Post-spring look: DEFENSIVE BACKS

April 24, 2008

By Drew Champlin

TOP GUYS: Sherrod Martin (Sr.), Terence Moore (Sr.), Tavares Williams (Sr.)
OTHER GUYS: Courtland Fuller (Jr. - Safety), Bryant McKissic (So. - Safety), Chris Bowens (Jr. - CB), Trevor Ford (Sr. - CB), KeJuan Phillips (Fr. - CB), Darryl Watts (Sr. - CB)
TOP NEWCOMERS: Michael Ricks (Jr. - Safety), Daniel Sheffield (So. - Safety), Jorrick Calvin (Jr. - CB), Demarcus Robertson (Jr. - CB), Kedric Manning (Jr. - CB), Bryan Willis (Fr. - CB)

The secondary won’t be short on talent this fall, but there are still a lot of questions to be answered.

One starts with all three senior safeties - Martin, Moore and Williams. Martin was the nickel back last year, but Moore, who is about 25 pounds heavier, assumed that role this spring and could be there this fall, with Williams and Martin manning both safety spots. Regardless, all three will be on the field at the same time a lot - it just depends on where. Fuller and McKissic - both returners - will fight off highly-touted signees in Ricks and Sheffield for reserve action. Ricks twice signed with Alabama and now he’s at Troy. Sheffield redshirted one year at JUCO and still has three left.

The big question is at corner, where Ford and Bowens and Phillips (a grayshirt enrollee this Jan.) couldn’t establish themselves as starters. With the four newcomers coming in at corner, there’s a very good chance both spots will be inherited by JUCO transfers.

“That position will still be up for grabs when we get to the fall,“ defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell said. “Hopefully during the fall the cream will rise to the top.“

Phillips was the new guy this spring, as he grayshirted after signing in 2007.

“He did a good job for a true freshman,“ Rowell said. “He’s what I thought he was athletically when we recruited him.“

Leodis McKelvin reading

By Drew Champlin

Here’s the story I wrote on Leodis McKelvin, who will be Troy’s top NFL Draft pick this weekend.

But we talked for several minutes Tuesday, and obviously I couldn’t fit it all in the story. Here’s most of the rest of the conversation.

On his father, Lee Otis (double name, I can’t remember his last name but it’s not McKelvin) and their relationship, which started up again his senior year of high school. Did he think he was getting back in his life because of athletics?

“He started being a father figure to me. Coming out of high school, they can’t tell if I was going to do something like this or not. He was seeing if I was doing what I was supposed to do to go to college. I knew him, but he wasn’t there.

“We talk, but not every day. I talked to him the other day. He wanted to know where we were going to have the (draft) party because he wanted to come.“

On Troy holding Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson to just 2 catches for 9 yards in 2006.

“Not only me, but it was everyone else. I felt like I could play anytime before that happened, but that was anouther source of credibility I could put on my resume.“

Would you have gone to New York for the NFL Draft if invited?

“Yes. Who wouldn’t want to go up there and be on TV and have all that exposure going up there? Everybody at home gets to see you on TV.“

Thoughts on not getting invited.

“I knew they were going to select a few players. If they had selected a few players, my name might have been thrown up there. It wasn’t, so oh well, I’ll watch it on TV.“

Some trip highlights:

“I had the best steak I’ve ever had in Washington and stayed in the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in.“ (he couldn’t remember the names of the hotel and restaurant)

“I went through one airport where I gave this dude my ID, he looked at me kinda funny. I asked what, and he said, ‘I know you for some reason.’ That was the only place where someone acted like they knew who I was.“

“Florida was great weather. Buffalo was cold. It gets cold up there at night and they say it starts snowing real early.“

What if Buffalo’s your new team? Can you learn to enjoy the cold?

“If they sign me, I’ll be out there making snow angels. It doesn’t matter to me.“

If I’m an NFL GM, why should I draft you?
“I’m a shut-down corner and plus I’m a dynamic. I’m going to get you the best field position. The only thing you’ve got to do is grind it out and get some points.“

Do you correct people when they say Troy State?

“I always correct them. If coaches come to me and say ‘Troy State,’ I say ‘Troy. Troy University.’ When I came here, it was Troy University, so that’s all I know.“

On Troy’s future

“Troy’s going to be on the rise in just a matter of time. I’d tell all the other teams to step up because Troy’s on the rise and they’re going to come at them and I’m behind them 100 percent.“

Leodis/others pro update

April 22, 2008

By Drew Champlin

Talked to Leodis McKelvin earlier today for a feature for Thursday. He got the name “Leodis” from his biological father, whose name is “Lee Otis” (double name). His godmother shrunk it to Leodis. Interesting story.

Also, some news in that an entourage from the New Orleans Saints, including head coach Sean Payton put McKelvin through a workout today (Tuesday).

Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith has been a recent visitor to Troy to work out McKelvin. The Falcons have the No. 3 pick and of course McKelvin is from Waycross. He’s having his draft party in Atlanta.

Linebacker Marcus Richardson should get picked somewhere late. Even WR Gary Banks has a shot, despite his 26 years of age. Scouts wanted him to run in the low 4.5s, and he ran 4.51 three straight times. CB Elbert Mack has really put himself in position to get picked, and K Greg Whibbs has a great shot. All these would be late round picks. Others will sign free agent deals.

I’ve thrown a lot of information at you guys today, that’s what spending a full day in Troy will get me. Check out the basketball information below as well as the special teams post-spring look.

Basketball signings

By Drew Champlin

Troy has signed three players for the next basketball season.

One of them is Chris Leggett, listed as a 6-foot-7 forward from Wallace-Hanceville. Read more about him at that link.

Two others are guards. Regis Huddleston is a 6-foot-1 shooting guard from Meridian Community College. Travis Lee is a 5-foot-10 point guard from NE Mississippi Community College. Both are playing in the MS JUCO all-star game.

That leaves Troy, assuming everyone returns next year, with one more spot. Troy had one player on a visit - Antywan Jones - a 6-foot-6 swing man from Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Miss. He’d be a pretty good player for the Trojans.

Not sure if anyone will leave, but assuming Troy gets all four, it won’t have a single freshman or sophomore on next year’s roster. I don’t know if this Jones kid will sign with Troy or not, but he’s also playing in that MS JUCO all-star game.

Post-spring look: SPECIAL TEAMS

By Drew Champlin

Spent some time with special teams coach Shayne Wasden this morning after a long talk with Leodis McKelvin.

TOP GUYS: K - Michael Taylor (RFr.), P - Will Goggans (RFr.), KR - DuJuan Harris (So.), Jerrel Jernigan (So.), PR - Jerrel Jernigan (So.) LS - Derick Thomas (Jr.) H - Austin Silvoy (So.)

The two redshirt freshmen - Taylor and Goggans - won the jobs in the spring and are poised to handle kicking duties for Troy for the next four years.

“Michael Taylor had a really good spring,“ Wasden said. “He kicked off exceptionally well and that was really a pleasant surprise. He was a lot more consistent on field goals and PATs than he had been, so we feel good coming out spring.“

Troy is replacing four-year starter Greg Whibbs, who will find himself affiliated with an NFL team by the beginning of next week.

“Michael’s leg is not quite as strong as Greg’s, but we feel like it will be by the time he leaves here,“

Right now, the backup kicker is Goggans, the starting punter, since the situation with Sam Glusman is still in doubt.

Goggans, who also redshirted last year, showed that he’s ready to become the starting punter.

“He had a really good spring and worked hard on getting the ball off in two steps,“ Wasden said. “He had really good catch-to-kick times.“

Wasden said the Trojans would kick out of regular formation and rugby-style. Long snapper Derick Thomas’ snaps have been accurate, but the velocity isn’t as good as it need to be.

Jerrel Jernigan has stepped up as the top punt returner, but coaches are hoping some newcomers can take a load off of him in the kick return game. Currently, Jernigan and DuJuan Harris are the top kick returners, but newcomers Jorrick Calvin (JUCO transfer) and T.J. Mitchell (freshman).