Feb. 5, 2003

NEW ORLEANS, La. -

Coming off an 8-5 season which included a win in the ConAgra Foods Hawai'i Bowl, the Tulane Green Wave signed 21 football players to National Letters of Intent Wednesday, Head Coach Chris Scelfo announced.

2003 Tulane Football Signees

Chirs Scelfo Quotes from the Signing Day Press Conference

The 2003 signing class includes 11 players from the state of Louisiana and 12 players on the defensive side of the ball as the Green Wave loses eight starters on defense for next year. Tulane signed six defensive linemen, three cornerbacks and three linebackers. The Wave's offensive signees include a trio of wide receivers, two offensive linemen and two running backs. The Green Wave also inked kicker Barrett Pepper from Bastrop, La. to replace Lou Groza Award winner and All-American Seth Marler.

"We're excited about all of them," Scelfo said. "Time will tell how well they pan out, and some will be successful earlier than others. But I feel all of them have a chance to be successful both on the field and in the classroom at Tulane."

The first two NLI's off the fax machine at the Tulane offices Wednesday morning came from Camden, N.J. where teammates Elijah Robinson, a 6-3, 260-pound defensive end, and Preston Brown, a 6-4, 210-pound wide receiver, excelled for Woodrow Wilson High School. The Wave also signed a trio of players from Georgia, including cornerback Israel Route, a high school teammate of 2002 Tulane signees Anthony Cannon, a Freshman All-American last season, and Sean Lucas. A pair of Floridians and a pair of Texans also selected the Green Wave, while two members of the signing class -- California quarterback Richard Irvin and Mansfield, La. defensive lineman C.J. Davis - enrolled at the school in January and will participate in 2003 spring drills beginning Thursday.

"Obviously we lost a lot of defensive players (off the 2002 team) and there is a generation gap there that will require some of these players to step in and contribute right away," Scelfo said. "Offensively, we don't need as much immediate help. Overall, it is a good class and I'm looking forward to getting them here and seeing how they develop over the next two to three years."

Tulane's Louisiana signees include several from the New Orleans metro area. Alvin Johnson, a defensive end from West Jefferson High, Carlis Jackson, a cornerback from Salmen High School in Slidell, Higgins linebacker Craig Morris and Destrehan's Fred Smith, a wide receiver and return specialist, were the local products to sign with the Green Wave Wednesday.

Tulane opens 2003 spring drills Thursday, Feb. 6th at the Westfeldt Practice Facility. Workouts continue through Feb. 28th.

PDF of Official Tulane Release