Trojan youngsters ready to make mark on offense

TROY — Jamie Hampton, DuJuan Harris and Jerrel Jernigan hadn’t seen a high school prom or graduation the last time Troy won a bowl game, and that was just two years ago.

Now, the tall left-hander with braces will take Troy’s first snap of the season Thursday at Middle Tennessee. The elusive running back who makes sure you know he’s not from Tampa or St. Petersburg should get the first handoff, and Eufaula’s pride and joy will get several touches a game.

Meet the new faces of Troy’s offense. Yes, they’re barely old enough to purchase tobacco products.

Hampton, the quarterback, won the job in the spring over three others. He just turned 19 in May. Harris, the running back, is the oldest of the trio as he’ll turn 20 on Sept. 3. Jernigan, the wide receiver, is the youngest. He turned 19 on June 14.

So while Troy has veterans up front and older receivers who have produced, the Trojans will rely heavily on youth to move the chains and rack up the stats.

Could that present a problem as Troy opens up in a must-win conference situation, where just one Sun Belt team — the champion — is guaranteed a bowl berth.

“It’s all in the eye of the beholder,” offensive coordinator Neal Brown said. “The way we’re looking at it is that we’ve got three guys ahead at the skill positions who are really talented. They’ve made some plays in games, but they’ve never been the guys we’ve had to lean on.

“Starting Thursday night, they’ve got to be the guys that are at the forefront.”

Hampton admitted he didn’t know much of the playbook last year, as Omar Haugabook carried the offense.

“I went over it, but I never really dived deep into it,” Hampton said. “It’s bad to say, but I knew Omar was going to play. Now, I fully know the offense.

“Maybe we’ll be able to tell how much I truly have it down pat after Thursday night.”

Hampton’s big run came in the opener last year, when he ran for 58 yards in garbage time at Arkansas. Harris ran for 372 yards and played in every game, but didn’t reach the end zone.

Jernigan became a key factor in the offense midway through after his 46-yard touchdown against North Texas and his 11-catch, 102-yard performance at Georgia, where he scored twice.

He’s itching to get back on the field because he injured his ankle in last year’s season finale, a loss to Florida Atlantic that kept Troy home for the holidays.

He touched the ball on the first three plays of the game, and got injured on the fourth play. He said he was even supposed to take some snaps at quarterback.

“The whole week of practice, they scripted a bunch of plays for me,” Jernigan said. “Screens, quarterback draws, you name it.

“Game 1, last year I was nervous. This year, I know what to expect and I know the crowd’s going to be wild. I’m ready for it.”

Calvin nearly went to MTSU: Junior cornerback/punt returner Jorrick Calvin was set to go to Middle Tennessee out of junior college, but the Blue Raiders cooled off.

Then, he said, Troy jumped in and showed the love. MTSU re-entered the picture, but it was too late.

“I’ve got two home boys who play at Middle Tenn,” Calvin said. “Then they backed off me. I met (Troy coach Jeremy) Rowell, and we had a connection. Then (MTSU) tried to jump back on me when they knew coach Rowell ... I love you (MTSU coach Rick Stockstill), you’re my boy, but coach Rowell showed me much love and made me feel welcome.

But believe it or not, there are no hard feelings.

“I’ve got nothing but love for Middle Tenn., but come Thursday it’s all a dog-eat-dog world,” Calvin said.

Potter speaks: Troy right guard Wes Potter saw roommate Micah Grimes’ graphic, suggesting that the senior be nominated for the prestigious Heisman trophy.

Then, without Potter’s permission, it ended up on Grimes’ blog on Troy’s athletic site early in fall camp.

“I had to explain to my mom that it was fake,” Potter said.

Potter knows he’ll be out of the running once the season starts Thursday and other players rack up stats.

“It will be very disappointing,” Potter said.

News and notes: Only running back Xavier Moreland (collarbone) is out with injury. Freshman running back Chris Anderson could hear on his eligibility today, but won’t travel because he hasn’t practiced in two weeks. Harris and Maurice Greer will get the work at running back, with junior Fernandus Edwards as the No. 3 back.

Linebacker Kanorris Davis and tight end Donnie Crosby won’t be eligible to practice or play this season or next spring because they didn’t finish academic work.

The winner of this game gets the Palladium trophy, which Troy has held since 2006. “I’m sure it means a lot to these guys,” Troy coach Larry Blakeney said. “It never leaves my office when we are in possession of the trophy.”