Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Troy University
Troy Quarterback Room Brimming with Talent
3/29/2023 4:45:00 PM | Football
TROY, Ala. – Five practices into the spring, Troy head coach Jon Sumrall has a good problem on his hands, finding enough reps to go around for his quarterbacks.
The Trojans return three-year starter and Sun Belt Championship Game MVP Gunnar Watson for the 2023 season as the presumed starter after he threw for 2,818 yards and 14 touchdowns in Troy's 12-2 season.
Where the room gets interesting is who will take the snaps as the number two quarterback come fall. Last year's backup and part-time starter, Jarrett Doege is out of eligibility and preparing for a professional future, so Sumrall and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock have four guys auditioning this spring for the role.
Goose Crowder joined the program in January after transferring from West Virginia, where he spent two years under former Troy head coach Neal Brown. Crowder, a Gardendale, Ala., native, was a Sports Illustrated All-America finalist and Alabama-Mississippi All-Star in 2019 at Gardendale High School.
"Goose is taking the primary reps behind Gunnar today," Sumrall said. "You can tell that Goose has operated at a college level longer than some of those guys and is more experienced, but the rest of the guys are in the mix. They are all battling and doing good things. It's about consistency, protecting the football, operating at the line of scrimmage and making the throws you have to make."
Sophomore Quayde Hawkins and redshirt freshman Tucker Kilcrease, both return from last year's squad and true freshman JD Sherrod, enrolled early in January.
"Tucker has continued to do some good things, just making sure he is consistent and stays calm and not getting too far out in front of his skis," Sumrall said. "JD has some real ability and arm talent, and Quayde spins it as well as anybody. We're limiting Gunnar's reps at times just to see who the other guys are because we've seen Gunnar play a lot of football."
The Trojans return three-year starter and Sun Belt Championship Game MVP Gunnar Watson for the 2023 season as the presumed starter after he threw for 2,818 yards and 14 touchdowns in Troy's 12-2 season.
Where the room gets interesting is who will take the snaps as the number two quarterback come fall. Last year's backup and part-time starter, Jarrett Doege is out of eligibility and preparing for a professional future, so Sumrall and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock have four guys auditioning this spring for the role.
Goose Crowder joined the program in January after transferring from West Virginia, where he spent two years under former Troy head coach Neal Brown. Crowder, a Gardendale, Ala., native, was a Sports Illustrated All-America finalist and Alabama-Mississippi All-Star in 2019 at Gardendale High School.
"Goose is taking the primary reps behind Gunnar today," Sumrall said. "You can tell that Goose has operated at a college level longer than some of those guys and is more experienced, but the rest of the guys are in the mix. They are all battling and doing good things. It's about consistency, protecting the football, operating at the line of scrimmage and making the throws you have to make."
Sophomore Quayde Hawkins and redshirt freshman Tucker Kilcrease, both return from last year's squad and true freshman JD Sherrod, enrolled early in January.
"Tucker has continued to do some good things, just making sure he is consistent and stays calm and not getting too far out in front of his skis," Sumrall said. "JD has some real ability and arm talent, and Quayde spins it as well as anybody. We're limiting Gunnar's reps at times just to see who the other guys are because we've seen Gunnar play a lot of football."
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