Troy notes: ULM quarterback battling thumb injury

TROY — UL-Monroe quarterback Trey Revell was instrumental in last year’s 31-30 win over Troy. Revell, then a backup, came in late and led the Warhawks down the field for the game-winning score.

This week, when Troy and ULM play, it’s looking like he’ll be a spectator. Revell, now a junior, was having a solid season with 1,124 passing yards and eight touchdowns, but broke his thumb in an Oct. 13 game against Arkansas State.

He had surgery the next day and said Tuesday he hadn’t been able to throw yet. If he can’t go, redshirt freshman Cody Wells will start Saturday’s 6 p.m. game. Wells played in last week’s game, a 36-13 loss at Kentucky.

“I didn’t know it would be as hard mentally as it is,” Revell said. “It’s killing me. I really want to be out there. I’m just trying to get to where I can throw it again.”

Troy defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell and head coach Larry Blakeney both said they weren’t sure of a difference between Revell and Wells, though Revell is five inches taller (6-foot-5) than Wells.

“They’re probably about the same,” Blakeney said. “Revell is certainly more experienced. (Wells), from what I heard, really played good at Kentucky and is a pretty good player. We’ve got to be ready for their best and try to play great defense.”

Revell is from Tallahassee, but chose ULM over Florida Atlantic. He said he didn’t get recruited by Troy, but is friends with Troy quarterback and Tallahassee native Tanner Jones, who is out for the year with a knee injury.

He said he hasn’t talked to Jones yet this year.

“I got a new phone and I lost his number,” Revell said. “I’m mad at myself for that.”

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Defensive end Brandon Lang and linebacker Bear Woods both said their favorite Halloween costumes were ninja turtles from the action-packed cartoon and movie.

Woods said he was Raphael. “The one that was aggressive,” he said.

Lang, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive end, said he was Donatello and wasn’t too afraid to admit he liked wearing the purple.

“My favorite one was Donatello, so I wore purple,” Lang said. “I was a kid, though. That was one of my favorite cartoon characters.”

Safeties waiting on interceptions: Senior safeties Chris Bowens and Courtland Fuller have played well in their first season as starters, but haven’t gotten interceptions yet like cornerbacks Barry Valcin and Bryan Willis.

“The guys are picking at us that we’ve had several balls come our way that we let through our hands,” Bowens said. “I know when me and Courtland get a chance, we’re going to take it to the house, so it’ll be big moment for us.”

The secondary, with four new starters, has been one of the most improved units on the team from the start of the season.

Jarboe getting healthier, more involved: Freshman receiver Josh Jarboe is over his nagging injuries. He has 11 catches for 176 yards this year, but hasn’t been able to get in the end zone despite several close calls — either drops or slight over or underthrows.

“He’s playing,” offensive coordinator Neal Brown said. “I’d like to get him going. He’ll help us. He’s just a freshman and he feels everybody talking about him. He’s 19 years old and has played in six (college) football games ever, really five since we barely played him at Arkansas State.

“He’s just learning how to practice and eventually it’s going to translate. It hasn’t yet. He’ll come and look unbelievable in practice and it just hasn’t translated yet into Saturday. It’s going to.”