Who?

July 24, 2007

By Drew Champlin

Having normal chit chat with Omar Haugabook and Marcus Richardson this morning at media days, and I ask a little about pass skel. Of course, they don’t know all of the freshmen’s names. Well, I’m pretty sure Omar does, at least the offensive guys.

In pass skel, the “guy from Eufaula” is looking pretty good. That would be Jerrel Jernigan, a guy who can make a real impact this year. I’ve seen him when he played quarterback for Eufaula High School in leading the Tigers to the 5A state title game, and he’s special with the ball in his hands. Tony Franklin’s offense looks for playmakers, and he will be one in his career. Likely this year.

Also mentioned a “running back from Florida” as looking good. I think that’s DuJuan Harris from St. Petersburg, or it could be Ricky McGee from Tallahassee. I remember Franklin quoting to me in February after signing day on how they had hopes on Harris, but don’t remember McGee’s name as much.

I guess we’ll see in a little over a week.

Back from Media Days

By Drew Champlin

Just got back from New Orleans. Sorry for not being able to post this morning, as I was having some internet difficulties.
I’ve got a story on Troy being the pick to repeat in the Sun Belt plus a story on Florida Atlantic that I found interesting.

Tomorrow will be a Q and A with Marcus Richardson that some of you might enjoy, plus a story on the new coaches at FIU and North TExas and how they are adapting to the league.
Thursday I’m going to have a short story on my chat with commissioner Wright Waters, at least that’s the plan. He spoke very highly of Troy. Other news of note - he’s not in favor of college football games not being played on Thursday or Saturday (Troy has two not on those days), but understands the exposure. He’s also not in favor of seeing the league expand much further football-wise with a championship game. He feels that the Sun Belt will get a 2nd bowl soon, but said it is a “must have” by 2009. He said the bowl game would be in the Southeast so fans can get to it easier.

Later tonight I’ll look for some links from other papers that were at the event.

Quick note to those who posted comments

July 23, 2007

By Drew Champlin

So I was editing the post below this and saw that three comments had been made on other Troy blog posts.

First off, thanks for doing so. Second, I’m sorry I didn’t catch them until now. They are on the page. On the old Media General sports blogs, which no one ever read, if a comment was made, it emailed all of us in the sports department. The website people hopefully will change that. If they can’t, just be patient and I’ll try to check as often as I can to open the comments.

Obviously I’ll put most of the comments on there, even if you disagree with me. Some of the comments will be approved/disapproved by someone other than me. I just can’t let anything libelous or threatening go by, but hopefully we won’t have a problem with that.

One day in the bags

By Drew Champlin

Tuesday morning will conclude Media Days. Speaking will be Wright Waters, Sun Belt commissioner, Paul Valteau, the guy who heads up the New Orleans Bowl, Don Lucas, the head of officials in the Sun Belt and Bill Curry, the guest speaker. I’ll provide on this blog any interesting insights.

Here’s one quote from Larry Blakeney that didn’t make it into the print edition for me just not finding a place for it. But it was good - on Troy’s high hopes.

“If you look at us, we lost four out of the five starters on the offensive line, our long snapper, our punter and our holder. We lost three heart and soul defensive players. I believe with all my heart, we can replace every one of them, but the fact still remains that there’s holes in our personnel.“

Who replaces them? Well a quick look. Here’s the lost starter and position, followed by the projected 2007 starter

LT - Rob Austin - Chris Jamison (moved from LG)
C - Zach Yenser - Danny Franks
RG - James Gardner - Steven Merkel or a newcomer, likely a newcomer
RT - Kirbie Bodiford - Dion Small
P - Jason Wright - Adrian Vera or Will Goggans
H - Jason Wright - Austin Silvoy
DT - Frankie Lloyd - Chris Bradwell, Dion Gales or Marcus Pittman (I’m not sure at the moment which of the three play the nose or three-technique defensive tackle position)
OLB - Ryan Babb - Romanique Lewis or newcomer David McDowell
SS - Brannon Condren - Terence Moore, Trevor Ford (FSU transfer) or Sherrod Martin (2004-05 starter at free safety)

On Chris Jamison, it’s looking like the junior will get a good look at left tackle. He became a starter at left guard in his third game as a redshirt freshman and has started since then. He’s the most experienced guy on the line and if you have a choice, he’s the one you want protecting the quarterback’s blind side. Now if he plays professionally, he doesnt project as a left tackle, but as a guard.

Will Chambliss is a guy who is being looked at very hard to play left guard.

Troy did this with Mookie Moore, who made it to the NFL and might still be kickin’ somewhere. Troy also did this in 2005 with Zarah Yisrael.

Some Troy tidbits from Media Days

By Drew Champlin

Spoke with head coach Larry Blakeney. He said that four guys (tight end Larry Johnson, defensive tackle Brandon Suggs, defensive end Jamare Mathis and running back Justin Brooks) are no longer with the team.

Brooks was arrested earlier in the summer in Barbour County on drug charges. He was a walk-on and played sparingly as a true freshman and will probably transfer somewhere where he can get a scholarship, probably a smaller school.

I reported earlier in the spring that quarterback Julian Foster left and Blakeney said he thought Foster is now at Jacksonville State, but that’s something worth looking in to. He’s been off the team for a while so I’m not as concerned, but it is interesting. I also reported that cornerback Henry Chubb had left. He’s a big loss.

It looks like five-star defensive tackle Dion Gales has done the necessary work and will be on campus. Blakeney said I’ll like his personality, so I’m looking forward to that. He said no other big names have left. Chris Bradwell and Maurice Coleman, two of the three guys arrested last August, are back and have done everything they need to do.

Most of the newcomers are already on campus. Blakeney said he’s looking for big things out of running back Stanley Jones, athlete Jerrel Jernigan, offensive lineman Micah Grimes and possibly quarterback Jamie Hampton as the backup position there is still unsettled.

I really don’t like this dial-up at the Hilton, where the Media Days are being held. Good thing I’m staying at the Marriott.