson had four tackles to go with two sacks and a forced fumble which led to a touchdown. Henderson anchored a defensive line that yielded only 26 rushing yards to help Tulane to its 11th consecutive AAC regular season win.
The sacks recorded were the first two in the career of Henderson as was his forced fumble.
Mensah completed 18 of 22 passes (81.8 completion percentage) for 326 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in a 45-10 win against South Florida. He completed each of his first 10 passes of the game and led Tulane's offense to 528 total yards plus 30 first downs. The 528 yards on offense were a season-high and the most for the program since getting 539 against USC in the 2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl. Mensah's 326 yards passing was his second career 300+ passing performance. His three touchdown passes was the third time in five games that he has recorded multiple touchdowns through the air.
On the season Mensah is 72-for-112 with nine touchdown passes and two interceptions. He has thrown for 1,122 yards with a completion percentage of 64.3 percent and a quarterback efficiency rating of 171.4. He leads the conference in passing efficiency and yards per completion (15.6). Mensah is second in the AAC in passing touchdowns.
The two selections make it six times that a Tulane football player has been honored by the league office this season following Rayshawn Pleasant's 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 and Makhi Hughes being selected to the Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 23.
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
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 gets on the road to take on UAB in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 12 p.m. at Protective Stadium in a game broadcasted on ESPN+. The team's remaining schedule includes home games against Rice (Oct. 19), 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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