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Offensive Players to Watch as Tulane Prepares to Face Duke
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- Offensive Players to Watch as Tulane Prepares to Face Duke
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Excitement is growing as the Tulane Green Wave inches closer and closer to opening its season against the Duke Blue Devils.
Though things will look quite different under first-year head coach Will Hall and his handful of impact transfer portal players, the program will be looking to keep with the momentum that it's had over the past several seasons. While it certainly won't be perfect, the 2026 campaign has the potential to be another great year in Uptown.
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One of the biggest questions heading into the year is this: what will the team's largely new offense look like? Last year, dual-threat signal-caller Jake Retzlaff was the driving force behind the unit. This offseason featured an intense quarterback battle that wasn't determined until the conclusion of fall camp.
Plenty of players have the chance to make an early mark on Saturday, but there are a few offensive players that could rise above the rest. Here's a look at who those difference-makers could be.
1. QB Zeon Chriss-Gremillion
This is the obvious choice for the team's offensive player to watch, and for good reason.
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Chris-Gremillion earned the starting nod after beating out Kadin Semonza in fall camp. He had a solid start to his collegiate career with the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns but struggled some during his 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Houston Cougars. While his ability on the ground is impressive and further bolsters Tulane's strong rushing attack, Chriss-Gremillion has struggled as a passer throughout his career.
Is this the redemption story the redshirt senior needs? He is the natural leader of the team, and it's time for him to play like one.
2. RB Maurice Turner
Turner's weekend could go one of two ways.
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On one hand, he could step in as the RB1, as it is still unclear if standout Jamauri McClure will be back from a minor injury suffered during fall camp. On the other hand, McClure could play, and Turner will potentially be looking to do more with fewer opportunities.
Regardless, there's little doubt that Turner is going to finally have his chance to shine. The Louisville Cardinals transfer was poised to have a big 2025 season before suffering an early injury and never getting back to full strength. The first game will be a major indication of what he's capable of throughout the year, regardless of how many snaps he might have to split.
3. WR Destyn Hill
When Hill joined the Green Wave from the LSU Tigers in the offseason, it generated a lot of buzz.
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It's no secret that Tulane's wide receivers room is going to be one of its weaker areas this year, but Hill really has a chance to be one of the difference-makers. He had a strong camp and quickly asserted himself as one of the strongest wideouts on the team.
Of course, a lot of his success from a statistics standpoint relies heavily on Chriss-Gremillion airing the ball out, so fans probably shouldn't expect him to put up monster numbers in the first week. Rather, his consistency, route-running and ability to make plays when he is the target will determine just how much of an impact he could have this year.
