Troy notebook: Maurice Greer hitting stride in backfield

TROY — Maurice Greer is starting to hit his stride as a major college running back.

The Troy senior showed out against FIU in a 42-33 win last week, running for a 46-yard score against FIU and making a big play on third down with a 22-yard reception where he broke a tackle right after the catch.

The week before, he ran for 80 yards on Troy’s final drive in a 31-7 win over Middle Tennessee.

Greer is a regular kick returner, but hasn’t found as many opportunities running the ball behind DuJuan Harris and Shawn Southward.
Greer and the Trojans (4-2, 3-0 Sun Belt) play North Texas (1-5, 0-3) Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

“It feels real good with the fact that the coaches they believe in what I can do and them giving me the opportunity to go in and make some plays,” Greer said.

Greer’s story is a remarkable one. He was Colorado’s Mr. Football in 2004, but was stricken with testicular cancer before his second year in junior college.

He beat the disease, but ballooned up to 260 pounds in the process and lost all his hair with the treatments. He came back to play his sophomore season in junior college after a redshirt year and signed with Troy prior to last season.

Greer feels he’s just now getting over the cancer physically and is now getting used to Troy’s no-huddle offense. Coaches say he’s improved his practice habits and picked up on his assignments much better than last year.

“It was tough after I was cured,” Greer said.

It’s like starting all over. I had to go back to the basics and take it day by day.

“Everything happens for a reason so I just try to take it in stride and take advantage of my opportunity.”

Adams will play Saturday: Head coach Larry Blakeney said that right guard Steven Adams, who was ejected in the win over FIU, would be able to play Saturday.

The Sun Belt determined that Adams was not engaged in a fight after referees said he kicked an FIU player.

The film showed otherwise, showing that his leg was flung up after an FIU player emerged from a pile.

Tune likely to start: It’s looking more likely that junior Nathan Tune, UNT’s backup quarterback, will start Saturday, the Denton Record-Chronicle reported.

Starter Riley Dodge was knocked out of last week’s game, a 44-40 loss to Florida Atlantic, with an ankle injury.

“I see Nate starting this ballgame,” UNT head coach Todd Dodge told the paper Tuesday. “Riley will continue to get treatment. We want both of them to be able to contribute. If we had to play tomorrow Nate would start, but the game is four days away.”

Tune has thrown for 324 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on the season. Riley Dodge has thrown for 972 yards with three touchdowns and seven interceptions.