Troy University has been a powerhouse of the Sun Belt Conference for quite some time. In 2011 head Coach Larry Blakeney and his team experienced disappointing losses and their worst season ever going 3-9.
Come this fall the Troy Trojans will be looking to rebound
with explosive fire on the field as they look to take back their crown as the
SBC powerhouse. It want be easy for the Trojans, they have to face four other
rising powers within the SBC in Arkansas State the 2011 defending conference
champions finishing their season 10-3, Arkansas State is now coached by former
Auburn offensive coordinator and now head coach Guz Malzahn. Troy will also
face Louisiana-Lafayette a team which rose up and made it to their first post
season bowl appearance under head coach Mark Hudspeth and won, and then you
have Florida International who also has a rising star in a football coach
Cristobal. We cannot even count out a
team that had it first winning season since being in FBS play in Western
Kentucky and came in second in conference play last season under head coach
Willie Taggart.
Troy has been working hard to accomplish their goals for
this fall, by taking up their matters in spring drills and practices. Blakeney
is not letting up on his players; he knows that they must be developed to play
a winning game.
This spring the offense exploded during spring practice, an offense that looked like the old days. QB Corey Robinson will once again be the star on offense for Troy this coming season, in spring practice Robinson found some key receivers to receive his balls in Jamel Johnson, Eric Thomas, Chip Reeves and Chandler Worthy.
In two spring scrimmages there were a total of 16 touchdowns,
and all but one came from the offensive side. The team players and assistant
coaches and coordinators also know that it going to take help from the
teammates to win games. The Trojans will also be preparing for non-conference games and
which one has become an in-state rivalry with UAB. Blakeney has been quoted
saying,"After spring ball is over, it's not over," Blakeney said.
"If you're not getting stronger, you're getting behind. We don't need
distractions. We need the football team to be the best citizens around. "We've
got to get a Master's degree in our defense and we've got to know what to do.
For us to be successful offensively, Corey Robinson has to have another great
year."
Troy defense will also need to step it’s game, they will be
getting some help from linemen- Braylon Williams, Xavier Melton, Derrek Upshaw
and cornerback Zach Miller all JC transfers.
Troy want be without running back experience, they will be
returning Shawn Southward, D.J. Taylor, Chris Anderson and T.J. Mitchell all
seniors. Daron White a redshirt freshman has also showed that he is ready to
take the field.
A Look at some of Troy Player Makers
LB
Tyler Roberts -- The redshirt freshman made plays all spring as the
backup at the Bandit linebacker position -- a hybrid defensive end spot that
can blitz or drop into coverage.
C
Andrew Phillips -- The rising senior dropped some weight and took command
of the starting center spot this year after serving as the backup last year.
The center position is crucial for Troy's offense, as he's basically the
quarterback of the offensive line.
WR
Jamel Johnson -- The junior college transfer picked up right where he
left off when he played as a freshman at Troy in 2010, emerging as the top
receiver during spring drills.
This year's team will be much more experienced than last
year's, and probably deeper and better equipped to handle injuries sustained by
the team last season. If the Troy can succeed past Arkansas State,
UL-Lafayette, and Florida International, they should be able to regain that
crown. However if the Trojans lose to ASU, FIU, ULL and even Western Kentucky,
South Alabama a new in-state and conference rival, and Florida Atlantic then
they have something to worry about.
Confidence still hold strong in the Troy Trojans.
