The Saints begin training camp today and they’ve started off with some veteran additions. New Orleans native and former LSU guard Trai Turner signed to a one year deal. The 30 year old has spent nine years in the league the majority of which were with the panthers where he was a 5 time Pro Bowl selection. The Saints also welcomed back tight end Jimmy Graham on a one year deal. The Saints 2010 third round pick spent five seasons in New Orleans as one of the NFL’s best tight ends alongside Drew Brees before being traded to Seattle. Graham hasn’t played since 2021 when he was with the Chicago Bears.
After Tulane’s first ever American Athletic Conference Title and a Cotton Bowl victory over USC last season, the Green Wave have been chosen as the 2023 favorite in the preseason media poll. Tulane received 20 of the 34 possible first place votes. The Green Wave completed the greatest single season turnaround in college football history last year, improving from 2-10 in 2021 to 12-2. They’ll return 14 starters including quarterback Michael Pratt, who passed for over 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns and added 10 touchdowns on the ground a year ago. Tulane is followed by 2022 Conference-USA champs UTSA with 9 first place votes.
The Southland Conference held its media day yesterday. Northwestern state got off to a hot start last season, beginning 4-0 in conference games. After losing the final two games of the season, the Demons finished with the programs first winning season in conference play since 2010 and the irst time under sixth-year head coach Brad Laird. They finished a game behind co-champions Southeastern and Incarnate Word but Laird says the experience will help them this season…
Cut 19 (13) “…make it happen.”
The Demons were picked to finish fifth in this year’s preseason poll.
The Sun Belt, Conference USA and SWAC hold their media days today. The Cajuns are picked to finish third in the Sun Belt West, ULM is picked to finish seventh in the seven team division. Louisiana Tech is picked to finish fourth in the nine team league.