Troy University Athletics
Troy Football Breakdown – Wide Receivers
8/31/2022 10:45:00 AM | Football
They Said It – Assistant Coach Gary Banks
"Coming in when you're working in a new offense and system, you always feel like you need some more time, but I feel like the guys are progressing where they should be. Do I think we need to be better? Yes, but I'm pleased with what I've seen with some guys. We probably need two more to come along to give us some solid depth.
"With guys like Jabre, Tez and Devonte Ross, who can take the top off of it, and then guys like Marcus Rogers, RaJae and Deshon, who are good in the intermediate stuff, you have a good mixture in the room. It's about us getting better, pushing each other, understanding their roles, and then perfecting that."
Players to Watch
Headlined by preseason All-Sun Belt First Team selection Tez Johnson, the Troy wideouts have a different look this year, with speed and athleticism leading the way. Johnson finished second in the league last year with 67 receptions and led the league with receptions on 72 percent of his targets.
Other projected starters heading into Saturday's opener are Marcus Rogers and Deshon Stoudemire, junior college teammates at Iowa Western. Rogers missed a bulk of last season with a wrist injury but had a strong camp, while Stoudemire started five games in 2021 and finished with a pair of touchdowns.
"Marcus has a chance to be something special this year," Banks said. "He's a bigger physical guy, and there was some uncertainty coming from the spring until now. But this fall camp, he has really blossomed."
RaJae' Johnson joined the Trojans prior to the spring from UAB and will backup Rogers at the X position, while burners Jabre Barber and Peyton Higgins are set to split time behind Johnson. An x-factor for the group could be freshman Devonte Ross playing behind Stoudemire at the Z position, rated as a top 85 athlete in the country out of high school.
Position Notes
• Tez Johnson ranked 16th nationally (min. 90 targets) last season with receptions on 72 percent of his targets (67-of-93).
• A Troy receiver threw a touchdown pass in three straight years from 2016 to 2018; however, Luke Whittemore's 35-yard strike to Jabir Daughtry-Frye in 2018 was the last by a Trojan receiver.
• Troy only has one senior in its three-deep at the three wide receiver positions, UAB transfer Ra'Jae Johnson.
• Troy returns 71.3 percent of its receiving yards from the 2021 season; Reggie Todd and Luke Whittemore account for the majority of yards lost.
Parting Shot
"The new offense has put a little more responsibility on them," Banks said. "Last year, we spread out and threw the ball more; now they are being asked to block a little more. From a formation standpoint, there is an onus on them to understand some adjustments, motions and pre-snap motions. In some ways, some pressure is off, but in other ways, there are some added responsibilities on them."
"Coming in when you're working in a new offense and system, you always feel like you need some more time, but I feel like the guys are progressing where they should be. Do I think we need to be better? Yes, but I'm pleased with what I've seen with some guys. We probably need two more to come along to give us some solid depth.
"With guys like Jabre, Tez and Devonte Ross, who can take the top off of it, and then guys like Marcus Rogers, RaJae and Deshon, who are good in the intermediate stuff, you have a good mixture in the room. It's about us getting better, pushing each other, understanding their roles, and then perfecting that."
Players to Watch
Headlined by preseason All-Sun Belt First Team selection Tez Johnson, the Troy wideouts have a different look this year, with speed and athleticism leading the way. Johnson finished second in the league last year with 67 receptions and led the league with receptions on 72 percent of his targets.
Other projected starters heading into Saturday's opener are Marcus Rogers and Deshon Stoudemire, junior college teammates at Iowa Western. Rogers missed a bulk of last season with a wrist injury but had a strong camp, while Stoudemire started five games in 2021 and finished with a pair of touchdowns.
"Marcus has a chance to be something special this year," Banks said. "He's a bigger physical guy, and there was some uncertainty coming from the spring until now. But this fall camp, he has really blossomed."
RaJae' Johnson joined the Trojans prior to the spring from UAB and will backup Rogers at the X position, while burners Jabre Barber and Peyton Higgins are set to split time behind Johnson. An x-factor for the group could be freshman Devonte Ross playing behind Stoudemire at the Z position, rated as a top 85 athlete in the country out of high school.
Position Notes
• Tez Johnson ranked 16th nationally (min. 90 targets) last season with receptions on 72 percent of his targets (67-of-93).
• A Troy receiver threw a touchdown pass in three straight years from 2016 to 2018; however, Luke Whittemore's 35-yard strike to Jabir Daughtry-Frye in 2018 was the last by a Trojan receiver.
• Troy only has one senior in its three-deep at the three wide receiver positions, UAB transfer Ra'Jae Johnson.
• Troy returns 71.3 percent of its receiving yards from the 2021 season; Reggie Todd and Luke Whittemore account for the majority of yards lost.
Parting Shot
"The new offense has put a little more responsibility on them," Banks said. "Last year, we spread out and threw the ball more; now they are being asked to block a little more. From a formation standpoint, there is an onus on them to understand some adjustments, motions and pre-snap motions. In some ways, some pressure is off, but in other ways, there are some added responsibilities on them."
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