Football Has 11 Phil Steele 2025 Preseason All-AAC Selections
Jun 25, 2025 | Football
NEW ORLEANS  – The Tulane football team had a league-best 11 selections to Phil Steele's 2025 Preseason All-AAC Team.
The Green Wave's 11 selections were one better than four other schools in the league.
Shadre Hurst, Derrick Graham, Santana Hopper, Sam Howard and Mo Westmoreland were all First Team selections.
Hurst, a redshirt junior guard, played in all 14 games with 13 starts last season where he helped the offense rank among the top five in the league in seven categories including third down conversions (1st – 50.3), completion percentage (3rd – 62.9), scoring offense (2nd – 35.1), interceptions thrown (4th – 9), passing efficiency (1st – 157.6), rushing (3rd – 195.6), time of possession (3rd – 32:13), first downs (3rd – 291) and passing yards per completions (4th – 14.16).The offense scored 20+ points in 11 of the team's 14 games. He was a 2024 First Team All-AAC selection by the league's coaches and a First Team All-AAC choice by Phil Steele. Earlier in the off-season, he was named a 2025 Preseason All-American by Phil Steele.
Graham, a redshirt senior offensive tackle, played and started all 14 games last season at left tackle where he helped the offense rank among the top five in the league in seven categories including third down conversions (1st – 50.3), completion percentage (3rd – 62.9), scoring offense (2nd – 35.1), interceptions thrown (4th – 9), passing efficiency (1st – 157.6), rushing (3rd – 195.6), time of possession (3rd – 32:13), first downs (3rd – 291) and passing yards per completions (4th – 14.16).The offense scored 20+ points in 11 of the team's 14 games. He was a 2024 First Team All-AAC selection.
Hopper, a redshirt junior defensive tackle, is in his first year at Tulane after transferring from Appalachian State. Last season, as a member of the Mountaineers, he totaled 36 tackles, 8.5 stops for loss and five sacks.
Howard, a senior linebacker, played and started 13 games at linebacker last season. He set a school record with five fumble recoveries while totaling 63 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception. He was a 2024 Second Team All-AAC selection
Westmoreland, a redshirt senior linebacker, is in his first year at Tulane after transferring from UTEP. Last season, as a member of the Miners, he ranked 23rd in the country with eight sacks plus totaled 46 tackles and 9.5 stops for loss.
Kameron Hamilton and Omari Hayes were Second Team selections.
Hamilton, a senior defensive lineman, played in 14 games with nine starts last season. He tied for the team lead in sacks with 4.5 while totaling 21 tackles, six stops for loss, four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles on campaign. He was a 2024 Fourth Team All-AAC selection.
Hayes, a redshirt sophomore, was two-time selection as he was chosen as punt returner on the second team and a wide receiver on the third team. Last season, as a member of Florida Atlantic, he led the Owls with 39 catches for 590 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 13 returns for 71 yards. Â
Jack Hollifield and Bailey Despanie were Third Team selections.
Hollifield, a redshirt senior center, is in his first year at Tulane after transferring from Appalachian State. Last season, as a member of the Mountaineers, he started 11 games at center while protecting the Sun Belt's passing leader and aiding the program total five straight 100-yard rushing performances.
Despanie, a redshirt senior defensive back, played and started all 14 games last season at safety where he totaled 52 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups. He was a 2024 Second Team All-AAC selection.
Anthony Miller along with Hayes were Fourth Team selections.
Miller, a redshirt sophomore tight end, played in nine games last season and totaled a catch for four yards.
The Tulane football team (9-5) 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.
Tulane also made the team's third straight AAC Championship Game appearance. The program sports a 32-10 record over the last three seasons. The team's 32 wins is the fourth-most nationally. The team placed first or second in the AAC in 10 different categories including leading the league in third down conversions (52.5), defensive touchdowns (6), completion percentage (65.6), scoring offense (37.2) and passing efficiency defense (111.65). The team was the national leader in defensive touchdowns with six.
The team had a league-high 18 players selected All-AAC last season including 2025 returners Derrick Graham (First Team – offensive tackle), Shadre Hurst (First Team – offensive guard), Sam Howard (Second Team – linebacker), Bailey Despanie (Second Team – defensive back) and Kameron Hamilton (Third Team – defensive line).
The Green Wave's football team was chosen for third in the 2024 AAC Preseason Media Poll with 362 points plus two first-place votes at the annual conference media day.
The school announced the hiring of Jon Sumrall as the 42nd head coach of the team on December 8, 2023. The Huntsville, Alabama native has been one of the most successful head coaches in the country the last three seasons with a record of 32-9, 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.
2025 Phil Steele Tulane Preseason All-AAC Selections (11)
Shadre Hurst – Guard – First Team
Derrick Graham – Tackle – First Team
Santana Hopper – Defensive Line – First Team
Sam Howard – Linebacker – First Team
Mo Westmoreland – Linebacker – First Team
Kameron Hamilton – Defensive Line – Second Team
Omari Hayes – Punt Returner – Second Team
Jack Hollifield – Center – Third Team
Bailey Despanie – Safety – Third Team
Omari Hayes – Wide Receiver – Fourth Team
Anthony Miller – Tight End – Fourth Team
2025 Phil Steele Preseason All-AAC Selections By Team
Tulane – 11
Navy – 10
UTSA – 10
North Texas – 10
South Florida – 10
Army - 9
ECU – 7
Memphis – 7
UAB – 7
Rice - 7
Florida Atlantic – 6
Charlotte – 5
Tulsa – 5
Temple - 4
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming football and volleyball campaigns 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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The Green Wave's 11 selections were one better than four other schools in the league.
Shadre Hurst, Derrick Graham, Santana Hopper, Sam Howard and Mo Westmoreland were all First Team selections.
Hurst, a redshirt junior guard, played in all 14 games with 13 starts last season where he helped the offense rank among the top five in the league in seven categories including third down conversions (1st – 50.3), completion percentage (3rd – 62.9), scoring offense (2nd – 35.1), interceptions thrown (4th – 9), passing efficiency (1st – 157.6), rushing (3rd – 195.6), time of possession (3rd – 32:13), first downs (3rd – 291) and passing yards per completions (4th – 14.16).The offense scored 20+ points in 11 of the team's 14 games. He was a 2024 First Team All-AAC selection by the league's coaches and a First Team All-AAC choice by Phil Steele. Earlier in the off-season, he was named a 2025 Preseason All-American by Phil Steele.
Graham, a redshirt senior offensive tackle, played and started all 14 games last season at left tackle where he helped the offense rank among the top five in the league in seven categories including third down conversions (1st – 50.3), completion percentage (3rd – 62.9), scoring offense (2nd – 35.1), interceptions thrown (4th – 9), passing efficiency (1st – 157.6), rushing (3rd – 195.6), time of possession (3rd – 32:13), first downs (3rd – 291) and passing yards per completions (4th – 14.16).The offense scored 20+ points in 11 of the team's 14 games. He was a 2024 First Team All-AAC selection.
Hopper, a redshirt junior defensive tackle, is in his first year at Tulane after transferring from Appalachian State. Last season, as a member of the Mountaineers, he totaled 36 tackles, 8.5 stops for loss and five sacks.
Howard, a senior linebacker, played and started 13 games at linebacker last season. He set a school record with five fumble recoveries while totaling 63 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception. He was a 2024 Second Team All-AAC selection
Westmoreland, a redshirt senior linebacker, is in his first year at Tulane after transferring from UTEP. Last season, as a member of the Miners, he ranked 23rd in the country with eight sacks plus totaled 46 tackles and 9.5 stops for loss.
Kameron Hamilton and Omari Hayes were Second Team selections.
Hamilton, a senior defensive lineman, played in 14 games with nine starts last season. He tied for the team lead in sacks with 4.5 while totaling 21 tackles, six stops for loss, four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles on campaign. He was a 2024 Fourth Team All-AAC selection.
Hayes, a redshirt sophomore, was two-time selection as he was chosen as punt returner on the second team and a wide receiver on the third team. Last season, as a member of Florida Atlantic, he led the Owls with 39 catches for 590 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 13 returns for 71 yards. Â
Jack Hollifield and Bailey Despanie were Third Team selections.
Hollifield, a redshirt senior center, is in his first year at Tulane after transferring from Appalachian State. Last season, as a member of the Mountaineers, he started 11 games at center while protecting the Sun Belt's passing leader and aiding the program total five straight 100-yard rushing performances.
Despanie, a redshirt senior defensive back, played and started all 14 games last season at safety where he totaled 52 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups. He was a 2024 Second Team All-AAC selection.
Anthony Miller along with Hayes were Fourth Team selections.
Miller, a redshirt sophomore tight end, played in nine games last season and totaled a catch for four yards.
The Tulane football team (9-5) 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.
Tulane also made the team's third straight AAC Championship Game appearance. The program sports a 32-10 record over the last three seasons. The team's 32 wins is the fourth-most nationally. The team placed first or second in the AAC in 10 different categories including leading the league in third down conversions (52.5), defensive touchdowns (6), completion percentage (65.6), scoring offense (37.2) and passing efficiency defense (111.65). The team was the national leader in defensive touchdowns with six.
The team had a league-high 18 players selected All-AAC last season including 2025 returners Derrick Graham (First Team – offensive tackle), Shadre Hurst (First Team – offensive guard), Sam Howard (Second Team – linebacker), Bailey Despanie (Second Team – defensive back) and Kameron Hamilton (Third Team – defensive line).
The Green Wave's football team was chosen for third in the 2024 AAC Preseason Media Poll with 362 points plus two first-place votes at the annual conference media day.
The school announced the hiring of Jon Sumrall as the 42nd head coach of the team on December 8, 2023. The Huntsville, Alabama native has been one of the most successful head coaches in the country the last three seasons with a record of 32-9, 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.
2025 Phil Steele Tulane Preseason All-AAC Selections (11)
Shadre Hurst – Guard – First Team
Derrick Graham – Tackle – First Team
Santana Hopper – Defensive Line – First Team
Sam Howard – Linebacker – First Team
Mo Westmoreland – Linebacker – First Team
Kameron Hamilton – Defensive Line – Second Team
Omari Hayes – Punt Returner – Second Team
Jack Hollifield – Center – Third Team
Bailey Despanie – Safety – Third Team
Omari Hayes – Wide Receiver – Fourth Team
Anthony Miller – Tight End – Fourth Team
2025 Phil Steele Preseason All-AAC Selections By Team
Tulane – 11
Navy – 10
UTSA – 10
North Texas – 10
South Florida – 10
Army - 9
ECU – 7
Memphis – 7
UAB – 7
Rice - 7
Florida Atlantic – 6
Charlotte – 5
Tulsa – 5
Temple - 4
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming football and volleyball campaigns 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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Tulane Tuesday: HC Jon Sumrall - 9/2/25
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Tulane Tuesday: WR Omari Hayes - 9/2/25
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