Troy Opens Gerad Parker Era Saturday

TROY, Ala. – The Gerad Parker era of Troy Football officially opens Saturday as Troy hosts Nevada at The Vet. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

"Every time you dream of being a head coach, when you first do it, you think about yourself, but now I sit here at 43 with a little grey in my beard, it's not about me as much," Parker said. "It's my job to do this thing where everyone is happy after games. I'm excited for our players and our staff. This is the reward. Our players do a lot and give up a lot to get in a position to play 12 days guaranteed. I'm really excited for our players, our fan base and our coaches to be rewarded for all the work they've put in."

Troy is coming off back-to-back Sun Belt Conference titles, joining Michigan as the only two programs with league titles the last two years, but enter the 2024 campaign with an overhauled roster, featuring just four players (offense and defense) who started six or more games last season.

Offensively, the leadership is on the offensive line where former All-Sun Belt Trojan Caleb Carbine has a pair of preseason all-league selections leading the way with Daniel King at right guard and Eli Russ at center.

Goose Crowder takes over under center for Gunnar Watson, who had a hand in Troy's offensive success for parts of the last five seasons. Crowder has garnered the respect of his peers and coaches as he was voted one of Troy's four permanent captains, along with King on offense.

Troy made its money on defense in the last two seasons, especially in 2023, thanks to a high-pressure style of play. The Trojans finished second nationally last season with a league-record 46 sacks behind NCAA leader Javon Solomon, a fifth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills this spring.

Defensive coordinator Dontae Wright's strength comes at the linebacker position, where incumbent starter Jordan Stringer and newcomer Brendan Jackson, who transferred from Gardner-Webb, were named captains.

Nevada (0-1) played a Week 0 contest against SMU, and despite being a four-touchdown underdog, battled one of the newest members of the ACC down to the wire before allowing a late safety and touchdown in a 29-24 defeat.

Notable
• Troy is 22-3 since losing on a Hail Mary at App State in 2022

• Troy has forced 191 turnovers since the start of the 2016 season, which is tied with Clemson for the most in the country

• Troy has won 23 games the last two seasons, tied for the fourth most in the country

• Troy has won 14 of its last 16 games played in the state of Alabama

• Troy has won 11 games in consecutive seasons for just the second time in program history (1995, 1996)

• Troy led the country (tied with UTSA) with six games last season (6-0) with 5-plus sacks and tied for second nationally with six games with 4-plus sacks

• Troy's eight conference titles since 2006 are tied with Clemson for the fifth most over that period

• Troy and Michigan are the only two programs to win conference titles in 2022 and 2023

• Troy has scored in 122 straight games dating back to a 66-0 loss at Georgia in 2014; the Trojans have scored in 214 straight games against opponents not in a Power Four conference

• Twenty-nine Trojans topped the 20 MPH mark this summer and QB Goose Crowder was close hitting 19.82 MPH

• After every practice in the spring, Troy's assistant coaches, many of whom became emotional while delivering their message, shared their why. Why Troy? Why coach football? Why they are who they are. In fall camp, the messages changed to who their heroes are and a hardship along the way and how they overcame it

• Per Pro Football Focus, Troy ranked as the 13th-best passing team in the country (third in the G5) and the 25th best offensive team in the country

• Chris Lewis will miss the 2024 season as a result of his 10-week chemotherapy treatment at Children's of Alabama in Birmingham and surgery this past spring to remove the tumor. He finished the 2023 season ranked 16th in the country with 10 touchdown catches and led the country, averaging 22.97 yards per catch

Troy has zero players who began their career at Troy who are in their final year of eligibility ... Colorado and San Diego State are tied for second nationally with one

Scott Taylor Renfroe finished one point and field goal shy of a pair of single-season records last season; his 107 points and 19 field goals both missed the No. 1 line, respectively, by one
Troy held eight Opponent to fewer than 300 yards of offense last season, third-most nationally

Troy has 18 straight victories when rushing for 100-plus yards ... Troy has won 20 of its last 21 with 100+ yards

Troy has held 19 opponents since 2022 to 19 points or fewer, third most in the country

Troy's 69 victories since the start of the 2016 season, the 15th most in the country and the third most among Group of Five schools

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Players Mentioned

Goose Crowder

Brendan Jackson

Daniel King

Chris Lewis

Scott Taylor Renfroe

Eli Russ

Javon Solomon

Jordan Stringer

Gunnar Watson

Troy University Athletics