Football Has Three Honored by the American Conference
Sep 29, 2025 | Football
IRVING, TX  – The Tulane football team had three players recognized by the American Conference, including a pair of weekly players of the week, following the fifth week of action.
Junior defensive lineman Santana Hopper was recognized as the league's Defensive Player of the Week. He registered six tackles, including 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss with two quarterback hurries, in Tulane's 31-14 win at Tulsa in the Green Wave's American Conference opener. Hopper's four tackles for loss matches the most by an American player this season as Tulane limited the Golden Hurricane to just 92 rushing yards.
Sophomore punter Alec Clark was named the American's Special Teams Player of the Week. He was instrumental in the field position battle in Tulane's 31-14 win at Tulsa as he averaged 44.5 yards on eight punts, pinning the Golden Hurricane inside the 11-yard line four times. Clark, who ranks fourth in the American in punting average (45.6) did not have a punt go for a touchback against Tulsa.
Freshman running back Javin Gordon earned a spot on the league's Weekly Honor Roll. He rushed for 78 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-14 win at Tulsa to help lead the offensive attack for the squad.
The selections makes it seven 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
Sept. 15 – Jake Retzlaff – Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 29 – Santana Hopper – Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 29 – Alec Clark – Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 29 – Javin Gordon – Weekly Honor Roll
__________________________
The Tulane football team (4-1, 1-0 American) has started the 2025 season with four wins in the first five games including a pair of wins over Power 4 opponents in the regular season for the first time since 1988. The program is also 1-0 in American play for the 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. Tulane also made the team's third straight American Championship Game appearance in 2024.
The program sports a 36-11 record over the last four seasons. The team's 36 wins is tied for the seventh-most nationally.
Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been one of the most successful coaches in the country over the last four seasons with a record of 36-10, 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, after a bye week, returns home to host American rival East Carolina on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at Yulman Stadium in a game that will also be shown on ESPN.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football and the 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.
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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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Junior defensive lineman Santana Hopper was recognized as the league's Defensive Player of the Week. He registered six tackles, including 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss with two quarterback hurries, in Tulane's 31-14 win at Tulsa in the Green Wave's American Conference opener. Hopper's four tackles for loss matches the most by an American player this season as Tulane limited the Golden Hurricane to just 92 rushing yards.
Sophomore punter Alec Clark was named the American's Special Teams Player of the Week. He was instrumental in the field position battle in Tulane's 31-14 win at Tulsa as he averaged 44.5 yards on eight punts, pinning the Golden Hurricane inside the 11-yard line four times. Clark, who ranks fourth in the American in punting average (45.6) did not have a punt go for a touchback against Tulsa.
Freshman running back Javin Gordon earned a spot on the league's Weekly Honor Roll. He rushed for 78 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-14 win at Tulsa to help lead the offensive attack for the squad.
The selections makes it seven 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
Sept. 15 – Jake Retzlaff – Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 29 – Santana Hopper – Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 29 – Alec Clark – Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 29 – Javin Gordon – Weekly Honor Roll
__________________________
The Tulane football team (4-1, 1-0 American) has started the 2025 season with four wins in the first five games including a pair of wins over Power 4 opponents in the regular season for the first time since 1988. The program is also 1-0 in American play for the 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. Tulane also made the team's third straight American Championship Game appearance in 2024.
The program sports a 36-11 record over the last four seasons. The team's 36 wins is tied for the seventh-most nationally.
Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been one of the most successful coaches in the country over the last four seasons with a record of 36-10, 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, after a bye week, returns home to host American rival East Carolina on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at Yulman Stadium in a game that will also be shown on ESPN.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football and the 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 -
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Players Mentioned
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/ FootballPostgame: HC Jon Sumrall, DL Santana Hopper, RB Javin Gordon
Sunday, September 28
Tulane Tuesday: HC Jon Sumrall - 9/23/25
Tuesday, September 23
Tulane Tuesday: S Bailey Despaine - 9/23/24
Tuesday, September 23
Tulane Tuesday: OL Shadre Hurst - 9/23/25
Tuesday, September 23
