Troy Football Opens Fall Camp

TROY, Ala. – Football is back at Troy as head coach Jon Sumrall led his Trojans through day one of fall camp ahead of the 2022 season opener at Ole Miss in just over a month. Troy practiced for more than two hours on the grass fields behind Trojan Arena in helmets in shorts in the first of two acclimation days mandated by the NCAA.

"I thought we came out to the practice field early (on) and looked like a football team from an organizational standpoint and just being crisp and understanding how we do things," Sumrall said. "Some of that comes with a lot of the guys have been around us as a staff long enough now to understand the flow and the rhythm of how we want things to happen. We faded a little bit at the end of practice; we need to finish cleaner and finish strong. All in all, I thought we got a lot of good work in today."

The first practice of camp was traditional in the sense that the team went through special teams, individual, 1-on-1, 7-on-7 and team drills throughout the morning. The sun hid behind the clouds for most of the day, but the hot temperatures allowed for Sumrall to show off a new amenity for fall camp, a cold truck. Players enjoyed the comforts of an 18-wheeler refrigerated trailer to cool their bodies down twice during practice and again at the end of the day.

Back like we never left 🤫#RiseToBuild | #OneTROY ⚔️🏈 pic.twitter.com/BFnOHqoY7q
— Troy Trojans Football (@TroyTrojansFB) August 3, 2022

Most of the media attention following practice was on the play of the quarterbacks. Junior Gunnar Watson returns with 16 career starts under his belt, while redshirt freshman Peter Costelli, a four-star transfer from Utah, made his practice debut after joining the team this summer.

"I thought early they all threw it well, especially in the team run and pass-action pass period where we got some shots behind the defense a little bit," Sumrall said. "They all did some good things. Gunnar has improved his body as a whole, and his arm has gotten a little bit better as well. Peter is throwing the ball well, and the thing that jumps out about him is he can run, so from a mobility standpoint, he shows he's got some things he does differently. We're working Quayde (Hawkins) back in off his little nagging (injury) he's got, and Tucker Kilcrease did some good things too."

Checking in after day one of fall camp with the HBC ⁦@CoachJonSumrall⁩ #RiseToBuild | #OneTROY ⚔️🏈 pic.twitter.com/oS1eqHyXNS
— Troy Trojans Football (@TroyTrojansFB) August 3, 2022

Quotable
Gunnar Watson, Jr., QB
I thought we started off really strong; the offense was very good; we completed a few balls. As coach Sumrall said we fell off at the end of practice, got a little tired and it kinda messed up our assignments. We'll get better at that; it was the first day. I'm excited about what we've got going.

On Another QB Battle
It's been like that for three years; I'm used to it. It's nice to have someone to compete with you, so don't get lackadaisical; you're always out here competing; I'm used to it.

Peter Costelli, R-Fr., QB
It was good working with the team and being out here; it's been a while, and I'm happy to be back on the field. Gunnar is a really good quarterback, and I think our whole QB room is really solid. Coach always says we're not competing against each other; we're competing with each other. We're always helping each other, I'm always asking him questions, and he's teaching me a lot.

Feels like football season 🙌#RiseToBuild | #OneTROY ⚔️🏈 pic.twitter.com/VTx80rxeh0
— Troy Trojans Football (@TroyTrojansFB) August 3, 2022

Troy University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Peter Costelli

Tucker Kilcrease

Gunnar Watson

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