Troy University Athletics
Troy Football Notebook: Our Time, New Faces & Quarterback Battle Highlight Start of Spring Practice
2/26/2021 1:16:00 PM | Football
TROY, Ala. – When the Trojans take to the practice fields behind Trojan Arena on Monday morning for their first spring practice, between the lines it will look almost the same as it did the last time Troy took the field in December, but for the guys wearing ball caps and carrying whistles, it will be a new look with four new coaches roaming the sidelines.
"It's exciting to have all but one of our starters back from last season, but a lot of teams around the country are in a similar boat," Troy head coach Chip Lindsey said. "Only losing one starter says a lot about our culture here and what our players believe this team can be."
Khalil McClain was the lone Trojan scholarship senior from last year's squad to not take advantage of the NCAA's free year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of that, Troy returns a combined 246 starts on the offensive side of the football and 212 combined starts defensively.
"We've got more competition all around than we have at any time in my three years here," Lindsey said. "Competition makes you better and as we have continued to bring great players into our program, it has created a sense of urgency which is only going to help our team."
Three for Me
Troy will practice three times next week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday – before taking the following week off for spring break. The Trojans will use those first three days to fulfil the NCAA's requirement for helmet only practices in addition to knocking off the winter rust and working through the install packages.
"We will go through our base install in all three phases and get the guys accustomed to any of the new wrinkles that we have put together over the winter," Lindsey said. "It will be a good opportunity to see the guys moving around and doing some football related things within the scope of a practice setting."
Following spring break, the Trojans will practice Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday beginning March 16 leading up to T-Day on April 10.
Quarterback Battle Shaping Up
Gunnar Watson and Jacob Free combined for 22 touchdown passes and Troy finished 21st nationally averaging 290.2 passing yards per game last season. Enter Taylor Powell, the former Mr. Arkansas who transferred from Missouri, and returning freshman Kyle Toole into the equation and you have a full-fledge quarterback battle.
"We've got a big-time competition on our hands and it's already started," Lindsey said of the quarterback position. "I think you see the sense of urgency in all four of them at our morning workouts. They are all good people and students of the game. Taylor has come in and really tried to establish himself with a strong work ethic that people have taken notice of."
Watson led the Sun Belt averaging 237.9 passing yards per game last season in addition to throwing 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions in nine games. Free started a pair of games and finished another after Watson was knocked out with a rib injury against Georgia State. The Vanderbilt transfer struck for 419 yards – seventh most in school history – and two touchdowns in a big road win at Arkansas State.
"Gunnar, Jacob and Kyle have all raised their level of competition this offseason," Lindsey said. "We're going to split the reps pretty even, especially early, and try narrow this thing down as we go. It's going to be a lot of fun; I look forward to watching all four of them compete this spring."
Our Time
Troy has a new social media hashtag in use for the 2021 season with #OurTime making a debut earlier this winter.
"We felt like it says everything we needed to say for 2021," Lindsey said. "We've had two recruiting classes now; we've got more depth than we've had and with all these guys coming back we feel like 2021 needs to be Our Time and our opportunity to take the next step."
Carr Takes a New Role
With the departure of Cornelius Williams to Auburn, the role of passing game coordinator needed a new home. Lindsey knew exactly who we wanted to take over the duties of helping game plan the passing attack including Troy's two minute, third down and base passing situations – assistant head coach John Carr.
"John is a veteran guy, and he has run this offense before so it makes a lot of sense for him to step into this position," Lindsey said. "He's a great job in the passing game working with the inside receivers and for me it was an easy transition."
"It's exciting to have all but one of our starters back from last season, but a lot of teams around the country are in a similar boat," Troy head coach Chip Lindsey said. "Only losing one starter says a lot about our culture here and what our players believe this team can be."
Khalil McClain was the lone Trojan scholarship senior from last year's squad to not take advantage of the NCAA's free year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of that, Troy returns a combined 246 starts on the offensive side of the football and 212 combined starts defensively.
"We've got more competition all around than we have at any time in my three years here," Lindsey said. "Competition makes you better and as we have continued to bring great players into our program, it has created a sense of urgency which is only going to help our team."
Three for Me
Troy will practice three times next week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday – before taking the following week off for spring break. The Trojans will use those first three days to fulfil the NCAA's requirement for helmet only practices in addition to knocking off the winter rust and working through the install packages.
"We will go through our base install in all three phases and get the guys accustomed to any of the new wrinkles that we have put together over the winter," Lindsey said. "It will be a good opportunity to see the guys moving around and doing some football related things within the scope of a practice setting."
Following spring break, the Trojans will practice Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday beginning March 16 leading up to T-Day on April 10.
Quarterback Battle Shaping Up
Gunnar Watson and Jacob Free combined for 22 touchdown passes and Troy finished 21st nationally averaging 290.2 passing yards per game last season. Enter Taylor Powell, the former Mr. Arkansas who transferred from Missouri, and returning freshman Kyle Toole into the equation and you have a full-fledge quarterback battle.
"We've got a big-time competition on our hands and it's already started," Lindsey said of the quarterback position. "I think you see the sense of urgency in all four of them at our morning workouts. They are all good people and students of the game. Taylor has come in and really tried to establish himself with a strong work ethic that people have taken notice of."
Watson led the Sun Belt averaging 237.9 passing yards per game last season in addition to throwing 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions in nine games. Free started a pair of games and finished another after Watson was knocked out with a rib injury against Georgia State. The Vanderbilt transfer struck for 419 yards – seventh most in school history – and two touchdowns in a big road win at Arkansas State.
"Gunnar, Jacob and Kyle have all raised their level of competition this offseason," Lindsey said. "We're going to split the reps pretty even, especially early, and try narrow this thing down as we go. It's going to be a lot of fun; I look forward to watching all four of them compete this spring."
Our Time
Troy has a new social media hashtag in use for the 2021 season with #OurTime making a debut earlier this winter.
"We felt like it says everything we needed to say for 2021," Lindsey said. "We've had two recruiting classes now; we've got more depth than we've had and with all these guys coming back we feel like 2021 needs to be Our Time and our opportunity to take the next step."
Carr Takes a New Role
With the departure of Cornelius Williams to Auburn, the role of passing game coordinator needed a new home. Lindsey knew exactly who we wanted to take over the duties of helping game plan the passing attack including Troy's two minute, third down and base passing situations – assistant head coach John Carr.
"John is a veteran guy, and he has run this offense before so it makes a lot of sense for him to step into this position," Lindsey said. "He's a great job in the passing game working with the inside receivers and for me it was an easy transition."
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