Ole Miss Week 2 Opponent Preview: Tulane Green Wave Offensive Players to Watch

Our 2023 college football preview continues this week with the Rebels' week two matchup.

OXFORD, Miss. -- After dismantling the Mercer Bears 73-7 in Week 1, the No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels are set to hit the road in Week 2 to take on the No. 24 Tulane Greenwave.

Tulane is Ole Miss' first test of the season, as the Green Wave finished their 2022 campaign as one of the best Group of Five schools in the country with an overall record of 12-2. In Week 1, Tulane took down the South Alabama Jaguars 37-17.

After defeating the USC Trojans 46-45 in the 2023 Cotton Bowl Classic to cap off their historic 2022-23 campaign, the Green Wave will not be a team to be taken lightly this fall. Tulane is led by junior quarterback Michael Pratt, who recorded 3,009 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and five interceptions last season.

The Green Wave did, however, lose star running back Tyjae Spears and a handful of veteran defenders to the 2023 NFL Draft. Spear was the No. 1 option in Tulane's rushing attack last fall and led the team with 1,581 rushing yards. Running backs Makhi Hughes and Shedro Louis led the Tulane running back room in Week 1. 

The last time these two programs met in 2021, Ole Miss won by a decisive score of 61-21 in front of a home crowd. The 67th meeting between these two programs is not shaping up to be a blowout.

Ole Miss and Tulane will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday in Yulman Stadium. Here is an overview of the players on Tulane's offense you should keep an eye on when the Rebels travel to New Orleans.

Offensive Players to Watch

Passing: Michael Pratt (Junior)

Week 1 stats: 14-15, 294 passing yards, four touchdowns, 93.3 completion percentage, 346.0 QBR

Michael Pratt returns as Tulane's starting quarterback after appearing in all 13 games last season. In Week 1 versus South Alabama, Pratt was one incompletion away from throwing a perfect completion percentage. Pratt should keep Ole Miss' new-look defense on its toes.

Rushing: Makhi Hughes (Freshman)

Week 1 stats: eight carries, 41 rushing yards, zero rushing touchdowns, averaged 5.1 yards per carry

Running back Makhi Hughes led Tulane on the ground in his first collegiate game but was closely followed by Pratt, who ran for 39 yards on 11 carries. 

Receiving: Jha'Quan Jackson (Senior)

Week 1 stats: three receptions, 106 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns, averaged 35.3 yards per reception

Jackson entered the 2023 season as Tulane's No. 1 receiver after finishing third on the team in receiving yards (554) last year and looked the part last Saturday. After dropping a pass, Jackson bounced back by recording 106 yards and two touchdowns on just three catches.

The senior is one of the most versatile players on Tulane's offense, as the 5-foot-10, 185-pound wideout recorded 835 all-purpose yards in 2022. In 2021, Jackson finished the regular season with 1,003 all-purpose yards. The Luling, La., native will also be a player to watch on special teams.