Football Moves to Phase Two of Training Camp; Super Bowl Champ Pays a Visit

TROY, Ala. – Following back-to-back days in just helmets and shorts, Troy Football put on shoulder pads for the first time in training camp during an abridged 90-minute practice Friday morning on the grass fields behind Trojan Arena.

"I thought the defense got the better end of the team run period at the start of practice, and then the offense finished the practice stronger than the defense," head coach Jon Sumrall said. "A little give and take, that's a good thing when you're a head coach. You don't want to see one side of the ball take the whole practice over."

Stacking days is a phrase heard throughout the Troy Football program, improving from one day to the next, and so far through three days the Trojans have built a solid stack.

"Our tempo has improved," Sumrall said. "Day one, I felt like we were still in OTA mode and not in practice mode. Yesterday and today, in particular, to start the day, I felt like on defense the pursuit to the ball and the finishes on offense have been better. We have to do a better job of finishing the practice that way; it's easy to do when you're fresh."

New Era at Linebacker
There has been a constant on Troy's defense in recent years – there would be a No. 2 and a No. 7 on the field for most of the snaps. Carlton Martial and KJ Robertson combined to play 5,620 snaps in their Troy career before exhausting their eligibility last season.

Junior Jayden McDonald has been a mainstay for the Trojans alongside Martial and Robertson, but injuries have cost him games the last two seasons, including the final 11 games of the 2022 campaign. With a new era of the Troy linebacker ready to come to the forefront, McDonald will be a key weapon for the Trojan defense.

"J-Mac was having a great year last year, and your heart breaks for a kid like that; he and Luis (Medina) were both hurt in the same game (App State)," Sumrall said. "I'm really fired up to see them both back out here. Jayden is fiery, passionate, energetic – he's got that heart and soul mentality of our defense – our guys feed off of him and he's an emotional leader. I'm really fired up to watch him come back. He's really moving around good, making plays in space and I think he's right on track."

LT in the House
Two-time Super Bowl champion and 10-year NFL veteran Lawrence Tynes and his family stopped by practice Friday morning to visit with Sumrall and share a message with the team.

"One of the great things we have at Troy is history and tradition and a long lineage of guys who have played the game at a high level, and he is one of them," Sumrall said. "It is an honor for him to spend time with us, and our guys get to see you can go to Troy, be a walk-on and become what he became, which is really special."

Gallery: (8-4-2023) Football Fall Camp - Day Four

Troy University Athletics

Football Moves to Phase Two of Training Camp; Super Bowl Champ Pays a Visit

Players Mentioned

Carlton Martial

Jayden McDonald

KJ Robertson

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