Football’s Patrick Durkin Named American Special Teams Player of the Week
Sep 1, 2025 | Football
Jake Retzlaff and Javion White earn places on American Conference Weekly Honor Roll
IRVING, TX  – The Tulane football team's redshirt freshman kicker Patrick Durkin was named the American Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday following the first week of action. The team also saw redshirt senior quarterback Jake Retzlaff and sophomore defensive back Javion White earn places on the league's weekly honor roll.
Durkin accounted for nearly half of Tulane's points and led all American kickers in scoring with 11 points in the Green Wave's 23-3 win against Northwestern, the Green Wave's first win against a Big Ten team since 1970. Durkin connected on all three of his field goal attempts as he connected from 22, 41 and 31 yards and he registered touchbacks on all six of his kickoffs.
Retzlaff completed 18 of 31 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown and added 113 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in a 23-3 win against Northwestern in accounting for 265 total yards of offense. His 69-yard rush was the third-longest in school history by a quarterback. He became the first Tulane quarterback to run for 100+ yards and a touchdown at home since 1995.
White had two key red zone interceptions and added two tackles in a 23-3 win against Northwestern. White's two picks were the most for the team since Macon Clark also had two against Houston (10/8/20).
The selections makes it three times that a Tulane football player has been honored by the league office this season.
Tulane Weekly American Honors
Sept. 1 – Patrick Durkin – Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 1 – Jake Retzlaff – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 1 – Javion White – Weekly Honor Roll
__________________________
The Tulane football team (1-0) started the 2025 campaign with a 23-3 victory over Northwestern on Aug. 30. It was the team's first home victory over a Power 4 Conference school since 2003 against Mississippi State and the program's first win over Northwestern since 1956.
The Green Wave 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 American Championship Game appearance in 2024.
The program sports a 33-10 record over the last three seasons. The team's 33 wins is tied for the sixth-most nationally. The team placed first or second in the league in 10 different categories during the 2024 season 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 with all league honors 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)
Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been one of the most successful coaches in the country over the last four seasons with a record of 33-9, 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.
Next, Tulane's football team gets on the road for the first time this season with a trip to Mobile, Alabama on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. to take on South Alabama (1-0) at Hancock Whitney Stadium in a game broadcasted on ESPN+. The team's remaining schedule includes home games against Duke (Sept. 13), East Carolina (Oct. 9), Army (Oct. 18), Florida Atlantic (Nov. 15) and Charlotte (Nov. 29).
TICKETS
Tickets for the football and upcoming 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 -
Â
Durkin accounted for nearly half of Tulane's points and led all American kickers in scoring with 11 points in the Green Wave's 23-3 win against Northwestern, the Green Wave's first win against a Big Ten team since 1970. Durkin connected on all three of his field goal attempts as he connected from 22, 41 and 31 yards and he registered touchbacks on all six of his kickoffs.
Retzlaff completed 18 of 31 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown and added 113 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in a 23-3 win against Northwestern in accounting for 265 total yards of offense. His 69-yard rush was the third-longest in school history by a quarterback. He became the first Tulane quarterback to run for 100+ yards and a touchdown at home since 1995.
White had two key red zone interceptions and added two tackles in a 23-3 win against Northwestern. White's two picks were the most for the team since Macon Clark also had two against Houston (10/8/20).
The selections makes it three times that a Tulane football player has been honored by the league office this season.
Tulane Weekly American Honors
Sept. 1 – Patrick Durkin – Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 1 – Jake Retzlaff – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 1 – Javion White – Weekly Honor Roll
__________________________
The Tulane football team (1-0) started the 2025 campaign with a 23-3 victory over Northwestern on Aug. 30. It was the team's first home victory over a Power 4 Conference school since 2003 against Mississippi State and the program's first win over Northwestern since 1956.
The Green Wave 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 American Championship Game appearance in 2024.
The program sports a 33-10 record over the last three seasons. The team's 33 wins is tied for the sixth-most nationally. The team placed first or second in the league in 10 different categories during the 2024 season 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 with all league honors 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)
Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been one of the most successful coaches in the country over the last four seasons with a record of 33-9, 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.
Next, Tulane's football team gets on the road for the first time this season with a trip to Mobile, Alabama on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. to take on South Alabama (1-0) at Hancock Whitney Stadium in a game broadcasted on ESPN+. The team's remaining schedule includes home games against Duke (Sept. 13), East Carolina (Oct. 9), Army (Oct. 18), Florida Atlantic (Nov. 15) and Charlotte (Nov. 29).
TICKETS
Tickets for the football and upcoming 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 -
Â
Players Mentioned
S
/ Football
K
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DE
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
SPR
/ FootballTulane Tuesday: OL Jordan Hall - 10/14/25
Tuesday, October 14
Tulane Tuesday: BAN Jah'rie Garner - 10/14/25
Tuesday, October 14
Tulane Tuesday: HC Jon Sumrall - 10/14/25
Tuesday, October 14
Postgame: QB Jake Retzlaff - 10/9/25
Friday, October 10
