Football Has Nine Phil Steele 2026 Preseason American All-Conference Selections
Jun 15, 2026 | Football
NEW ORLEANS – The Tulane football team had nine selections to Phil Steele's 2026 Preseason American All-Conference Team, the national magazine recently announced.
Chris Rodgers, Jack Tchienchou, and TJ Smith were all First Team selections.
Rodgers, a senior linebacker, played and started all 14 games last season. He placed second on the team in tackles (80), while totaling seven stops for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.
Tchienchou, a senior defensive back, played and started all 14 games last season at safety. He led the team in tackles (83), while totaling 2.5 stops for loss, a sack, two interceptions, three pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble. Tchienchou was a First Team American All-Conference selection in a vote of the league's coaches last season and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 American Conference Championship Game.
Smith, a senior defensive back/return specialist, averaged 26.7 yards per kick return last season and totaled 160 yards with a long of 62 yards. He also totaled 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and sack as a member of the defense while playing in 14 games. He was a Third Team American All-Conference selection as a return specialist in a vote of the league's coaches last season.
Destyn Hill was a Second Team selection.
Hill, a redshirt junior wide receiver, is in his first year at Tulane after transferring from LSU. He started his collegiate career at Florida State where he spent two seasons. Hill has played in a total of 20 games and started five games between his two prior seasons while recording eight catches for 109 yards.
Dickson Agu and Jaylin Lucas are Third Team selections.
Agu, a redshirt junior linebacker, played and started five games last season before an injury ended his campaign. He totaled 36 tackles, two tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble in 2025.
Lucas, a redshirt senior running back, is in his first year at Tulane after transferring from Florida State. He played the last two years at Florida State after starting his career at Indiana. He was a First Team All-American and the Big Ten Return Specialists of the Year at Indiana as a returner in 2022 after 22 kick returns for 591 yards and two touchdowns. He followed that up with 22 returns for 572 yards and a touchdown in 2023 before transferring to Florida State. In his collegiate career, Lucas has 55 kick returns for 1420 yards plus three touchdowns. He also has rushed 145 times for 719 yards and four touchdowns plus he has hauled in 64 passes for 456 yards and two more scores.
Ty Thompson, Reese Baker, and E'zaiah Shine were Fourth Team selections.
Thompson, a graduate student who converted to tight end after starting his collegiate career as a quarterback, missed all of last season with an injury. He made the switch to tight end in the spring of 2025. Thompson has played in 29 games in his college career with 64 attempts for 316 yards and six rushing scores. He also has thrown for 655 yards and nine scores.
Baker, a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman, started all 14 games for Tulane last season. He helped the offense rank in the top 10 nationally in sack allowed per game (6th - 0.77) and tackles for loss allowed per game (7th - 3.69). The Green Wave offense averaging 4.5 yards per carry on the ground with 2318 rushing yards. The passing game sported an average of 245.1 yards a contest with an impressive 13.09 yards per completion. The offense scored 20+ points in 12 games including seven contests with 30+.
Shine, a redshirt sophomore defensive back, played and started all 14 games at cornerback last season while recording 41 tackles, two tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.
Phil Steele's 2026 Preseason American All-Conference Team (Tulane)
First Team (3)
Pos.     Player
LBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Chris Rodgers
SÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jack Tchienchou
KRÂ Â Â Â Â Â TJ Smith
Â
Second Team (1)
Pos.     Player
WRÂ Â Â Â Â Destyn Hill
Third Team (2)
Pos.     Player
LBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Dickson Agu
KRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Jaylin Lucas
Fourth Team (3)
Pos.     Player
TEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Ty Thompson
OGÂ Â Â Â Â Â Reese Baker
CBÂ Â Â Â Â Â E'zaiah Shine
About Tulane Football
The Green Wave finished the 2025 season ranked No. 18 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls. This marked only the second time in four seasons, the third since 1998, and the fourth since 1970 that the program has finished a season nationally ranked.
Tulane won the American Conference Championship, securing its second conference title in four years. With an 11-3 record, it earned its first-ever playoff appearance in school history against Ole Miss. Notably, Tulane became the first team from Louisiana to make the College Football Playoff (CFP) in the 12-team format, qualifying as the fourth-highest ranked conference champion.
The 2025 season featured 11 wins in 14 games, including two victories over Power 4 opponents—the first time since 1988. The win over North Texas (34-21) secured Tulane's second conference title in four years.
The team earned 13 All-Conference selections, including the Special Teams Player of the Year. The team's returning All-Conference players for the 2026 season includes Jack Tchienchou (safety – 1st team), TJ Smith (return specialists – 3rd team), and Jason Arredondo (designated snapper –3rd team)
Over the past four seasons, Tulane's record stands at 43-13.
2026 Tulane Football Schedule
Saturday, September 5 – at Duke – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 12 – vs. South Alabama – 6 p.m.
Saturday, September 19 – at Kansas State – 11 a.m.
Saturday, September 26 – vs. Southern Miss (Hall of Fame)
Saturday, October 10 – at Army – 11 a.m.
Friday, October 16 – vs. Memphis – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 24 – vs. UTSA
Saturday, October 30 – at Charlotte – 6 p.m.
Saturday, November 7 – vs Tulsa (Homecoming)
Saturday, November 14 – at Rice
Saturday, November 21 – vs. North Texas
Friday or Saturday, November 27 or November 28 – at South Florida
Bold = Home Games
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming volleyball and football 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.
Green Wave Club
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting greenwaveclub.com.
                                                       - TulaneGreenWave -
Â
Chris Rodgers, Jack Tchienchou, and TJ Smith were all First Team selections.
Rodgers, a senior linebacker, played and started all 14 games last season. He placed second on the team in tackles (80), while totaling seven stops for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.
Tchienchou, a senior defensive back, played and started all 14 games last season at safety. He led the team in tackles (83), while totaling 2.5 stops for loss, a sack, two interceptions, three pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble. Tchienchou was a First Team American All-Conference selection in a vote of the league's coaches last season and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 American Conference Championship Game.
Smith, a senior defensive back/return specialist, averaged 26.7 yards per kick return last season and totaled 160 yards with a long of 62 yards. He also totaled 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and sack as a member of the defense while playing in 14 games. He was a Third Team American All-Conference selection as a return specialist in a vote of the league's coaches last season.
Destyn Hill was a Second Team selection.
Hill, a redshirt junior wide receiver, is in his first year at Tulane after transferring from LSU. He started his collegiate career at Florida State where he spent two seasons. Hill has played in a total of 20 games and started five games between his two prior seasons while recording eight catches for 109 yards.
Dickson Agu and Jaylin Lucas are Third Team selections.
Agu, a redshirt junior linebacker, played and started five games last season before an injury ended his campaign. He totaled 36 tackles, two tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble in 2025.
Lucas, a redshirt senior running back, is in his first year at Tulane after transferring from Florida State. He played the last two years at Florida State after starting his career at Indiana. He was a First Team All-American and the Big Ten Return Specialists of the Year at Indiana as a returner in 2022 after 22 kick returns for 591 yards and two touchdowns. He followed that up with 22 returns for 572 yards and a touchdown in 2023 before transferring to Florida State. In his collegiate career, Lucas has 55 kick returns for 1420 yards plus three touchdowns. He also has rushed 145 times for 719 yards and four touchdowns plus he has hauled in 64 passes for 456 yards and two more scores.
Ty Thompson, Reese Baker, and E'zaiah Shine were Fourth Team selections.
Thompson, a graduate student who converted to tight end after starting his collegiate career as a quarterback, missed all of last season with an injury. He made the switch to tight end in the spring of 2025. Thompson has played in 29 games in his college career with 64 attempts for 316 yards and six rushing scores. He also has thrown for 655 yards and nine scores.
Baker, a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman, started all 14 games for Tulane last season. He helped the offense rank in the top 10 nationally in sack allowed per game (6th - 0.77) and tackles for loss allowed per game (7th - 3.69). The Green Wave offense averaging 4.5 yards per carry on the ground with 2318 rushing yards. The passing game sported an average of 245.1 yards a contest with an impressive 13.09 yards per completion. The offense scored 20+ points in 12 games including seven contests with 30+.
Shine, a redshirt sophomore defensive back, played and started all 14 games at cornerback last season while recording 41 tackles, two tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.
Phil Steele's 2026 Preseason American All-Conference Team (Tulane)
First Team (3)
Pos.     Player
LBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Chris Rodgers
SÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jack Tchienchou
KRÂ Â Â Â Â Â TJ Smith
Â
Second Team (1)
Pos.     Player
WRÂ Â Â Â Â Destyn Hill
Third Team (2)
Pos.     Player
LBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Dickson Agu
KRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Jaylin Lucas
Fourth Team (3)
Pos.     Player
TEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Ty Thompson
OGÂ Â Â Â Â Â Reese Baker
CBÂ Â Â Â Â Â E'zaiah Shine
About Tulane Football
The Green Wave finished the 2025 season ranked No. 18 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls. This marked only the second time in four seasons, the third since 1998, and the fourth since 1970 that the program has finished a season nationally ranked.
Tulane won the American Conference Championship, securing its second conference title in four years. With an 11-3 record, it earned its first-ever playoff appearance in school history against Ole Miss. Notably, Tulane became the first team from Louisiana to make the College Football Playoff (CFP) in the 12-team format, qualifying as the fourth-highest ranked conference champion.
The 2025 season featured 11 wins in 14 games, including two victories over Power 4 opponents—the first time since 1988. The win over North Texas (34-21) secured Tulane's second conference title in four years.
The team earned 13 All-Conference selections, including the Special Teams Player of the Year. The team's returning All-Conference players for the 2026 season includes Jack Tchienchou (safety – 1st team), TJ Smith (return specialists – 3rd team), and Jason Arredondo (designated snapper –3rd team)
Over the past four seasons, Tulane's record stands at 43-13.
2026 Tulane Football Schedule
Saturday, September 5 – at Duke – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 12 – vs. South Alabama – 6 p.m.
Saturday, September 19 – at Kansas State – 11 a.m.
Saturday, September 26 – vs. Southern Miss (Hall of Fame)
Saturday, October 10 – at Army – 11 a.m.
Friday, October 16 – vs. Memphis – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 24 – vs. UTSA
Saturday, October 30 – at Charlotte – 6 p.m.
Saturday, November 7 – vs Tulsa (Homecoming)
Saturday, November 14 – at Rice
Saturday, November 21 – vs. North Texas
Friday or Saturday, November 27 or November 28 – at South Florida
Bold = Home Games
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming volleyball and football 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.
Green Wave Club
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting greenwaveclub.com.
                                                       - TulaneGreenWave -
Â
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