Football Places League-High 13 on American All-Conference Teams
Dec 2, 2025 | Football
IRVING, Texas – The Tulane football team (10-2, 7-1 AAC) earned a league-high 13 American All-Conference selections on Tuesday plus saw place kicker Patrick Durkin named the Special Teams Player of the Year.
Durkin was named the league's 2025 Special Teams Player of the Year. On the season he is 22-for-24 on field goals and 36-for-37 on extra points. He is 7-for-8 from 40+ including four made kicks of 50+ with a long of 52. The 22 made field goals from Durkin this year are the second-most in school history for a single season and rank him fifth nationally. His 102 points leads the conference, is the third-most for a kicker in school history and tied for the seventh-most for any player overall in the school record book. He also had 63 touchbacks on 71 kickoffs this season (88.7 percent). He was also a First Team All-Conference selection for the first time in his career. Durkin was named the league's Special Teams Player of the Week three times throughout the campaign (Sept. 1, Oct. 13 and Nov. 24).
The team's other First Team All-Conference selections this year, besides Durkin, are Shadre Hurst (offensive guard), Santana Hopper (defensive line), Jack Tchienchou (safety), and Alec Clark (punter). It was a second time selection for Hurst and the first time at Tulane for Hopper, Tchienchou, Clark and Durkin.
Hurst, in his third year at the school, he has started all 12 games for Tulane this season with 11 at left guard and one at left tackle. He has helped the offense rank in the top 10 nationally in sack allowed per game (7th - 0.83) and tackles for loss allowed per game (9th - 3.75). The Green Wave offense is averaging 4.7 yards per carry on the ground with 2014 rushing yards. The passing game sports an average of 248.6 yards a contest with an impressive 13.02 yards per completion. The offense has scored 20+ points in 11 games including six contests with 30+. He was also a First Team All-Conference selection last season.
Hopper, in his first year at Tulane, he has played in all 12 games with 11 starts on the defensive line. On the season he has 26 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. His tackles for loss rank him second on the team. He was named the American Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29.
Tchienchou, is in his second year at Tulane, has played and started all 12 games this season at safety. He is tied for the team lead with 68 tackles including two tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and a pass defense.
Clark, in his first year at Tulane, has proven to be one of the top punters in the nation with an average of 47.7 yards per punt with a long of 70. Of his 42 punts, 16 have gone for 50+ and he has placed 13 inside the 20. His punting average would place him fourth nationally if he had enough kicks to qualify statistically. He was named the league's Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 29
Tulane's Second Team selections consist of Tre'Von McAlpine (defensive line) and Sam Howard (linebacker). It was the first selection for McAlpine at Tulane and the second selection for Howard.
McAlpine, in his first year at Tulane, has played in all 12 games with 10 starts on the defensive line. He has totaled 31 tackles, two stops for loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery.
Howard, in his second year at Tulane, has played and started nine games at linebacker. Despite missing three games with injury, he ranks fifth on the team in tackles with 41 and is tied for second on the squad with 7.5 stops for loss. He also has three sacks and a forced fumble.
The Third Team American selections are Derrick Graham (offensive tackle), Harvey Dyson III (linebacker), Javion White (cornerback), TJ Smith (return specialist), and Jason Arredondo (long snapper). It is the second All-Conference selection for Graham at Tulane and the first time for Dyson, White, Smith and Arredondo.
Graham, in his second year at Tulane, has played and started 11 games at left tackle this season. He has helped the offense rank in the top 10 nationally in sack allowed per game (7th - 0.83) and tackles for loss allowed per game (9th - 3.75). The Green Wave offense is averaging 4.7 yards per carry on the ground with 2014 rushing yards. The passing game sports an average of 248.6 yards a contest with an impressive 13.02 yards per completion. The offense has scored 20+ points in 11 games including six contests with 30+. He was a First Team All-Conference selection last season.
Dyson, in his first year at Tulane, has played and started all 12 games for Tulane at linebacker. He has totaled 32 tackles, nine stops for loss, six sacks and a forced fumble on the campaign. He leads the squad in tackles for loss and is tied for the lead in sacks. His average of 0.50 sacks per game places him tied for fourth.
White, in his first year at Tulane, has played and started all 12 games at cornerback. He has totaled 42 tackles, three stops for loss, six pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and three interceptions. His three interceptions tie him for the team lead and rank him tied for third in the conference.
Smith, in his first year at Tulane, has played in all 12 games. He has four returns for 131 yards with an average of 32.8 yards per return with a long of 62. He also has 22 tackles, 2.5 stops for loss, and a sack on defense plus registered a blocked field goal attempt on special teams.
Arredondo, in his first year at Tulane, has served as the team's long snapper on all punts and field goal attempts this season. The squad's special teams' unit has 22 made field goals in 24 attempts (91.7 percent) plus a punting average of 47.3 yards per kick.
Tulane also saw Jahiem Johnson (defensive back) earn All-Conference Honorable Mention honors for the first time in his career.
Johnson, in his second year at Tulane, has started all 12 games at cornerback. He has 33 tackles, a stop for loss, three interceptions, a team-high seven pass breakups and a forced fumble. His three interceptions tie him for the team lead and rank him tied for third in the conference.
Tulane's All-Conference First Team (5)
Pos. Player
OG Shadre Hurst
DL Santana Hopper
S Jack Tchienchou
K Patrick Durkin
P Alec Clark
Tulane's All-Conference Second Team (2)
Pos. Player
DL Tre'Von McAlpine
LB Sam Howard
Tulane's All-Conference Third Team (5)
Pos. Player
OT Derrick Graham
LB Harvey Dyson
DB Javion White
RS TJ Smith
DS Jason Arredondo
Tulane's All-Conference Honorable Mention (1)
Pos. Player
DB Jahiem Johnson
2025 American All-Conference Selections By Team
______________________________________________________________
The Tulane football team is nationally ranked for the third consecutive week as the program comes at No. 21 in the Associated Press (AP) Poll and also No. 21 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll as was announced on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 30.
The program moved up after being ranked at No. 22 in the AP and No. 23 in the Coaches' Poll last week, Nov. 23. The team is also ranked at No. 24 in the College Football Playoffs rankings that was released on Nov. 25.
The team has started the 2025 season with 10 wins in the first 12 games including a pair of wins over Power 4 opponents in the regular season for the first time since 1988. The victory over Charlotte secures Tulane a tie for the lead in the conference regular season standings and a place in the American Conference Championship Game for a conference record fourth straight season.
Tulane ended the 2024 season playing in the program's third consecutive bowl game. It was also the sixth time in the last seven years that Tulane had been selected to play in a bowl game (2018 – Cure Bowl, 2019 – Armed Forces Bowl, 2020 – Famous Idaho Bowl, 2022 – Cotton Bowl, 2023 – Military Bowl and 2024 – Gasparilla Bowl). Overall, it was Tulane's 17th bowl appearance (1932 – Rose Bowl, 1935 – Sugar Bowl, 1939 – Sugar Bowl, 1970 – Liberty Bowl, 1973 – Astro Bluebonnet Bowl, 1979 – Liberty Bowl, 1980 – Hall of Fame Bowl, 1987 – Independence Bowl, 1998 – Liberty Bowl, 2002 – Hawaii Bowl, 2013 – New Orleans, 2018 – Cure Bowl, 2019 – Armed Forces Bowl, 2020 -Famous Idaho Bowl, 2022 – Cotton Bowl, 2023 – Military Bowl and 2024 – Gasparilla Bowl) with the program sporting an all-time record of 7-10 in bowl games.
The program sports a 42-12 record over the last four seasons.
Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been one of the most successful coaches in the country over the last four seasons with a record of 42-11, 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 returned 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, the Tulane football team faces off against North Texas (11-1, 7-1 American) on Dec. 5 at Yulman Stadium in the American Conference Championship Game at 7 p.m. in a game that will also be broadcasted on ABC.
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.
- TulaneGreenWave -
Durkin was named the league's 2025 Special Teams Player of the Year. On the season he is 22-for-24 on field goals and 36-for-37 on extra points. He is 7-for-8 from 40+ including four made kicks of 50+ with a long of 52. The 22 made field goals from Durkin this year are the second-most in school history for a single season and rank him fifth nationally. His 102 points leads the conference, is the third-most for a kicker in school history and tied for the seventh-most for any player overall in the school record book. He also had 63 touchbacks on 71 kickoffs this season (88.7 percent). He was also a First Team All-Conference selection for the first time in his career. Durkin was named the league's Special Teams Player of the Week three times throughout the campaign (Sept. 1, Oct. 13 and Nov. 24).
The team's other First Team All-Conference selections this year, besides Durkin, are Shadre Hurst (offensive guard), Santana Hopper (defensive line), Jack Tchienchou (safety), and Alec Clark (punter). It was a second time selection for Hurst and the first time at Tulane for Hopper, Tchienchou, Clark and Durkin.
Hurst, in his third year at the school, he has started all 12 games for Tulane this season with 11 at left guard and one at left tackle. He has helped the offense rank in the top 10 nationally in sack allowed per game (7th - 0.83) and tackles for loss allowed per game (9th - 3.75). The Green Wave offense is averaging 4.7 yards per carry on the ground with 2014 rushing yards. The passing game sports an average of 248.6 yards a contest with an impressive 13.02 yards per completion. The offense has scored 20+ points in 11 games including six contests with 30+. He was also a First Team All-Conference selection last season.
Hopper, in his first year at Tulane, he has played in all 12 games with 11 starts on the defensive line. On the season he has 26 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. His tackles for loss rank him second on the team. He was named the American Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29.
Tchienchou, is in his second year at Tulane, has played and started all 12 games this season at safety. He is tied for the team lead with 68 tackles including two tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and a pass defense.
Clark, in his first year at Tulane, has proven to be one of the top punters in the nation with an average of 47.7 yards per punt with a long of 70. Of his 42 punts, 16 have gone for 50+ and he has placed 13 inside the 20. His punting average would place him fourth nationally if he had enough kicks to qualify statistically. He was named the league's Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 29
Tulane's Second Team selections consist of Tre'Von McAlpine (defensive line) and Sam Howard (linebacker). It was the first selection for McAlpine at Tulane and the second selection for Howard.
McAlpine, in his first year at Tulane, has played in all 12 games with 10 starts on the defensive line. He has totaled 31 tackles, two stops for loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery.
Howard, in his second year at Tulane, has played and started nine games at linebacker. Despite missing three games with injury, he ranks fifth on the team in tackles with 41 and is tied for second on the squad with 7.5 stops for loss. He also has three sacks and a forced fumble.
The Third Team American selections are Derrick Graham (offensive tackle), Harvey Dyson III (linebacker), Javion White (cornerback), TJ Smith (return specialist), and Jason Arredondo (long snapper). It is the second All-Conference selection for Graham at Tulane and the first time for Dyson, White, Smith and Arredondo.
Graham, in his second year at Tulane, has played and started 11 games at left tackle this season. He has helped the offense rank in the top 10 nationally in sack allowed per game (7th - 0.83) and tackles for loss allowed per game (9th - 3.75). The Green Wave offense is averaging 4.7 yards per carry on the ground with 2014 rushing yards. The passing game sports an average of 248.6 yards a contest with an impressive 13.02 yards per completion. The offense has scored 20+ points in 11 games including six contests with 30+. He was a First Team All-Conference selection last season.
Dyson, in his first year at Tulane, has played and started all 12 games for Tulane at linebacker. He has totaled 32 tackles, nine stops for loss, six sacks and a forced fumble on the campaign. He leads the squad in tackles for loss and is tied for the lead in sacks. His average of 0.50 sacks per game places him tied for fourth.
White, in his first year at Tulane, has played and started all 12 games at cornerback. He has totaled 42 tackles, three stops for loss, six pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and three interceptions. His three interceptions tie him for the team lead and rank him tied for third in the conference.
Smith, in his first year at Tulane, has played in all 12 games. He has four returns for 131 yards with an average of 32.8 yards per return with a long of 62. He also has 22 tackles, 2.5 stops for loss, and a sack on defense plus registered a blocked field goal attempt on special teams.
Arredondo, in his first year at Tulane, has served as the team's long snapper on all punts and field goal attempts this season. The squad's special teams' unit has 22 made field goals in 24 attempts (91.7 percent) plus a punting average of 47.3 yards per kick.
Tulane also saw Jahiem Johnson (defensive back) earn All-Conference Honorable Mention honors for the first time in his career.
Johnson, in his second year at Tulane, has started all 12 games at cornerback. He has 33 tackles, a stop for loss, three interceptions, a team-high seven pass breakups and a forced fumble. His three interceptions tie him for the team lead and rank him tied for third in the conference.
Tulane's All-Conference First Team (5)
Pos. Player
OG Shadre Hurst
DL Santana Hopper
S Jack Tchienchou
K Patrick Durkin
P Alec Clark
Tulane's All-Conference Second Team (2)
Pos. Player
DL Tre'Von McAlpine
LB Sam Howard
Tulane's All-Conference Third Team (5)
Pos. Player
OT Derrick Graham
LB Harvey Dyson
DB Javion White
RS TJ Smith
DS Jason Arredondo
Tulane's All-Conference Honorable Mention (1)
Pos. Player
DB Jahiem Johnson
2025 American All-Conference Selections By Team
| Tulane | 13 |
| North Texas | 12 |
| South Florida | 11 |
| Memphis | 9 |
| East Carolina | 9 |
| Navy | 7 |
| Tulsa | 6 |
| UTSA | 6 |
| Rice | 5 |
| Temple | 5 |
| Florida Atlantic | 4 |
| Army | 4 |
| UAB | 2 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
______________________________________________________________
The Tulane football team is nationally ranked for the third consecutive week as the program comes at No. 21 in the Associated Press (AP) Poll and also No. 21 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll as was announced on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 30.
The program moved up after being ranked at No. 22 in the AP and No. 23 in the Coaches' Poll last week, Nov. 23. The team is also ranked at No. 24 in the College Football Playoffs rankings that was released on Nov. 25.
The team has started the 2025 season with 10 wins in the first 12 games including a pair of wins over Power 4 opponents in the regular season for the first time since 1988. The victory over Charlotte secures Tulane a tie for the lead in the conference regular season standings and a place in the American Conference Championship Game for a conference record fourth straight season.
Tulane ended the 2024 season playing in the program's third consecutive bowl game. It was also the sixth time in the last seven years that Tulane had been selected to play in a bowl game (2018 – Cure Bowl, 2019 – Armed Forces Bowl, 2020 – Famous Idaho Bowl, 2022 – Cotton Bowl, 2023 – Military Bowl and 2024 – Gasparilla Bowl). Overall, it was Tulane's 17th bowl appearance (1932 – Rose Bowl, 1935 – Sugar Bowl, 1939 – Sugar Bowl, 1970 – Liberty Bowl, 1973 – Astro Bluebonnet Bowl, 1979 – Liberty Bowl, 1980 – Hall of Fame Bowl, 1987 – Independence Bowl, 1998 – Liberty Bowl, 2002 – Hawaii Bowl, 2013 – New Orleans, 2018 – Cure Bowl, 2019 – Armed Forces Bowl, 2020 -Famous Idaho Bowl, 2022 – Cotton Bowl, 2023 – Military Bowl and 2024 – Gasparilla Bowl) with the program sporting an all-time record of 7-10 in bowl games.
The program sports a 42-12 record over the last four seasons.
Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been one of the most successful coaches in the country over the last four seasons with a record of 42-11, 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 returned 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, the Tulane football team faces off against North Texas (11-1, 7-1 American) on Dec. 5 at Yulman Stadium in the American Conference Championship Game at 7 p.m. in a game that will also be broadcasted on ABC.
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.
- TulaneGreenWave -
Players Mentioned
LS
/ Football
P
/ Football
K
/ Football
BAN
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
S
/ Football
SPR
/ FootballTulane Tuesday: OL Jack Hollifield - 12/2/25
Tuesday, December 02
Press Conference: AD David Harris - 11/30/25
Sunday, November 30
Postgame: HC Jon Sumrall - 11/29/25
Sunday, November 30
Postgame: WR Anthony Brown-Stephens - 11/29/25
Sunday, November 30
