Football Has 10 Athlon Sports 2026 Preseason American All-Conference Selections
Jul 6, 2026 | Football
NEW ORLEANS – The Tulane football team had 10 selections to Athlon Sports 2026 Preseason American All-Conference Team, the national magazine recently announced.
Jamauri McClure, Jack Tchienchou, and Jaylin Lucas were all Athlon First Team selections.
McClure, a redshirt sophomore running back, ranked second on the team in rushing last season with 540 yards despite only starting three contests. He averaged an impressive 6.5 yards per carry and had a pair of rushing scores. His 540 yards placed him 20th in the conference. He ran for a career-high 122 yards against Temple (11/22).
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. He also was a First Team Preseason selection to Phil Steele.
Lucas, a redshirt senior running back and return specialist, 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. He also was a Third Team Preseason selection to Phil Steele.
Anthony Brown-Stephens, Chris Rodgers, and Dickson Agu were Athlon Second Team selections.
Brown-Stephens, a redshirt senior wide receiver, played in all 14 games last season with eight starts at Tulane. He ranked second on the team in catches (41) and receiving yardage (523). He registered at least one catch in each of the last 13 games of the season including career-highs of nine catches for 98 yards against Charlotte (11/29).
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. He also was a First Team Preseason selection to Phil Steele.
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. He also was a Third Team Preseason selection by Phil Steele.
Reese Baker, Ed Smith IV, and E'zaiah Shine were Athlon Third Team selections.
Baker, a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman, started all 14 games for Tulane on the offensive line 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+. He also was a Fourth Team Preseason selection by Phil Steele.
Smith IV, a redshirt senior defensive lineman, is in his first year at Tulane after transferring from South Alabama. As a member of the Jaguars last season, he started all 12 games and finished the season with 33 tackles including 3.5 stops for loss. He totaled a career-high nine tackles against Louisiana (11/1). Smith ended his career at South Alabama with 72 tackles in 33 games including 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
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. He also was a Fourth Team Preseason selection by Phil Steele.
Derrick Shepard, Jr. was an Athlon Fourth Team selection.
Shepard, a redshirt senior defensive lineman, played in 14 games with two starts last season at Tulane. He totaled six tackles including a stop for loss in 2025.
Athlon Sports 2026 Preseason American All-Conference Team (Tulane)
First Team (3)
Pos. Player
RB Jamauri McClure
DB Jack Tchienchou
KR Jaylin Lucas
Second Team (3)
Pos. Player
WR Anthony Brown-Stephens
LB Chris Rodgers
LB Dickson Agu
Third Team (3)
Pos. Player
OL Reese Baker
DL Ed Smith IV
DB E'zaiah Shine
Fourth Team (1)
Pos. Player
DL Derrick Shepard, Jr.
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 -
Jamauri McClure, Jack Tchienchou, and Jaylin Lucas were all Athlon First Team selections.
McClure, a redshirt sophomore running back, ranked second on the team in rushing last season with 540 yards despite only starting three contests. He averaged an impressive 6.5 yards per carry and had a pair of rushing scores. His 540 yards placed him 20th in the conference. He ran for a career-high 122 yards against Temple (11/22).
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. He also was a First Team Preseason selection to Phil Steele.
Lucas, a redshirt senior running back and return specialist, 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. He also was a Third Team Preseason selection to Phil Steele.
Anthony Brown-Stephens, Chris Rodgers, and Dickson Agu were Athlon Second Team selections.
Brown-Stephens, a redshirt senior wide receiver, played in all 14 games last season with eight starts at Tulane. He ranked second on the team in catches (41) and receiving yardage (523). He registered at least one catch in each of the last 13 games of the season including career-highs of nine catches for 98 yards against Charlotte (11/29).
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. He also was a First Team Preseason selection to Phil Steele.
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. He also was a Third Team Preseason selection by Phil Steele.
Reese Baker, Ed Smith IV, and E'zaiah Shine were Athlon Third Team selections.
Baker, a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman, started all 14 games for Tulane on the offensive line 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+. He also was a Fourth Team Preseason selection by Phil Steele.
Smith IV, a redshirt senior defensive lineman, is in his first year at Tulane after transferring from South Alabama. As a member of the Jaguars last season, he started all 12 games and finished the season with 33 tackles including 3.5 stops for loss. He totaled a career-high nine tackles against Louisiana (11/1). Smith ended his career at South Alabama with 72 tackles in 33 games including 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
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. He also was a Fourth Team Preseason selection by Phil Steele.
Derrick Shepard, Jr. was an Athlon Fourth Team selection.
Shepard, a redshirt senior defensive lineman, played in 14 games with two starts last season at Tulane. He totaled six tackles including a stop for loss in 2025.
Athlon Sports 2026 Preseason American All-Conference Team (Tulane)
First Team (3)
Pos. Player
RB Jamauri McClure
DB Jack Tchienchou
KR Jaylin Lucas
Second Team (3)
Pos. Player
WR Anthony Brown-Stephens
LB Chris Rodgers
LB Dickson Agu
Third Team (3)
Pos. Player
OL Reese Baker
DL Ed Smith IV
DB E'zaiah Shine
Fourth Team (1)
Pos. Player
DL Derrick Shepard, Jr.
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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