Troy University Athletics
09 Preview: Seniors Abound at Linebacker
7/23/2009 3:15:00 PM | Football
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.
Troy linebackers coach Benjy Parker may have the easiest coaching job in college football. Who could argue? The Trojans enter 2009 with six proven players to fill the three linebacker spots, including the return of the “Killer B's” seniors Boris Lee and Bear Woods.
The only real concern is that both Lee and Woods missed spring practice will recovering from off season surgery, but neither had anything to prove.
Lee has led Troy in tackles each of the last two seasons and, with another strong season, will finish his career as the third leading tackler in school history. Woods played in Lee's shadow before moving to the Will linebacker spot last year, where he shined despite a series of injuries that cost him three games.
“From watching him play the first two or three years, we thought he would always be behind Boris as a solid number two,” Rowell said. “When we moved him to Will last spring, the light just came on. It was not that he was doing anything wrong before, it was just that everything clicked. He became a totally different player.”
Woods finished the year second to Lee in total tackles with 108 and the duo combined to make 234 stops on the season.
“Boris and Bear are both coming off injuries, but they are both going to be good. Bear has played a lot of snaps and Boris has played a ton of snaps. You would have to say that they are the captains out there. We are really excited about the guys backing them up as well.”
With Woods having to sit out the first two games this year because he played a few snaps in one game as a freshman, it is good that the Trojans have experienced players ready to step in.
Last year when Woods and Lee both missed games, their backups both played well. Now redshirt sophomores, Donnell Golden and Xavier Lamb are talented to enough to be starters on many teams, giving Troy a luxury others don't enjoy.
“Xavier Lamb is such a solid player, he is similar to Boris,” Rowell said. “He doesn't have the same height and weight, but he is a good football player and he understands the defense. He can get everyone lined up and takes control. He is a great guy to have out there.
“Donnell Golden gets better every day. He is a former running back who has been learning how to play the position, but he is maxed out every time he goes out there and will drill anything that gets in his way. Just learning to play linebacker is a progress for him. To have those two behind the first two, you don't feel bad at all.”
But the talent at the Mike and Will spots doesn't end there. Johnny Thompson and Jacoby Thomas were both redshirted last year as freshmen, and the coaching staff expects big things from both of them.
The third linebacker position for Troy, the Sam, has been somewhat of a hybrid for the Trojans over the last couple of year. With five strong defensive backs, the position morphed into more of a nickle back spot with first Sherrod Martin and then, last year, Terence Moore, manning the spot.
Both have gone on to the NFL now, leaving the position in the hands of three players who are as different as can be.
Senior David McDowell sat out the 2008 campaign after playing in 10 games at linebacker as a junior in 2007, starting three. Junior Daniel Sheffield saw action in all 13 games last year as a backup safety and special teams player. Redshirt freshman Kanorris Davis also sat out last year, primarily to focus on academics, and is an imposing physical specimen.
“We have tied those two positions back together,” Rowell said. “It is a linebacker and hybrid safety, it just depends on what we need. We could play with David McDowell every snap and be fine or we could play with Daniel Sheffield and be fine. I think the redshirt year was really good for David because he grew up a little bit and got better.
“Kannoris Davis is another guy who is wide open. He is a spectacular kid who works his butt off. He is going to be a lot like the other guys in that he has to learn to play linebacker for us, which takes some time. But as far as skill set, he can run, will light your butt up and understands how to get to the football and will hurt whoever has it. Just getting him out there will be huge.”
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.
