Troy University Athletics
Celebrating 25 Years of FBS Football - 2010 Sun Belt Champions
9/5/2025 8:26:00 AM | Football
TROY, Ala. – The 2010 season closed the curtain on the Sun Belt's first great dynasty for Troy under head coach Larry Blakeney. With their fifth straight Sun Belt title and a landmark first FBS bowl victory, the Trojans capped a defining era for the program.
Troy finished the year 8-5 overall and 6-2 in Sun Belt play, prevailing in the late season push to clinch the championship outright. It was a team that combined young stars with veteran leaders and, despite its inconsistencies, found a way to extend a run unmatched in conference history.
A Freshman at the Helm
The story of the season began with redshirt freshman quarterback Corey Robinson, who stepped into the starting role and quickly became one of the most prolific passers in the league. Robinson threw for 3,726 yards and 28 touchdowns, earning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and New Orleans Bowl MVP honors while leading an offense that was among the most explosive in the nation.
"This year, I think Corey's biggest attribute is, he's made mistakes, but he's profited and learned from those mistakes," Blakeney said.
The Impact of Senior Leadership
While Robinson emerged as a new star, senior wideout Jerrel Jernigan provided the steady hand that defined Troy's offense. Already a program legend, Jernigan capped his career as Troy's all-time leader in receptions and all-purpose yards. His versatility as a receiver, runner and returner made him the ultimate weapon, keeping defenses off balance and providing Robinson with a reliable target in critical moments. Running back Shawn Southward complemented the passing game with toughness and efficiency on the ground, and his three-touchdown performance in the New Orleans Bowl cemented his place as a rising force in the backfield.
Defense: Steady and Striking
On defense, Troy relied on a pair of anchors in linebacker Xavier Lamb and defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi. Lamb's consistency in the middle kept the unit organized, while Massaquoi's 13.5 sacks made him one of the most feared edge rushers in the country. The Trojans did not always dominate statistically, but when games hung in the balance, the defense delivered enough stops to give the offense room to finish the job.
Late-Season Charge
The defining stretch of the season came in November. After midseason setbacks threatened to end the championship streak, the Trojans regrouped and closed strong. Wins over Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State restored momentum, and a 44-7 rout of Western Kentucky in the finale sealed the outright Sun Belt crown.
Breaking Through in the Bowl Game
The exclamation point came in the Superdome, where Troy delivered its most complete performance of the year in a 48-21 dismantling of Ohio in the New Orleans Bowl. Robinson threw four touchdown passes, Southward added three rushing scores and the Trojans rolled up a record 602 yards of offense. For a program still chasing its first FBS postseason victory, the moment carried weight beyond the final score.
"We're certainly proud to be sitting here as the victors over Ohio U," Blakeney said afterward.
A Dynasty Remembered
The 2010 team was more than a conference champion; it was the culmination of a five-year stretch that reshaped Troy Football. From Robinson's breakout to Jernigan's farewell season and Massaquoi's dominance up front, the Trojans blended fresh talent with proven leaders to close out the first great era of Sun Belt football.
Looking back, 2010 represents the crowning achievement of Troy's early FBS years, the peak of a dynasty that began in 2006 and finished with confetti in New Orleans. For Blakeney and the Trojans, it was a season that confirmed not just that they belonged, but that they had built something built to last.
Troy finished the year 8-5 overall and 6-2 in Sun Belt play, prevailing in the late season push to clinch the championship outright. It was a team that combined young stars with veteran leaders and, despite its inconsistencies, found a way to extend a run unmatched in conference history.
A Freshman at the Helm
The story of the season began with redshirt freshman quarterback Corey Robinson, who stepped into the starting role and quickly became one of the most prolific passers in the league. Robinson threw for 3,726 yards and 28 touchdowns, earning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and New Orleans Bowl MVP honors while leading an offense that was among the most explosive in the nation.
"This year, I think Corey's biggest attribute is, he's made mistakes, but he's profited and learned from those mistakes," Blakeney said.
The Impact of Senior Leadership
While Robinson emerged as a new star, senior wideout Jerrel Jernigan provided the steady hand that defined Troy's offense. Already a program legend, Jernigan capped his career as Troy's all-time leader in receptions and all-purpose yards. His versatility as a receiver, runner and returner made him the ultimate weapon, keeping defenses off balance and providing Robinson with a reliable target in critical moments. Running back Shawn Southward complemented the passing game with toughness and efficiency on the ground, and his three-touchdown performance in the New Orleans Bowl cemented his place as a rising force in the backfield.
Defense: Steady and Striking
On defense, Troy relied on a pair of anchors in linebacker Xavier Lamb and defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi. Lamb's consistency in the middle kept the unit organized, while Massaquoi's 13.5 sacks made him one of the most feared edge rushers in the country. The Trojans did not always dominate statistically, but when games hung in the balance, the defense delivered enough stops to give the offense room to finish the job.
Late-Season Charge
The defining stretch of the season came in November. After midseason setbacks threatened to end the championship streak, the Trojans regrouped and closed strong. Wins over Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State restored momentum, and a 44-7 rout of Western Kentucky in the finale sealed the outright Sun Belt crown.
Breaking Through in the Bowl Game
The exclamation point came in the Superdome, where Troy delivered its most complete performance of the year in a 48-21 dismantling of Ohio in the New Orleans Bowl. Robinson threw four touchdown passes, Southward added three rushing scores and the Trojans rolled up a record 602 yards of offense. For a program still chasing its first FBS postseason victory, the moment carried weight beyond the final score.
"We're certainly proud to be sitting here as the victors over Ohio U," Blakeney said afterward.
A Dynasty Remembered
The 2010 team was more than a conference champion; it was the culmination of a five-year stretch that reshaped Troy Football. From Robinson's breakout to Jernigan's farewell season and Massaquoi's dominance up front, the Trojans blended fresh talent with proven leaders to close out the first great era of Sun Belt football.
Looking back, 2010 represents the crowning achievement of Troy's early FBS years, the peak of a dynasty that began in 2006 and finished with confetti in New Orleans. For Blakeney and the Trojans, it was a season that confirmed not just that they belonged, but that they had built something built to last.
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