With the latest signing class in the fold, Tulane will have better depth in the fall as it pursues its first bowl bid since 2002 and coach Curtis Johnson tries to turn around the fortunes of a long-struggling team. Here is a quick analysis of the defense, which lost four starters but returns plenty of key players.

Figuring out where the freshmen will line up is guesswork. Tulane's official bios have about half of them at different spots than they were listed by Rivals.com. For that matter, the defense as a whole is much harder to figure out than the offense. The coaches have some huge decisions to make.

DEFENSIVE END

Royce LaFrance (So)
Aaron Bryant (So)
Andre Robinson (Jr)
Wendell Beckwith (Sr)
Ade Aruna (Fr)
Luke Jackson (Fr)
Quinlan Carroll (Fr)
Eric Bell (Fr)
Eldrick Washington (Fr)

Lost: Austen Jacks

Analysis: This is a perilously thin position. The projected starters are a converted linebacker (LaFrance) who never lined up with his hand down in high school and a guy who chose to play tight end (Bryant) instead of DE in Bob Toledo's last year. They combined for 38 tackles and two sacks last season. Robinson, a top backup, also is a converted linebacker, and Beckwith played sparingly. Even two of the incoming freshmen (Jackson and Carroll) were projected linebackers by Rivals.com. Tulane lists two more (Eldrick Washington and Eric Bell) as tackles, but I'm keeping them where Rivals.com projected them because of the numbers situation. When co-defensive coordinator Jon Sumrall said on signing day that Aruna would learn through playing this year, he wasn't blowing smoke. He will be Tulane's tallest, fastest end from day 1, and depth is nonexistent. Can Julius Warmsley move back outside?

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Julius Warmsley (Sr)
Kenny Welcome (Jr)
Corey Redwine (So)
Chris Davenport (Sr)
Calvin Thomas (So)
Devin Williams (Sr)
Taylor Perry (Jr)
Tanzel Smart (Fr)



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