Troy Football Opens Spring Practice Monday with Mix of New and Familiar Faces

TROY, Ala. – After winning its third Sun Belt West Division title in the last four seasons, Troy Trojans football opens spring practice Monday morning as head coach Gerad Parker begins his third spring leading the program.

The Trojans enter the spring with some roster turnover, a few staff changes and a new offensive system as the program continues building toward the 2026 season.

Troy will practice Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning next week before taking the following week off for Spring Break on campus.

Spring Practice No. 3 Under Parker

Parker said the program has reached a different stage heading into year three, even as college football continues to evolve.

"All right, well, here we are. Spring number three," Parker said. "We've had to go through change that's been change for everybody in college football, but for us this is another change, a spring without a portal at the end of it."

The Trojans also welcomed a large group of midyear enrollees who went through offseason workouts in January and February, giving the staff more time to work with the newcomers.

Even with the roster additions and staff adjustments, Parker said he has been encouraged by the attitude inside the program.

"I'm impressed by our guys and the quality of human beings and players we brought in here," Parker said. "Just their willingness to adapt and be a part and want to learn new is very, very evident."

He also noted the continuity among returning players and coaches.

"You can tell it's a group of people and young men that, and our staff for the most part, that have done this all together," Parker said.

Strength and Conditioning Changes

One of the biggest offseason changes came in the weight room with the addition of strength and conditioning coach Ben Sowders.

Parker said the program has already seen some differences in the training approach.

"We have done more pulls, more cleans, more snatch, more front squat," Parker said. "We have done more of those Olympic movements."

The new program also includes more individualized plans depending on a player's position or physical goals.

"We have trained and had better plans for our guys by position," Parker said. "Also, our guys that maybe need a little better attention to weight loss and weight gain."

Parker said the transition has been smooth.

"They've come in and just done nothing but become part of us and Troy," Parker said. "We haven't even had a weird moment. That's a testament to who he is as a human being."

Installing a New Offense

Troy will also debut a new offensive approach this fall under coordinator Adam Austin.

Parker said Austin has quickly immersed himself in the program while installing his system.

"We are going to be different," Parker said. "It's going to look different. We have a standard that needs to be met in all three phases, and we have to meet that standard on offense."

Parker believes the system will allow Troy's players to play faster and with more clarity.

"I think it's going to be fun to watch," Parker said. "I think our players are going to be able to play fast in it and sometimes maybe do less but do it better."

Parker said the offense blends ideas from multiple systems he has been part of during his coaching career.

"I've been in no-huddle systems that played as fast as anybody in the country and led the country in passing," Parker said. "And I've been in some multiple motion shifts and pro-style systems."

The Trojans also plan to incorporate some unique wrinkles.

"There are some unorthodox things that we'll do in this offense," Parker said. "We're going to do some things that people don't just all do in the league that make us different to prepare for."

Life Without a Post-Spring Portal Window

Another new development across college football is the absence of a transfer portal window after spring practice.

Parker said that change provides more stability for programs.

"There's a very calming feeling about having no plan B for a full calendar year," Parker said.

Without the possibility of immediate roster turnover following spring practice, Parker believes teams can focus more on development.

"I think it's healthier for us to serve our players better by knowing, hey, you got our trust, you got our love," Parker said. "We're all going to be here together. Let's make this the best year we can."

Retaining Key Players

Despite the transfer portal era, Troy was able to retain several key players from last season's roster, including quarterbacks Goose Crowder and Tucker Kilcrease, All-American punter Evan Crenshaw and Sun Belt sacks leader Donnie Smith.

Parker said that speaks to both the players and the program.

"I think first it speaks volumes about who those guys are," Parker said.

He also credited the culture around the program.

"How Troy makes them feel and how they feel about being a part of Troy and this building and this campus and this town," Parker said.

Building Off Last Season

Troy is coming off an eight-win season that included a trip to the Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game for the third time in the last four seasons.

Parker said returning players remember both the success and the disappointment.

"Those guys know what it felt like to run out and play for a conference championship," Parker said. "They also know we didn't win it."

He believes that experience should fuel the team moving forward.

"There was a starving mentality to our season last year," Parker said. "If we don't keep those same standards and expectations and hunger, then year three will not be what we all expect."

Early Focus in Spring Practice

The first few days of spring practice will focus on structure and execution rather than physical play.

"The first three days are all about us practicing well with each other, staying off the ground and not getting anybody hurt," Parker said.

With limited contact early in the spring, Parker said the goal is to establish how the team practices.

"It's not what we're doing," Parker said. "It's going to be how we do it."

That includes setting the tempo for drills, communication and organization before increasing physical intensity later in the spring.

"Teaching how we do it and the pace in which we do it is the key of the first three," Parker said.

Troy University Athletics

Troy Football Opens Spring Practice Monday with Mix of New and Familiar Faces

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