Three Things to Know Heading Into Troy Football Camp

Three Things to Know Heading Into Troy Football Camp

8/4/2021 4:38:00 PM | Football

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Players report Thursday, and the football starts Friday for third-year Troy head coach Chip Lindsey and his Trojans. It will be an abbreviated camp schedule for the program with just five days of preseason camp before a more traditional in-season schedule takes over after classes begin on campus Aug. 11.

Here are three things to know about the Trojans heading into training camp.

1. Competition

Troy will head into Friday afternoon's first practice session with 117 players dressed out in helmets and shorts – 83 scholarship players and 34 walk-ons. As one could imagine, with that quantity of players, combined with 19 starters returning, a top signing class in the Sun Belt and more than a handful of transfers in the mix – competition is going to be king this fall.

"Competition is everywhere on our team right now," Lindsey said. "Everyone wants to talk about the quarterback position, but we have more competition across the board right now than we've ever had. It is going to be a big theme in fall camp."

So, how do Lindsey and his staff use the competition to their advantage and work to find the right mix of players? More team periods in practice to watch how the players react in game-like situations.

"We won't be on the field any longer, but we will be running more team periods than we have in the past," Lindsey said. "We're doing it so guys can get more reps in that setting, and we can see them play football and evaluate more than just saying they looked good doing it in a drill."

Lindsey singled out the defensive line several times when addressing competition, and it's easy to see why. Back are All-Sun Belt performers Will Choloh, Richard Jibunor and Javon Solomon, in addition to guys like Luis Medina, Antonio Showers, John Hines, Shakel Brown, AJ Pierce and Devon Reaves who played key roles last year. Throw in Power 5 transfers Jamarcus Chatman (Florida State) and Cherokee Glasgow (Maryland), and now you have a plethora of players competing for key snaps.

2. Quarterbacks
Speaking of the quarterbacks, it's best to address the elephant in the room. Sophomore Gunnar Watson is coming off a season in which he led the Sun Belt in passing yards per game and ranked seventh nationally with a 70.1 completion percentage. Watson was joined this spring by Missouri transfer Taylor Powell, who was the Arkansas Prep Player of the Year and Mr. Football in the state of Arkansas coming out of Fayetteville High School.

"We're really down to a two-man race after Jacob Free decided to start his coaching career after earning his degree," Lindsey said. "From what I've seen, both Gunnar and Taylor had outstanding summers, and I'm looking forward to seeing how that translates at practice. We're going to split the reps evenly to open camp until somebody wins the job."

With two outstanding options to choose from for Lindsey, one might assume that you could see both guys in the mix once the season starts, but that will not be the case.

"We'll make a decision once the time is right, and that guy will get the bulk of the snaps in practice moving forward," Lindsey said. "I've not been a guy who plays two quarterbacks and rotated them, that's just not who I am. I feel like whoever we decide is our starter needs to get the reps, and then he has to play well to be able to keep the job."

One thing is different in this year's quarterback battle as opposed to what the Trojans faced last year – experience.

"It is nice to be able to go into the season with two guys who have played meaningful snaps in college football games before," Lindsey said. "Last year we didn't have that opportunity with Gunnar having only played some mop-up snaps before."

No. 3 Transfers
The portal giveth and the portal taketh. That is the landscape of college football in 2021, and while the Trojans lost a couple of players to other schools in the offseason, the influx of new talent from outside the program was substantial.

Troy fans have already been introduced to a handful of the guys that joined the program prior to spring practice, but since then that number has grown. The Trojans have welcomed six more players since T-Day – Elijah Culp (CB – Austin Peay), Jordan Anthony (LB – Michigan), Luke Magliozzi (P – Uconn), Buddha Jones (DT – Kent State), Clayton Ollendieck (TE – Iowa Central CC) and Brooks Buce (K – Georgia).

"We have a certain culture that we like here, and we're looking for TKGs – Troy Kinda Guys," Lindsey said. "The one concern when you bring in transfers is how they will fit in with your team. We did a lot of research on these guys before bringing them in to make sure the fit was right, and so far, it's been a great transition. I'm excited to see this team together for really the first time with all the newcomers on board. We've seen them some this summer running around and doing weights, but getting on the field and playing football is going to be exciting to see."

One for the Road
Back for his sixth year of eligibility, running back B.J. Smith decided to change things up this year. The 2019 Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year has ditched his No. 26 for No. 3 for his last ride as a Trojan.