Troy University Athletics
2009 Troy Football Preview
6/30/2009 5:45:00 PM | Football
Beginning today and continuing each Tuesday and Thursday until Fall Camp opens August 2, TroyTrojans.com will release in-depth position-by-position scouting reports to help you, the fan, make it through the last month of Summer.
Trojans Enter 2009 With Big Expectations
The Troy University football program enters 2009 having won or shared three consecutive Sun Belt Conference titles, but these Trojans are not interested in dwelling on past glories.
The team has goals for 2009, and expectations are high for a program that has posted a 43-26 overall record, including a 26-8 mark in league play, since joining the Sun Belt in 2004. Larry Blakeney, one of the newest members of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, enters his 19th season in Troy with perhaps his deepest, and most talented, squad ever.
“Sometimes expectations, if you don't deal with them right, can cause problems because expectations aren't going to win games,” Blakeney said. “If you let expectations go to your head, they can be your worst enemy. We have to prevent that through hard work and discipline.”
But the expectations for this Troy team will be impossible to avoid. Trojan fans are salivating at the thought of a fourth consecutive Sun Belt title, but there is talk of bigger things possibly within reach. The club returns virtually all of its top skill position players on offense and a front seven on defense that may be the envy of any program in the nation.
| Preview Schedule |
|
| Introduction |
June 30 |
| Quarterbacks |
July 2 |
| Running backs |
July 7 |
| Tight Ends |
July 9 |
| Wide Receivers |
July 14 |
| Offensive Line |
July 16 |
| Defensive Line |
July 21 |
| Linebacker |
July 23 |
| Secondary |
July 28 |
| Special Teams |
July 30 |
Still, the goal is to represent the Sun Belt in New Orleans come December. To do that, the Trojans will have to navigate through an ever improving slate of conference foes.
“There are going to be some wars to get there,” Blakeney said. “I think our league has improved as much, top to bottom, as any league in the country. Hopefully, we will have all of our bullets and tanks and artillery ready to go.”
That weaponry will start on the offensive side with senior quarterback Levi Brown, who earned Sun Belt Conference newcomer of the year in 2008 despite starting just eight games. He threw for 2,030 yards and 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions while completing 61.7 percent of his attempts.
“The team has a lot of confidence in Levi because he came in and played well in some big games last year,” second year offensive coordinator Neal Brown said. “The big thing for Levi is he has to put his stamp on this offense. After Jamie (Hampton) got hurt last year, I don't think Levi ever felt like it was his team. This is his offense now and it is going to go as he goes.”
Helping Brown take ownership is the return of his top two weapons, junior running back DuJuan Harris and junior receiver Jerrel Jernigan. In fact, 16 of the 22 players who recorded at least one reception last year are back and, with the addition of a host of talented new pass catchers, the weapons at Brown's disposal are plentiful.
“I like what I see in those guys,” Blakeney said. “You start with some of the old me, but then there are the new guys who have a chance to be good.”
The only area of concern on offense is on the line of scrimmage where both tackles ? four-year starter Chris Jamison and two-year starter Dion Small ? both graduated. Compounding the loss of those two is the fact that two of the three returning starters had off-season surgery.
The only starter returning up front is junior Tyler Clark, a former walk-on who will be playing with a scholarship for the first time this fall. He has played in 25 games in his career, starting the last 18. He can play either guard spot or center, where he spent most of his time in the spring.
“Those two tackles were war-daddies and we have to find a way to fill that space,” Blakeney said. “I think we have a good contingent of guys up front, and across the board offensively, if we can shore up the tackle spots.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the front seven will lead the way as the Trojans work to rebuild a secondary that lost four veteran players. Fortunately, that front seven has a chance to be very, very special.
“If we can find us a corner or two and a safety or two, we have a chance to be pretty good on defense,” Blakeney said. “The experience level is with the front seven and I am excited about the linebackers we have because they are all good players.”
Five of the front seven are returning players and the other two, both interior defensive linemen, arrived at Troy with tremendous pedigrees. Six of the seven will be seniors this fall, meaning this is their last chance to leave a lasting impression at Troy.
But, behind that group, there is also experience at three of the four secondary spots, even though only one, senior corner Jorrick Calvin, spent the 2008 season as a starter. Seniors Courtland Fuller and Chris Bowens have spent the last three years playing behind the trio of Sherrod Martin, Tavares Williams and Terence Moore, but it is now their turn to shine.
“We've had a bunch of guys who were leaders back there, but it is time for some of these others to step up,” Blakeney said. “I like this group, and there may be some new guys who will step up.”
The Trojans also return all three of their kickers from 2008 as well as Calvin, who will be back in his role as the primary return man. The schedule for Troy in 2009 is as challenging as ever. The team will play consecutive road games to open the year, including a trip to “The Swamp” to play the defending national champion Florida Gators, in addition to a trip to face Arkansas. The only non-conference home game will be the home-opener against in-state foe UAB.
For up-to-the-minute information, check back to TroyTrojans.com. Season tickets are on sale now at the Troy University Athletics Ticket Office. For more information or to order season tickets, call 1-877-878-WINS.
