Who Has the Most to Prove This Season? Four Pelicans Entering Pivotal Years

LB 
Chan Lumpkin 6-4/220 Butler, GA 
Chandarin “Chan” Lumpkin is a versatile linebacker prospect from the Class of 2026, known for his athleticism and multi-positional capabilities. 
He played primarily as a middle linebacker (MLB) and wide receiver (WR) during his high school career, but projects best as an outside linebacker with coverage ability or could be a bandit at the collegiate level. 
Lumpkin signed with Tulane University on December 3, 2025, after committing on June 24, 2025, choosing the Green Wave over offers from programs like Memphis, East Carolina, Rice, South Florida, Appalachian State, and others. 
He hails from Taylor County High School in Butler, Georgia (with earlier time at Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Georgia), where he also competed in basketball.  
Scouting Report: 
Versatility and Position Flexibility: Excelled at both linebacker and wide receiver in high school, with potential to play strong safety in college due to his coverage skills. Described as a “do-it-all defensive player” who can line up anywhere in the secondary or at edge. 
Coverage Skills: Excels in open space, with the ability to cover receivers on the perimeter. Good feet, hips, and instincts allow him to drop into coverage effectively, break on the ball, and play tight man coverage. Has good hands for interceptions. 
Tackling and Physicality: A punishing hitter who “knows how to hit and can lay the boom.” Strong tackler who supports the run well, delivers big hits to ball carriers, and isn’t afraid to come up and lay a hit. Effective at setting the edge against the run as an edge prospect. 
Instincts and Football IQ: Smart player with excellent read-and-react ability. Good instincts help him diagnose plays quickly, cause turnovers (forced fumbles and interceptions), and make plays on the ball. Tracks the ball well in the air and has hops to high-point it. 
Athleticism: Plays fast and aggressive, with good speed for his size. Versatile enough to contribute in the run-stopping game and create chaos. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

Bandit 
Jordan McAllister - UNH 
Bandit Jordan McAllister fits Tulane as a 6’3”, 239-pound twitchy, high-motor EDGE rusher with elite FCS production as a TFL/sack/forced-fumble machine, explosive bend, and speed-to-power versatility who immediately slots into the open Bandit (rush end/hybrid EDGE) role in Tulane’s 3-3-5 tite defense while adding instant pressure and competition to a revamped front. 
He’s a redshirt junior transfer from New Hampshire (FCS/CAA) who committed on January 11, 2026, via the portal. A product of Seton Hall Prep in South Orange/West Orange, NJ, he has two years of eligibility remaining (#15). 
Athletic Profile and Scheme Fit: Tulane’s defense (under the current staff and new DC Taylor Polk) runs a 3-3-5 tite defense where the Bandit is the stand-up rush end/hybrid EDGE who creates havoc with speed off the edge, bend around tackles, and violent hands in the run game. McAllister is a natural plug-and-play fit. 
• Explosiveness and pass-rush traits: Twitchy first-step quickness, bend, and speed-to-power combo that produced consistent pressures and sacks at the FCS level, exactly the profile needed to replace departed Bandits like Harvey Dyson (transferred to NC State) and Mo Westmoreland (graduated). 
• Disruptiveness and motor: High-effort finisher who piles up TFLs, forced fumbles, and quarterback hits; already flashing in spring scrimmages with strip sacks and big plays as the Bandit. 
• Versatility and intangibles: Can play stand-up or hand-down; brings P4-level interest (chose Tulane over Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois) and proven production against quality competition. Tulane targeted FCS standouts like him to inject immediate edge juice into the trenches. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

Jaxon Pacheco- @JaxonPacheco  6-2/300 Brick, NJ Wingspan: 78” Hands: 10.5” GPA: 3.5 Verified athletic testing (UA Next Football NJ Combine): • Shuttle: 4.41 (100th percentile among DTs) • L-Drill: 7.28 (100th percentile among DTs) • 10-yard split: 1.82 (93rd percentile) • UC Score: 85% Pacheco is a powerful, high-motor interior disruptor with rare movement skills for a 300-pounder. He fires off the ball with urgency, uses heavy/violent hands, and shows the ability to win with both power and speed. • First-step & gap attack: Quick feet and suddenness into the A/B gap. He can long-arm and walk blockers backward or club/rip through the outside shoulder on outside rushes. • Bend & flexibility: Displays surprising ankle/knee flexibility and body control for his size, can dip and flatten to the quarterback or redirect laterally. • Motor & pursuit: Sideline-to-sideline effort is a hallmark. He chases plays down and rarely takes snaps off. • Hand usage & counters: Offseason work has expanded the toolbox. Still refining consistency of counters versus better competition, but the foundation is there. • Run defense: Holds the point well against single blocks and can two-gap or penetrate depending on scheme. Strong lower body and leverage. • Pass rush: Flashes of pocket collapse and pressure. Not yet a finished product as a pure pass rusher, but the testing and bend give a very high ceiling. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

C 
Gavin Marks- Mercer 
Gavin Marks fits Tulane as a 6’3”, 305-pound elite pass-protecting center with FCS Freshman All-American pedigree, zero sacks allowed as a true freshman starter, high football IQ/vocal leadership (calls protections), physical run-blocking toughness, and exceptional leverage/athleticism who immediately anchors a revamped interior offensive line needing reliability and competition. 
He’s a sophomore transfer from Mercer (FCS/Southern Conference) who committed on January 3, 2026, via the portal (entered December 10, 2025). A product of Rolesville HS in Wendell, NC (near Raleigh), he has three years of eligibility remaining (#60). 
Athletic Profile and Scheme Fit: Tulane’s offensive line (under head coach Will Hall and OL coach Cody Kennedy) prioritizes smart, physical interior players who excel in pass protection, sustain run blocks, and provide leadership in a pro-style/spread hybrid system (I know I’m repeating myself). 
Marks is a perfect scheme match as a Tulane center. 
• Pass-pro dominance and leverage: He uses his frame for superior leverage and quickness, self-described as “real athletic” with the ability to win with technique over raw size. Zero sacks allowed and just 8 pressures across 634 snaps (including strong pass-blocking reps) as a true freshman highlight his elite protection skills. 
• Run-game physicality and intangibles: Physical finisher who dominates at the point of attack; high football IQ as a vocal leader who calls protections. Anchored one of the most productive FCS offensive lines while protecting freshman QB Braeden Atkinson (Jerry Rice Award winner). 
• Developmental upside: Kennedy’s track record developing centers (two drafted in recent cycles) was a huge draw, Marks specifically noted the staff’s ability to elevate players to the next level. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

Nick Witherspoon 6-3/290 Tuscaloosa, AL 
Nicholas “Nick” Witherspoon is a versatile defensive lineman/offensive lineman from the Class of 2026, currently enrolled early as a freshman at Tulane University. 
Hailing from Central Tuscaloosa High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Witherspoon is a two-way trench player who excels in both run defense and pass rushing on the defensive side, while providing stout protection and drive blocking on offense. 
His recruitment highlighted his ability to dominate in Alabama’s competitive high school scene, earning him recognition as one of the top interior linemen in the state. 
Witherspoon committed to Tulane in July 2025 after a strong official visit, choosing the Green Wave over numerous Group of 5 offers. He enrolled early in January 2026, positioning him for potential early contributions in a program emphasizing physical, versatile linemen. Nicks camp performances, including an invitation to the Under Armour Next Camp in Nashville, underscore his athletic upside. 
Scouting Report: 
Versatility: Capable of playing multiple positions along the defensive and offensive lines, making him a valuable asset for depth and scheme flexibility. Highlights show him excelling as a 3-tech DT or guard, with quick get-off to disrupt plays in the backfield. 
Power and Leverage: Uses his low center of gravity and strong base to anchor against runs and generate push in bull rushes. Effective hand placement allows him to shed blocks and pursue ball carriers sideline-to-sideline. 
Motor and Physicality: Plays with high effort, finishing through the whistle. Video clips reveal consistent penetration, including multiple sacks and TFLs, demonstrating good bend and closing speed for his size. 
Upside: Raw athleticism suggests potential for growth in a college strength program; described as a “dominant prospect with a huge future” by evaluators. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

For more than 15 years, I had the privilege of telling sports stories as a writer. Before that, I experienced the game from a different perspective—as a college basketball player. Those experiences shaped how I see basketball. The game is more than a final score. It's about the decisions, the adjustments, the matchups, the strategy, and the moments that decide winning and losing. That's why I'm excited to launch a new chapter of Pelicans coverage focused on one simple idea: Understand the Pelicans. Don't just watch them. Starting this season, I'll be providing in-depth coverage of the New Orleans Pelicans through: * Weekly written analysis breaking down the team, players, strategy, and biggest storylines. * Film breakdowns explaining the X's and O's behind what happens on the court. * Weekly podcast conversations discussing the latest from the Pelicans and the NBA. My goal is simple: to give Pelicans fans thoughtful, fair, and knowledgeable coverage that helps you see the game in a different way. Just honest reporting, basketball insight, and a passion for the New Orleans Pelicans. Whether you've been following this team for 20 years or you're just getting started, I hope you'll join me as we take a deeper look at the team we all love. Understand the Pelicans. Don't just watch them.