SMU
J.J. McDermott/ Quarterback
This season alone McDermott threw for 2193 yards and 10 touchdowns. Against Southern Miss and Tulsa, McDermott threw six interceptions and no touchdowns while completing no more than half of his passes in both games. SMU’s offense success starts with McDermott making good decisions and not forcing throws. If the Mustangs are going to get a win against Tulane, McDermott is going to have to be more careful with the ball.
Zach Line/ Running Back
Line currently leads C-USA in rushing yards with 946 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. Line rushed for over 100 yards in six games and had a career best and set a new school record when he scored five touchdowns against Northwestern State. Line has scored the only touchdown for the Mustangs in the last two games. Line is vital to the Mustangs to help break their two game losing streak.
Cole Beasley/ Wide Receiver
Beasley leads the team with 62 receptions for 685 yards. Cole has been fighting a knee injury all season long that forced him to miss the game against TCU. The injury has not affected his ability to run precise routes and turn dump down passes into explosive gains with his quickness and ability to make defenders miss. Cole’s best game of the season came in a victory over UCF when he caught ten passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.
Tulane
Ryan Griffin/ Quarterback
Griffin has thrown for 1886 yards, ten touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. In his career at Tulane he has thrown for 5639 yards and 33 touchdowns. He has had flashes of greatness when he threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns against University of Alabama at Birmingham, but struggled in Tulane’s last three games he has thrown four interceptions and one touchdown.
Orleans Darkwa/ Running Back
This season Darkwa has rushed for 606 yards and nine touchdowns. Darkwa’s best game of the season came against Army when he rushed for 138 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown that was set up by a career long 67 yard rush. His performances have been mixed throughout the season just like the Tulane offense. In Tulane’s loss against Duke Darkwa only gained ten yards on nine carries.
Wilson Van Hooser/ Wide Receiver
Van Hooser caught 22 passes this season for a team high 317 yards and three touchdowns. The Sophomore wide receiver from Montgomery Alabama is Tulane’s deep threat, he caught a season long 55 yards pass in a victory against Southeastern Louisiana for a touchdown. His best game of the season was against Memphis when he caught six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.
