The Biggest Western Conference Threats Heading Into the 2026-27 Season

Dylan Basher 6-2/215 Dripping Springs, TX 
Tackling and Run Defense: Brasher’s tackle totals demonstrate excellent pursuit and gap-filling ability. He’s aggressive at the point of attack, with good instincts to diagnose plays quickly and shed blocks. 
Productivity in High-Volume Role: Leading a competitive Texas district in tackles speaks to his durability and consistency. His TFL numbers indicate disruptive potential behind the line of scrimmage. 
Versatility: He can drop into zones and handle underneath routes, making him a potential three-down linebacker. 
Upside: At 215 lbs with a 6-2 frame, he has the tools to develop into a starter at the Group of Five level, especially with college coaching and strength training. Room to grow with his frame possible 230-240. 
Stats: 125 tackles, 16 TFLs, 5 hurries, and 4 PBUs 
Total Offers: 8 (per 247Sports) 
Notable Offers: Oklahoma State, UTSA, North Texas, Tulane, Columbia, and others. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

DT 
Ed Smith- USA 
 (6’3”, 296 lbs, redshirt senior defensive tackle from Tuscaloosa, AL) is an excellent fit for Tulane’s 2026 football team as a transfer from South Alabama. 
He committed on January 11, 2026, and has already shown up in spring practices. Tulane added him specifically to bolster the interior defensive line after losing several key contributors to the portal (including high-production players like Santana Hopper). 
Here’s why he meshes so well with the Green Wave program under head coach Will Hall: 
• Perfect scheme fit in the 3-man front: Tulane’s defense (coordinated by Taylor Polk and Nate Fuqua) is built around a base three-man front that can shift to four-man looks in obvious passing situations. Smith primarily lined up at nose tackle or shaded over the guard at South Alabama. He’s a classic gap-occupier with the leverage, strength (from an OL background), and motor to eat up blocks, hold the point of attack, and create opportunities for linebackers and edge rushers. This is exactly what Tulane needs in the interior. 
• Immediate veteran production and experience: As a redshirt senior with nearly 900 career snaps and 12 starts in 2025 alone, he brings instant depth and leadership to a room that had roster turnover. In 2025 he posted 33 tackles (including 3.5 TFL), plus career totals of 8.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, and 19 quarterback pressures. He’s a proven run-stuffer who also flashes pass-rush upside, exactly the kind of reliable interior piece Tulane targeted in the portal. 
• Familiarity with Tulane: He recorded multiple tackles (including TFLs) against the Green Wave in their September 2025 matchup. He already knows what it takes to compete in this conference and against these opponents. 
• Regional ties and culture fit: From Tuscaloosa, AL (and previously at South Alabama in Mobile), he’s only a few hours from New Orleans. He’s a Saints fan and brings that SEC-area toughness and work ethic that translates well in the AAC. Scouts highlight his high motor, durability, and short-yardage reliability, traits that fit Tulane’s blue-collar defensive identity. 
• Already flashed in spring ball: He’s been disruptive early, including recording a sack in Tulane’s second spring scrimmage and in the Spring Game with 3 pressures. That shows he’s picking up the scheme quickly and ready to contribute right away. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

LB Zach Dresch 6-3/222 Cheshire, CT Dresch is a versatile two-way player who brings a blue-collar work ethic and athletic upside to the linebacker position. His decision to reclassify and transfer to Cheshire Academy for a post-grad year allowed him to face elevated competition in the NEPSAC, boosting his recruiting profile and leading to his commitment to Tulane in the American Athletic Conference. Dresch emerged as a mid-level three-star prospect after a strong senior campaign. His recruitment was relatively under-the-radar, but his film and production drew interest from Group of Five programs. Measurables Dresch possesses a college-ready frame with room to add mass without losing agility. He has long arms and good lower-body power, allowing him to explode through gaps and pursue plays sideline-to-sideline. His size and speed make him suitable for inside linebacker duties, with the versatility to align at outside linebacker or contribute on special teams. Scouting Report: Instincts and Play Diagnosis: Exceptional ability to read plays quickly, anticipate gaps, and flow to the ball. Tackling and Run Defense: A sure tackler who wraps up securely and drives through contact. He fights off blocks effectively, using strong hands and low pad level to disengage. Athleticism and Speed: Combines size with quick feet and burst, allowing him to make downfield plays and pursue from the edge to the boundary. Good change-of-direction ability for his frame. Versatility: Experience at tight end adds value; he has soft hands and can block in-line. On defense, he’s consistent in making plays and generating turnovers. Motor and Toughness: High-effort player who plays through the whistle. His 115 tackles in 2025 demonstrate his nose for the ball and durability. Intangibles: High-character athlete with leadership qualities, as evidenced by his transfer to challenge himself against better competition. Follow me on X for even more Green Wave content.

Edge 
Reshad Sterling - Houston 
Reshad Sterling fits Tulane as a 6’3”, 250-pound high-motor EDGE/DL with four-star pedigree, explosive point-of-attack violence, speed-to-power burst, heavy hands, dip-and-rip pass-rush nuance, and two-way versatility who immediately adds depth, competition (potential starter), and physicality to a revamped defensive line/EDGE room in their scheme. 
He’s a redshirt freshman transfer from Houston (Big 12) who committed in January 2026, via the portal (entered early January). A four-star recruit (No. 11 player in Louisiana, top-50 nationally at EDGE) out of Lutcher HS (Lutcher, LA), he has four years of eligibility remaining (#51). 
Athletic Profile and Scheme Fit: Tulane’s defense relies on active, violent EDGE rushers who can win with first-step quickness, heavy hands, redirection in pursuit, and a mix of power and bend off the edge, whether as a hand-down DE in 4-man fronts or hybrid roles. Sterling is a natural scheme fit as a classic four-man end or bandit. 
• Pass-rush and disruptiveness: Highly active with point-of-attack violence, speed-to-power ability, heavy hands, inside counter, and dip-and-rip arc-running athleticism. Flashes sudden redirect and effort plays that combine with athleticism and technical awareness. 
• Physicality and versatility: Two-way HS experience (DL + offensive tackle) shows toughness and football IQ; ideal for sustaining blocks in the run game while creating pressures. Coach Hall has raved about his intangibles and quick integration. 
• Traits alignment: Self-described “beast” on the field with Micah Parsons-like traits (his sports hero); brings P4-caliber tools that were underutilized in limited Houston snaps. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

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