Johnson's Journal - SBC Media Day Stock Report; Trojans Trending Up

Troy head football coach Gerad Parker made it clear during the Sun Belt Conference Media Days in New Orleans that winning the league championship - not just getting to the title game - is the objective.

The Trojans are the preseason pick to win the West Division after finishing with an 8-6 overall mark last year, 6-2 in Sun Belt play, which included winning the division, playing in the SBC Championship Game and in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl.

All impressive, but more is sought.

"I think just a belief and understanding of the expectation that we can get there, but also some humility in the fact that we didn't win it," Parker said of the SBC title. "So, now the goal is to do a little bit better and hopefully get back and win it."

A year ago, the Trojans were picked sixth in the West Division and got off to a 1-2 start before winning five straight in turning the season around.

Parker, in his third year as head coach, believes the program is now on solid footing.

"We've brought in the right people," Parker said of his staff and players. "I think in year three, the job is we have to fit these players, and they've got to fit us.

"There's a particular type of person we want to come into our program as players and as staff … we've got those right people. I think we know exactly who we are and what we're looking for.

"I think there is a belief in the program we are running and building together, that the way we're doing it is showing success. You better show gains, or else this game will get you quickly from this seat."

While being picked to win the division shows respect for the program, Parker knows the preseason chatter means little, especially with 50 new players dotting the roster.

"We were voted second in year one (of Parker as coach), and that was because of past success of back-to-back championships at the time," Parker said. "Most players were gone, and there was no reason for us to be second.

"Then last year we were sixth. It's a thin, fine line of winning in this league, and we found a way to scratch and claw and get there.

"You can't pay any attention to it besides our process, our preparation, our plug-in and compete approach instead of worrying about a ranking or anything.

"Don't worry about outcomes, don't worry about results, don't worry about where we've been ranked this year, last year … nothing. Plug in and compete.

"I love our team, I love our staff and I love where we are, and it's still going to be really hard because everybody in this conference is really good."

A new-look offense
Adam Austin has taken over as the offensive coordinator after leading the highest-scoring offense in the FCS ranks a year ago at Tarleton State. The Texans averaged 42.4 points per game.

"I think for us you're going to see a different energy about it," Parker said. "It needed to be different for our players and our program to get it where we wanted it to be.

"It's going to be faster; it's going to look different. I think the tempo of it will look different and how we line up will look different. Our quarterbacks have loved the change; our offensive players have loved it.

"I think it's made us a better football program and team just in the conflict it's created in our defense having to face it as well."

The Trojans have the luxury of plenty of experience at quarterback in seniors Goose Crowder and Tucker Kilcrease. While Crowder, the primary starter the past two years, battled injuries off-and-on, Kilcrease got plenty of playing time in his absence.

"Having him back not only as a player, but him as a leader and the leadership he's brought to our locker room and to our offense has been a huge piece for us in the offseason," Parker said of Crowder. "He's healthy and has had a good offseason.

"And Tucker has won games in this league and Rodge Waldrop, a junior college transfer (East Mississippi CC) we brought in, competed as well in the spring.

"Jack James (redshirt freshman) is here as a young player. There are four guys in that room who have grown and seen people work the right way."

A couple of transfer receivers - Noreel White (East Mississippi CC) and Howard Kinchen (Pearl River CC) - will likely be key targets.

"Those two guys will have a good year for us," Parker predicts. "I think it's (the receivers' room) as deep as we've had since I've been here as a head coach."

The biggest question mark on offense revolves around the running backs, but Parker believes the unit is plenty talented.

Jordan Lovett returns for his junior season as an established running back for the Trojans. Jaheim Merriweather, a transfer from Purdue, and Gavin Griffin, a transfer from East Mississippi CC, are expected to bolster the room.

"I think it's probably our biggest question mark, but our most exciting," Parker said. "There's talented and productive guys that have been here. Even Dennis Palmer (redshirt sophomore), who played in our bowl game out of necessity, showed promise. I'm anxious to see who really ascends to take the bulk of the reps."

O-line makes changes
Last year's offensive line coach, Caleb Carbine, is being joined by last year's tight ends coach, Kevin Reihner, in dual roles overseeing the front.

"We now operate with two offensive line coaches that share responsibility equally," Parker said. "We have two guys I trust a great deal to coach our O-line together; that's unique, and that's more of an NFL model, and it's worked really well.

"We haven't played good enough at that position. There have been many variables for that, whether it be injuries or not."

Several offensive linemen who have transferred in - Jordon Jones from Ohio and Luke Petit from Furman - are expected to make immediate impacts.

Jones, a 6-foot-3, 287-pound senior, earned All-MAC second team honors last season at Ohio and is an All-Sun Belt Preseason Second Team selection.

"He brings a ton of game-played snaps up there in the MAC and played at a high level," Parker said. "He'll be a great player for us here at Troy."

Petit, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound senior, was a first team All-SoCon selection last year.

"Luke Petit (6-3, 285 senior) is a guy from Furman who has come in and become a quick captain and leader of our team in the offensive line," Parker said. "Excited about that room and we had to revamp it and make it better."

Anchoring the defense
Donnie Smith, the Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, returns for his senior year after ranking eighth nationally in sacks last season with 11 from his Bandit position.

"The best is yet to come," Parker said of Smith. "He's a full, all three downs player now. He's not just a pass rush player.

"I think he'll be equally as productive in rushing the passer as he will in the run game in how we can use him and how we move him around. He's a dynamic player; a dynamic human being."

Smith, who transferred to Troy from East Central (Miss.) Community College before last season, credited the Troy coaches for helping him grow as a player.

"In the spring camp and in the summer (last year), the coaches challenged me every day, and they knew what type of player I was before I even knew it," Smith said.

Parker is also high on senior defensive tackle Kam Curry, a 6-foot-2, 300-pounder.

"He has had his finest offseason," Parker said. "He's really matured, prepared and done it the right way to lead that defensive line room. It's been impressive to see him grow up."

A couple of new linebackers - transfers Bryce Steele from Boston College and Keno Jones from Barton College - have opened some eyes.

"Both are incredible young men," Parker said. "Workers, productive, fly around, tackle well … leadership qualities. Both of those young men will be key players at inside linebacker and are going to make us better."

Among the returning leaders on defense is senior safety Justin Powe, who finished third on the team with 76 tackles in addition to recording an interception, a pass break up, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

"He's a guy who had decisions to make and chose to stay," Parker said. "He had shoulder surgery at the end of the year and is now healthy. He'll be a key piece and cornerstone for our defense on our back end."

A special, special teams player
Troy has arguably the best punter in the country in senior Evan Crenshaw, the Sun Belt Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year. He had 21 punts of 50-plus yards and placed 29 of his 68 kick attempts inside the 20-yard line in earning multiple All-America honors last season.

"He is a weapon," Parker said. "He won us games last year as a punter. I think his best is yet to come."

Crenshaw said the team has put in the necessary offseason work to make another run at a championship.

"The biggest thing, I think, transitioning from last year's team to this year's team is all the guys that come back and do extra work," Crenshaw said. "There are always so many guys in the facility all day getting extra work and getting extra film. It's what people don't see that's going to set you apart."

Troy University Athletics

Johnson's Journal - SBC Media Day Stock Report; Trojans Trending Up

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Players Mentioned

Evan Crenshaw

Goose Crowder

Kam Curry

Gavin Griffin

Jack James

Jordon Jones

Keno Jones

Tucker Kilcrease

Howard Kinchen

Jordan Lovett

Jaheim Merriweather

Dennis Palmer

Luke Petit

Justin Powe

Donnie Smith

Bryce Steele

Rodge Waldrop

Noreel White

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