Tulane starting quarterback Michael Pratt and center Sincere Haynesworth will return to the Green Wave in 2023, they announced Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Pratt threw for a career-best 2,775 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior this season, along with 10 rushing touchdowns.
- He helped lead Tulane to an 11-2 finish and its first-ever AAC title just one year after going 2-10.
- The decision comes after coach Willie Fritz announced last month that he would return for a seventh season in 2023.
News: Tulane QB Michael Pratt and center Sincere Haynesworth both announce they're coming back to Tulane in 2023.
Huge news for the Green Wave. Teams had their eyes on Pratt especially as a potential transfer QB. Tulane is rolling right now. https://t.co/SJtKzY6FPr
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 21, 2022
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What does this mean for Tulane?
The Cotton Bowl against USC will be Tulane’s first major bowl game since the 1939 season, and the Green Wave are rolling right now. Fritz stayed after overtures from Georgia Tech, the program has a lot of momentum in high school and transfer recruiting, and now the star quarterback will return.
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It’s also not a coincidence that Pratt’s announcement was made with the Fear The Wave Collective Group, which has proven to be one of the strongest Group of 5 collectives. With the American Athletic Conference reshaping next year and an expanded College Football Playoff coming in 2024, Tulane is setting itself up well for the future. — Vannini
What does this mean for the QB market?
Several Power 5 teams had their eyes on Pratt as a potential transfer quarterback. Tulane plays in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2, so any move into the transfer portal likely wouldn’t have come until after that, but now Pratt is staying put and won’t go in the portal, essentially taking a big name off the market.
Quarterback is the most important (and lucrative) position in the transfer portal, and several have already selected their new homes. NC State transfer Devin Leary chose Kentucky on Tuesday. Other notable QBs in the portal include Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall, Texas transfer Hudson Card, Clemson transfer DJ Uiagalelei and Virginia transfer Brennan Armstrong. — Vannini
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(Photo: Stephen Lew / USA Today)
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