Troy University Athletics
JOHNSON'S JOURNAL - Built by Troy: Legends Reflect on Careers, Impact
4/24/2026 9:30:00 AM | Football
They sat on an elevated platform inside the Stadium Club of Veterans Memorial Stadium, back among Troy supporters, sharing some memories of their days as part of the Trojans' football program.
Jeremy Rowell, Eric Thomas, B.J. Smith and Carlton Martial each accomplished significant feats during their athletic careers, but more than that, they became everlasting Troy men.
As Troy play-by-play announcer Barry McKnight hosted the Q&A session this past Saturday during the Brunch with Legends as part of the T-Day spring football day activities, the impact the university had on the lives of the four was evident.
"I hope my time at Troy exemplifies a guy who loved Troy, loved his teammates … everything about Troy," said Martial, the all-time tackles leader in college football. "This place right here is my second home."
From walk-on to superstar
While Martial was an undersized linebacker at 5-foot-9, 210 pounds, he went from a walk-on to becoming one of the greatest linebackers to ever suit up for the Trojans during his playing time from 2018 to 2022.
He holds the record for career tackles in NCAA FBS history with 577, was a four-time All-Sun Belt first team selection and was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year following his senior season.
The Mobile native didn't receive any Division I college offers after graduating from McGill-Toolen High School, but Martial never doubted he could play at that level.
"It actually started when I was a kid," Martial said of his confidence. "My father was always my coach, playing ball from Pop Warner (youth league) all the way up to high school. He was like, 'You know with your size … you might not get recruited, but I always tell you, why not you?'" Martial remembers.
Once arriving on Troy's campus as a preferred walk-on, Martial opened the eyes of coaches quickly with his knack for getting to the football by way of great instincts and sheer determination.
However, it was the work he did in the film room that turned Martial from a contributor into one of the best college linebackers to ever play the game.
"Of course, instincts play a part, but when you're in the film room consistently … watching with coaches and watching with guys … that's what really puts you ahead of everybody else," Martial said. "Film study, I would say, is 85 percent of my game."
Martial uses his story to encourage others to follow their dreams.
"I would tell them to always bet on yourself, because there will never be another you," Martial said of players who may be considered undersized for college football. "God made you this way for a reason."
Thomas a sure-handed Trojan
Thomas became the all-time touchdown receptions leader in Sun Belt history with 29 and finished his career with 197 catches for 2,655 yards from 2010-2013.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound receiver had a penchant for going up and making remarkable catches, rarely coming away empty-handed when the ball was up for grabs.
Thomas said legendary Troy head football coach Larry Blakeney always told him, "If it's in the air, you better get it."
That mentality was actually developed by Thomas at an early age.
"As a kid playing ball, it always stuck with me that when the ball was in the air, it was always mine, no matter what," Thomas said.
Perhaps his most memorable catch came in 2013 when Thomas hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Corey Robinson under tight coverage with just seven seconds left in the game to give Troy a 34-33 win over rival South Alabama in Veterans Memorial Stadium.
"I just knew I had to come up with it in order for us to win that game, and I guess I made it happen," Thomas said.
Thomas hopes fans remember him as, "A guy that really just left it all out there on the field and did whatever he was asked and more to make it happen for his team and go out there and try to get a win."
Rowell the player and coach
As a quarterback, Rowell led the Trojans to their only undefeated season in school history in 1995 with an 11-0 mark. He finished his career with 3,330 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. Rowell also rushed for 20 career TDs, including 15 in 1994, the most by a quarterback in a season in program history. The 42 total TDs rank 10th best in program history.
But he was far from finished making an impact at Troy when his playing career ended, as Rowell became an assistant coach for the Trojans for 15 seasons under Blakeney, helping the program win five Sun Belt Conference titles.
While Rowell was a star player on the offensive side, he coached defensive backs at Troy for six seasons as an assistant before being promoted to defensive coordinator, a role he held from 2007-2012. He later coached as an assistant at Georgia Southern and has spent time in the high school ranks as a head coach.
"The group of coaches I played for … I ended up coaching for most of them," Rowell said of his time at Troy. "All of those guys had a great influence on me getting into coaching, and obviously, I've done it from that point forward."
It's affecting the lives of others at Troy that Rowell is most proud of.
"The number of guys that I've recruited and coached … you try to grow them as young men and help them get started in life," Rowell said. "That's the biggest football part … when you get to affect kids' lives and help them. That's pretty deep."
Rowell marvels at the upgrades to the football facilities since his days on campus.
"Different worlds," Rowell said. "It's the steps you've got to take and things you've got to do to progress this place to where we are now."
Smith waited for his chance
Smith patiently waited his turn behind one of Troy's best running backs ever - Jordan Chunn - and then made his own mark when the opportunity presented itself.
"A lot of people don't realize that I sat pretty much two years," Smith said of his first two seasons. "It's hard to expect a bigger role when Chunn is ripping off 215-220 (yards) against LSU. So, hey, I've got to sit back and wait my turn."
While Smith didn't see much action in the backfield early in his career, he did have an impact in another area.
"I found a passion for special teams," Smith said. "I never played defense in high school or college, but it was fun to run down on the kickoff and punt teams and get a tackle … I get to hit like a linebacker or DB. Just find a way to get on the field and stay on the field."
Once Chunn graduated after the 2017 season, Smith took off in leading the Sun Belt in rushing during the 2018 season with 1,186 yards. He led all SBC running backs with 13 rushing touchdowns that season and was named first team All-Sun Belt.
It was during a 24-19 upset win by Troy at Nebraska early in the 2018 season, in which Smith scored two touchdowns on runs of 9 and 26 yards, that he emerged as a big-time player for the Trojans.
"Up until that point, I wasn't technically the starter," Smith said. "It was kind of like a running back by committee. After that point, I guess I showed the coaching staff that I could be dependable."
He became the first player in school history to rush for more than 100 yards in five straight games in 2018. Smith finished his Troy career with 2,203 yards and 23 touchdowns on 454 carries.
Smith was asked what he believed Troy fans appreciated most about his play.
"I think toughness," Smith said.
Toughness is a trait each of those on stage during the Brunch with Legends well symbolized during their careers as Trojans.
Jeremy Rowell, Eric Thomas, B.J. Smith and Carlton Martial each accomplished significant feats during their athletic careers, but more than that, they became everlasting Troy men.
As Troy play-by-play announcer Barry McKnight hosted the Q&A session this past Saturday during the Brunch with Legends as part of the T-Day spring football day activities, the impact the university had on the lives of the four was evident.
"I hope my time at Troy exemplifies a guy who loved Troy, loved his teammates … everything about Troy," said Martial, the all-time tackles leader in college football. "This place right here is my second home."
From walk-on to superstar
While Martial was an undersized linebacker at 5-foot-9, 210 pounds, he went from a walk-on to becoming one of the greatest linebackers to ever suit up for the Trojans during his playing time from 2018 to 2022.
He holds the record for career tackles in NCAA FBS history with 577, was a four-time All-Sun Belt first team selection and was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year following his senior season.
The Mobile native didn't receive any Division I college offers after graduating from McGill-Toolen High School, but Martial never doubted he could play at that level.
"It actually started when I was a kid," Martial said of his confidence. "My father was always my coach, playing ball from Pop Warner (youth league) all the way up to high school. He was like, 'You know with your size … you might not get recruited, but I always tell you, why not you?'" Martial remembers.
Once arriving on Troy's campus as a preferred walk-on, Martial opened the eyes of coaches quickly with his knack for getting to the football by way of great instincts and sheer determination.
However, it was the work he did in the film room that turned Martial from a contributor into one of the best college linebackers to ever play the game.
"Of course, instincts play a part, but when you're in the film room consistently … watching with coaches and watching with guys … that's what really puts you ahead of everybody else," Martial said. "Film study, I would say, is 85 percent of my game."
Martial uses his story to encourage others to follow their dreams.
"I would tell them to always bet on yourself, because there will never be another you," Martial said of players who may be considered undersized for college football. "God made you this way for a reason."
Thomas a sure-handed Trojan
Thomas became the all-time touchdown receptions leader in Sun Belt history with 29 and finished his career with 197 catches for 2,655 yards from 2010-2013.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound receiver had a penchant for going up and making remarkable catches, rarely coming away empty-handed when the ball was up for grabs.
Thomas said legendary Troy head football coach Larry Blakeney always told him, "If it's in the air, you better get it."
That mentality was actually developed by Thomas at an early age.
"As a kid playing ball, it always stuck with me that when the ball was in the air, it was always mine, no matter what," Thomas said.
Perhaps his most memorable catch came in 2013 when Thomas hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Corey Robinson under tight coverage with just seven seconds left in the game to give Troy a 34-33 win over rival South Alabama in Veterans Memorial Stadium.
"I just knew I had to come up with it in order for us to win that game, and I guess I made it happen," Thomas said.
Thomas hopes fans remember him as, "A guy that really just left it all out there on the field and did whatever he was asked and more to make it happen for his team and go out there and try to get a win."
Rowell the player and coach
As a quarterback, Rowell led the Trojans to their only undefeated season in school history in 1995 with an 11-0 mark. He finished his career with 3,330 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. Rowell also rushed for 20 career TDs, including 15 in 1994, the most by a quarterback in a season in program history. The 42 total TDs rank 10th best in program history.
But he was far from finished making an impact at Troy when his playing career ended, as Rowell became an assistant coach for the Trojans for 15 seasons under Blakeney, helping the program win five Sun Belt Conference titles.
While Rowell was a star player on the offensive side, he coached defensive backs at Troy for six seasons as an assistant before being promoted to defensive coordinator, a role he held from 2007-2012. He later coached as an assistant at Georgia Southern and has spent time in the high school ranks as a head coach.
"The group of coaches I played for … I ended up coaching for most of them," Rowell said of his time at Troy. "All of those guys had a great influence on me getting into coaching, and obviously, I've done it from that point forward."
It's affecting the lives of others at Troy that Rowell is most proud of.
"The number of guys that I've recruited and coached … you try to grow them as young men and help them get started in life," Rowell said. "That's the biggest football part … when you get to affect kids' lives and help them. That's pretty deep."
Rowell marvels at the upgrades to the football facilities since his days on campus.
"Different worlds," Rowell said. "It's the steps you've got to take and things you've got to do to progress this place to where we are now."
Smith waited for his chance
Smith patiently waited his turn behind one of Troy's best running backs ever - Jordan Chunn - and then made his own mark when the opportunity presented itself.
"A lot of people don't realize that I sat pretty much two years," Smith said of his first two seasons. "It's hard to expect a bigger role when Chunn is ripping off 215-220 (yards) against LSU. So, hey, I've got to sit back and wait my turn."
While Smith didn't see much action in the backfield early in his career, he did have an impact in another area.
"I found a passion for special teams," Smith said. "I never played defense in high school or college, but it was fun to run down on the kickoff and punt teams and get a tackle … I get to hit like a linebacker or DB. Just find a way to get on the field and stay on the field."
Once Chunn graduated after the 2017 season, Smith took off in leading the Sun Belt in rushing during the 2018 season with 1,186 yards. He led all SBC running backs with 13 rushing touchdowns that season and was named first team All-Sun Belt.
It was during a 24-19 upset win by Troy at Nebraska early in the 2018 season, in which Smith scored two touchdowns on runs of 9 and 26 yards, that he emerged as a big-time player for the Trojans.
"Up until that point, I wasn't technically the starter," Smith said. "It was kind of like a running back by committee. After that point, I guess I showed the coaching staff that I could be dependable."
He became the first player in school history to rush for more than 100 yards in five straight games in 2018. Smith finished his Troy career with 2,203 yards and 23 touchdowns on 454 carries.
Smith was asked what he believed Troy fans appreciated most about his play.
"I think toughness," Smith said.
Toughness is a trait each of those on stage during the Brunch with Legends well symbolized during their careers as Trojans.
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