2008 OUTLOOK: On paper, Tulane has a huge hole to fill with the loss of leading rusher Matt Forte' but things might not be as bad as they seem due to the return of eight offensive starters and seven defensive starters.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
The emergence of RB Andre' Anderson in the spring and the return of four starting offensive linemen give the Green Wave the opportunity for another productive running game. The key will be finding and developing the right quarterback and making progress in the passing game.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
With the decision to move senior David Skehan from strong safety to outside linebacker, the front seven returns six starters. But it was the up-and-coming players who made the biggest impact in the spring, with DT Tony Bryant and LBs David Kirskey and Travis Burks all pushing for starting jobs. Junior FS Chinonso Echebelem looks like a rising star.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior Ross Thevenot and sophomore Darren deRochemont both punted last season with poor results. Thevenot appears to be developing into a dependable kicker. WR Jeremy Williams looked like a natural returning kicks in the spring.

ROSTER REPORT

--Junior Anthony Scelfo shared the quarterback job with sophomore Kevin Moore through most of the 2007 season but didn't do himself any favors in the spring by making a full-time commitment to baseball.

--Tulane had high hopes for redshirt freshman RB Andre Agers but he missed most of the spring due to a suspension for violating a team rule and his return remains uncertain. With or without him, Tulane will be looking for help from incoming freshman Nathan Austin.

--Center was the only open spot on the line entering the spring and it still remains a quandary for the Green Wave. At this point, it seems more possible that Andrew Nierman, the returning starting right guard, would be the starter, backed up by Michael Parenton, the returning starter at left guard. Two other candidates to play center, sophomore Tyler Rice and redshirt freshman Joey Ray, saw significant practice time at guard in the spring.

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