Football Sees Five Earn Places on the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Team
Jul 30, 2025 | Football
FRISCO, TX – Tulane's football team saw five members of the team earn a place on the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Team.
The five chosen from Tulane were offensive tackle Derrick Graham, center Jack Hollifield, interior defensive lineman Santana Hopper, guard Shadre Hurst and defensive lineman Mo Westmoreland.
Every year, approximately 1000 all-star game eligible players are drafted, signed after the draft or attend rookie mini-camp. The Shrine Bowl 1000's goal is to serve as a look into the scouting process, as well as begin to preview college players who are currently all-star game eligible for the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl and the 2026 NFL Draft.
Graham, a redshirt senior, 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.
Hollifield, a redshirt senior, 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. He spent the first two years of his college career at Virginia Tech.
Hopper, a redshirt junior, 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.
Hurst, a redshirt junior, 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.
Westmoreland, a redshirt senior, 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.
The East-West Shrine Bowl will take place at The Star in Frisco, Texas on January 26, 2026. The players will be coached by NFL coaches, in an NFL facility, and will have access to NFL-level resources, facilities, player-friendly schedules, and the opportunities at the highest level.
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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 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.
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming football and volleyball 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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The five chosen from Tulane were offensive tackle Derrick Graham, center Jack Hollifield, interior defensive lineman Santana Hopper, guard Shadre Hurst and defensive lineman Mo Westmoreland.
Every year, approximately 1000 all-star game eligible players are drafted, signed after the draft or attend rookie mini-camp. The Shrine Bowl 1000's goal is to serve as a look into the scouting process, as well as begin to preview college players who are currently all-star game eligible for the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl and the 2026 NFL Draft.
Graham, a redshirt senior, 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.
Hollifield, a redshirt senior, 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. He spent the first two years of his college career at Virginia Tech.
Hopper, a redshirt junior, 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.
Hurst, a redshirt junior, 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.
Westmoreland, a redshirt senior, 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.
The East-West Shrine Bowl will take place at The Star in Frisco, Texas on January 26, 2026. The players will be coached by NFL coaches, in an NFL facility, and will have access to NFL-level resources, facilities, player-friendly schedules, and the opportunities at the highest level.
____________________________________________________________________________________
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 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.
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming football and volleyball 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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/ FootballPostgame: LB Dickson Agu - 9/14/25
Sunday, September 14
Postgame: QB Jake Retzlaff - 9/14/25
Sunday, September 14
Postgame: HC Jon Sumrall - 9/14/25
Sunday, September 14
Tulane Tuesday: S Jack Tchienchou - 9/9/25
Tuesday, September 09
