Competition could add up to a record-breaking season.
Tulane coach Willie Fritz has a tried and true example of just how far the Green Wave’s offensive line has come since he arrived in 2016.
In the final game of his first season at Tulane, the Wave took just six healthy offensive linemen to the season finale at UConn.
What a difference a couple of years make.
“The start of camp this year compared to three years ago, it’s unbelievable how much better we look as an offensive line,” said redshirt senior John Leglue, who has started 25 games. “We’ve got a lot of depth. We’ve got some people on the second team right now who have started a few games for us, so if somebody goes down, we’ve got people who will step up. We’re definitely a tighter knit group than in years past.”
Tulane averaged 231.5 rushing yards per game last season, the second-most in school history. Now, instead of looking to find healthy bodies — Tulane has more than a dozen linemen on the roster — they’re looking to build on that last year’s total, thanks to solid recruiting and some graduate transfers.
“The line has been doing a good job in pass protection and the run game,” Tulane senior quarterback Jonathan Banks said. “Our backs have been able to pick out some holes, and they’ve given me good time in the pocket to make my throws. They’re doing a great job. We’re just ready to get it going.”
Part of Banks confidence in his line has come from the relatively smooth transition of sophomore Corey Dublin from left guard where he started all 12 games as a true freshman to center this season to replace Junior Diaz, who transferred to Florida Atlantic this spring.
“You’re always concerned when you move a guy over to center about the snapping part, but he’s done a great, great job with that,” Fritz said, about Dublin. “Leglue has started at every position for us. He started at center a couple of years ago, tackle last year and now he’s playing guard. He’s a smart kid. He’s picking it up quickly.”
Leglue (6-7,310) has spent this fall at right guard after starting 11 games at right tackle last season, but he’s embraced the change, as has Dublin, a 6-4,300-pound Jesuit product, who said the move to center is a welcomed challenge.
“I feel really comfortable at center,” Dublin said. “I think I’m ready for the season. I’ve got my snaps down, and I’m getting better at reading the defense. We’ve been really stressing giving (Banks) a good pocket. We want him to have time so he can sit in there and feel comfortable and doesn’t have to scramble.”
The offensive line has also been bolstered by some experienced additions over the past two seasons. Senior Dominique Briggs (6-3,295) started 12 games last season including the final 11 at right guard after transferring from Coffeyville Community College. His experience and grit, as teammate Roderic Teamer described it, have rubbed off on the rest of the team.
Briggs will likely start at left guard this season to make room for South Alabama graduate transfer Noah Fisher (6-5,325) at tackle. Fisher, who earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors last season, impressed early in camp but missed more than a week with a leg injury. He returned to practice on Friday.
Add in redshirt junior Keyshawn McLeod (6-4,305) at the other tackle position, and Tulane has extensive experience on the line.
But it’s more than just the starters who have experience, Tyler Johnson (6-3,280) started eight games last season while Hunter Knighton (6-5,300) has logged some time. Redshirt freshman Joey Claybrook (6-6,290) has caught Fritz’s eye while filling in for Fisher.
Leglue said the key to the offensive line’s success is that the coaches teach the entire scheme to allow players to move freely from position to position if needed.
“I know right now during practice that everybody has a better understanding of what it is going to take to reach the next level,” he said. “We’ve been harping on consistency and out-efforting teams. We’ve got to be the smartest out there, and then out-effort everybody that we play.”
Dublin said he can see the difference on the offensive line and in the entire locker room.
“We have high energy in the locker room,” Dublin said. “You can see what everybody sees that this is the year, so everybody has the high energy and the high intensity. We trained a lot harder in the summer to prepare to have a great season. We feel like we’re heading in the right direction, so we just keep stress finishing and avoiding mistakes.”
