Troy University Athletics
Trojans Picked To Repeat By League Coaches
7/23/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football
NEW ORLEANS, La. ? The defending Sun Belt Conference football champion Troy University Trojans have been picked by the league's eight head football coaches to repeat as league champions in 2007.
The 2007 preseason poll as well as the preseason All-Sun Belt Team was announced today at the league's annual football media day in New Orleans.
The Trojans received five of the eight first-place votes from league coaches to easily outdistance second pick Middle Tennessee by 15 total points in the poll. Singe first place votes went to Arkansas State, which was picked third, Louisiana-Monroe (tied for fourth) and Florida Atlantic (sixth).
“Winning the Sun Belt title in 2006 put a bull's eye squarely on our players back this fall, and being selected as the preseason favorites to win the league will only serve to intensify that,” Trojans head coach Larry Blakeney said. “It is an honor that the coaches in this league believe we are the team to beat and that should serve as extra motivation for our team this fall.”
In addition to being named the preseason favorite to win the league, Troy senior quarterback Omar Haugabook was selected as the preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Haugabook was the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2006 and was the MVP of the Trojans' 41-17 victory over Rice in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
Haugabook was joined by teammates Gary Banks and Leodis McKelvin on the preseason All-Sun Belt team. Banks, a senior receiver, was a first team All-Conference pick last year while McKelvin, a senior corner back and kick returner, was a second team pick at both positions in 2006.
Despite being the preseason favorite to win the league, the three Trojans named to the preseason All-Conference team ranked in a three-way tie for fourth among league members. Middle Tennessee and ULM led the league with five All-Conference picks each while North Texas had four players named. Troy, Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette had three players picked while Florida Atlantic had two players named. Florida International did not have a player named to the preseason list.
The 2007 Trojans will report to campus for the start of fall practice on Tuesday, July 31. Picture day will be held on Wednesday, August 1, and practice will start on Thursday, August 2. Troy's football media day is scheduled for Saturday morning, August 11 at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium prior to the teams' first scrimmage of camp.
The Trojans will open the 2007 season on Saturday, Sept. 1, at defending Southeastern Conference Western Division champion Arkansas.
The complete 2007 preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team and preseason coaches poll are available below.
2007 Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
As voted on by the league's eight head coaches and selected media members.
Offense
| QB | Omar Haugabook (Troy) |
| RB | Tyrell Fenroy (Louisiana-Lafayette) |
| RB | Calvin Dawson (Louisiana-Monroe) |
| WR | LaGregory Sapp (Louisiana-Monroe) |
| WR | Gary Banks (Troy) |
| TE | Zeek Zacharie (Louisiana-Monroe) |
| OL | Matt Mandich (Arkansas State) |
| OL | Jesse Newman (Louisiana-Lafayette) |
| OL | Kyle Cunningham (Louisiana-Monroe) |
| OL | Adam Hill (Louisiana-Monroe) |
| OL | Franklin Dunbar (Middle Tennessee) |
Defense
| DL | Josh Pinnick (Florida Atlantic) |
| DL | Tavares Jones (Middle Tennessee) |
| DL | Erik Walden (Middle Tennessee) |
| DL | Jeremiah Chapman (North Texas) |
| LB | Koby McKinnon (Arkansas State) |
| LB | Cergile Sincere (Florida Atlantic) |
| LB | Maurice Holman (North Texas) |
| DB | Tyrell Johnson (Arkansas State) |
| DB | Damon Nickson (Middle Tennessee) |
| DB | Aaron Weathers (North Texas) |
| DB | Leodis McKelvin (Troy) |
Special Teams
| P | Truman Spencer (North Texas) |
| PK | Drew Edmiston (Louisiana-Lafayette) |
| RS | Damon Nickson (Middle Tennessee) |
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Omar Haugabook (Troy, QB)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Tyrell Johnson (Arkansas State, S)
2007 Preseason Sun Belt Poll
As voted on by the league's eight head coaches. First place votes in parentheses.
| Rank | School | Points |
| 1. | Troy (5) | 59 |
| 2. | Middle Tennessee | 44 |
| 3. | Arkansas State (1) | 43 |
| T4. | Louisiana-Lafayette | 37 |
| T4. | Louisiana-Monroe (1) | 37 |
| 6. | Florida Atlantic (1) | 36 |
| 7. | North Texas | 22 |
| 8. | Florida International | 10 |
