Football Players Named to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Team
Jul 24, 2026 | Football
FRISCO, TX – Tulane's football program announced on Friday, July 24, that two of its student-athletes have earned spots on the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Team.
The selected players are running back Jaylin Lucas and linebacker Chris Rodgers.
Each year, approximately 1,000 all-star game-eligible players are drafted, signed after the draft, or invited to rookie mini-camps. The Shrine Bowl 1000 serves as a showcase for NFL scouts, offering a preview of college players who are eligible for the 2027 East-West Shrine Bowl and the 2027 NFL Draft. It provides a valuable glimpse into the scouting process and highlights emerging talent for professional scouts and fans alike.
Lucas, a redshirt senior running back and return specialist, transferred to Tulane this season after playing at Florida State. Prior to that, he spent two years at Indiana, where he was a First-Team All-American and the Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year in 2022, returning 22 kicks for 591 yards and two touchdowns. In 2023, he recorded 22 returns for 572 yards and another touchdown before transferring. Over his college career, Lucas has totaled 55 kick returns for 1,420 yards and three touchdowns, along with 145 rushing attempts for 719 yards and four touchdowns. He has also caught 64 passes for 456 yards and two scores. Lucas has been recognized as a Third-Team Preseason All-American by Phil Steele and earned a First-Team All-Conference preseason spot from Athlon.
Rodgers, a senior linebacker, started all 14 games last season. He finished second on the team with 80 tackles, adding seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. Rodgers has been named a First-Team Preseason All-American by Phil Steele and a Second-Team Preseason All-Conference selection by Athlon.
The East-West Shrine Bowl will be held at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on February 4, 2027. Players will be coached by NFL coaches within an NFL facility, gaining access to NFL-level resources, facilities, and exposure. The game will be nationally televised on the NFL Network, with proceeds benefitting Shriners Children's Hospitals.
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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 specialist – 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 -
The selected players are running back Jaylin Lucas and linebacker Chris Rodgers.
Each year, approximately 1,000 all-star game-eligible players are drafted, signed after the draft, or invited to rookie mini-camps. The Shrine Bowl 1000 serves as a showcase for NFL scouts, offering a preview of college players who are eligible for the 2027 East-West Shrine Bowl and the 2027 NFL Draft. It provides a valuable glimpse into the scouting process and highlights emerging talent for professional scouts and fans alike.
Lucas, a redshirt senior running back and return specialist, transferred to Tulane this season after playing at Florida State. Prior to that, he spent two years at Indiana, where he was a First-Team All-American and the Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year in 2022, returning 22 kicks for 591 yards and two touchdowns. In 2023, he recorded 22 returns for 572 yards and another touchdown before transferring. Over his college career, Lucas has totaled 55 kick returns for 1,420 yards and three touchdowns, along with 145 rushing attempts for 719 yards and four touchdowns. He has also caught 64 passes for 456 yards and two scores. Lucas has been recognized as a Third-Team Preseason All-American by Phil Steele and earned a First-Team All-Conference preseason spot from Athlon.
Rodgers, a senior linebacker, started all 14 games last season. He finished second on the team with 80 tackles, adding seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. Rodgers has been named a First-Team Preseason All-American by Phil Steele and a Second-Team Preseason All-Conference selection by Athlon.
The East-West Shrine Bowl will be held at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on February 4, 2027. Players will be coached by NFL coaches within an NFL facility, gaining access to NFL-level resources, facilities, and exposure. The game will be nationally televised on the NFL Network, with proceeds benefitting Shriners Children's Hospitals.
____________________________________________________________________________________
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 specialist – 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 -
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