Troy announced 35 signees last February, according to the school’s web site. We will go by that list. Note, several of those heights and weights are a little off.
Who is grayshirting? QB Corey Robinson, WR Felton Payton, WR/TE Gavin Ellis, OL Jimbo Arnold and LB Johnny Thompson will enroll in the spring.
Who didn’t make it academically? Quite a few, since that’s what happens when so many signees are announced. FB/LB Talris Brown, DT DeAndre Dorn, DT Calvin Francois, DE Stoney Jackson, WR Darius Morgan, RB/ATH Chris Perry, DB Michael Ricks, DB Demarcus Robertson (he re-signed for 2009), LB Terrance Williams
These guys also didn’t make it: Prior to the year, we found out LB Kanorris Davis didn’t fully qualify. He’s a partial qualifer and going to school at Troy, but he won’t be eligible to participate in team activities until the fall of 2009. Same goes for RB Chris Anderson, who practiced, then was drug around by the NCAA and finally declared ineligible in a move that angered many in the Troy athletic department.
Top newcomer: DB/KR Jorrick Calvin. The JUCO transfer really established himself as a go-to guy in the second half of the year. It’s always good when you have a reliable guy catching punts, which he became late in the year, and returned a kickoff for a score at North Texas while solidifying a cornerback spot. Calvin is poised for big things in 2009.
Top disappointment: DB Michael Ricks. Fans had high hopes for Ricks, who was a talent on the field but couldn’t (or wouldn’t) get the academic work done off it. There’s a slim chance he could play as a senior in 2009, his last shot at eligibility, but don’t count on it. Also, remember he hasn’t played organized football since 2006 in junior college.
Top disappointments (of guys who actually made it): RB Maurice Greer and WR TeBiarus Gill. However, most of this was because fans had way too high expectations for the two players. Greer is back from a battle with testicular cancer and found a niche as a kickoff returner, but couldn’t crack the running back rotation. Factor in that he didn’t get a spring practice to learn the drills and he was inconsistent with his assignments. Greer has a lot to play for this spring and needs a good one to get more carries in his senior season. Gill also didn’t get a spring practice, and came in out of shape and battled injuries. The JUCO transfer has a chance to be a big part of the Trojans’ WR corps for the next two years if he can get his academics in order and be more consistent on the practice field.
Is that Omar out there? Plenty were surprised in the FIU game, the Trojans’ sixth game, when QB Dantavious Parker ran out there wearing No. 17, the same number as legend Omar Haugabook. He scored rushing touchdowns against FIU and next week against UNT, but we didn’t see him any more in that special package. That’s a mystery, but he’ll get some looks in the spring. Coaches want to use a redshirt year on him, but aren’t sure when.
These guys also played a little: CB KeJuan Phillips, a 2007 grayshirt, was the team’s fourth cornerback and he has a chance to become a starter with a good spring. DE Brandon Boudreaux, another 2007 grayshirt, saw spot duty but not much time behind star DEs Brandon Lang and Cameron Sheffield. He had some of the best bench press numbers on the team even as a youngster and he’s still viewed as a guy with a lot of potential. WR Chip Reeves saw spot duty as well but, like most freshmen, struggled to learn the college game. The sky is the limit for this speedster, who stands a hair under 6-feet tall, but he needs to put some weight on his frame. DB Kedric Manning was a reserve defensive back and played special teams as a JUCO transfer. He could be the starting nickel in his senior year. Tall, lanky DB Daniel Sheffield came in as a JUCO transfer sophomore and he’s best remembered as the guy that batted the kickoff, which bounced off an FAU guy’s helmet, to a teammate, Jorrick Calvin, who recovered and set up a Trojan score. The 6-foot-4 Sheffield will be in the mix for a starting spot at safety. 2007 grayshirt KeJuan Phillips played some too and he’ll have a big shot for the other CB spot next year.
Redshirted: RB T.J. Mitchell, OT Kyle Wilborn, 2007 grayshirt OG Jacob Creech, DLs James Searcy, Mario Addison, Tim Lamb, Chigozie Nwankwo, Tony Davis, LB Jacoby Thomas, DB Bryan Willis
Watch out for: DE Mario Addison. The JUCO transfer redshirted last year as he hasn’t played defensive end very long, but shows tremendous potential. With Lang, Sheffield and Kenny Mainor, it was decided he would redshirt and get more time on the back end of his career, one he definitely supported as I got a chance to talk with him during New Orleans Bowl practices. “Super Mario” has a chance to be an impact player in 2009, even with Lang and Sheffield back as seniors, and the sky is the limit for him.
What about the rest? Wilborn, a long-armed freshman, will get some looks at offensive tackle even with the new JUCO guys coming in. Creech will get a chance to crack the deep depth chart at offensive guard. I’m interested to see Mitchell, a good scatback with a lot of speed but needed badly to bulk up. Searcy was ready-to-play, but didn’t need to because of experienced depth. Lamb is a powerful guy in the trenches but needed to lose some weight, and hopefully the redshirt year did that for him. Thomas was a highly-regarded prep linebacker, but couldn’t overtake redshirt freshmen Donnell Golden or Xavier Lamb in preseason practices, so he redshirted. Willis, Nwankwo and Tony Davis will get extended looks in the spring as DL and DBs are spots up for grabs for next year.
The five guys who grayshirted will all get looks as well, especially Robinson at QB, since Tanner Jones and Jamie Hampton will be limited coming off knee surgery.
Oh, I can’t forget about him: The biggest impact player from this class could end up being WR Josh Jarboe. Obviously he isn’t listed above because he didn’t sign in February and came to Troy after being dismissed from Oklahoma. He had to redshirt last year because Oklahoma had already granted him admission, but he would have been the deep threat that was lacking this year and his addition to the offense could help QB Levi Brown put up even bigger numbers.
Or him: DL Kevin Dixon was a late addition to the Trojans’ squad and had to sit out after transferring from Nebraska. I still don’t know much about him, other than people telling me he’s pretty good. I think he’ll just have one year left to play. Dixon, who was dismissed from Nebraska, slipped through the cracks here unlike Jarboe, because everyone in the country knew who Josh Jarboe was (and it’s a sure thing the Troy athletics department didn’t want his criminal record getting out there, even though there are far worse things he could have done, not that what he was charged for is a good thing).
Still, from what I can tell, both players stayed out of trouble and did what they were supposed to do off the field this year.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 12/28 at 11:31 PM
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JUCO offensive tackle Tyler Graves (Pearl River CC, 6-foot-6, 280) signed with Troy.
UPDATE - Troy finalized its midyear recruiting with the signing of offensive tackle Tyler Graves, who had originally committed to Memphis. Graves, a native of Sumrall, Miss., was at Florida State for two seasons (redshirted in 2006) and at Pearl River (Miss.) Community College this fall. He will enroll for the spring semester and challenge for a spot at tackle.
Other JUCO letters of intent that came in for midyear guys are as follows:
OT James Brown
OT Ray Carter
OT Tyler Graves
WR Jason Bruce
DT Riley Flowers
DT Emmanuel Dudley
DB Demarcus Robertson ———————————————————————————————-
OFFENSIVE COMMITMENTS
Jason Bruce, WR, Copiah-Lincoln, Miss., CC SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT James Brown, OT, SW Mississippi CC SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT Tyler Graves, OT, Pearl River Mississippi CC SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT Ray Carter, OT, Garden City CC SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT Jay Stansberry, OT, Bremen, Ga. Cody Jenkins, OT, Beauregard, Ala. Nate Newland, OT, Hutchinson, Kan. CC Demond Dennis, RB, Atlanta, Ga. Jimbo Arnold, OG, Belle Glade, Fla. (2008 GRAYSHIRT) Felton Payton, WR, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (2008 GRAYSHIRT) Gavin Ellis, WR/TE, Cullman, Ala. (2008 GRAYSHIRT) Corey Robinson, QB, Lone Oak, Ky., (2008 GRAYSHIRT)
DEFENSIVE COMMITMENTS
Emmanuel Dudley, DT, Northeast Miss., CC SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT Riley Flowers, DT, Jones County Miss. CC SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT Demarcus Robertson, DB, Garden City, CC (2008 RESIGN)SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT Eugene Kinlaw, DT, Hutchinson, Kan. CC Montavious Williams, DT, Cairo, Ga. Jonathan Massaquoi, DE, Butler County CC Shermane Teart, DE, Orlando, Fla. Johnny Thompson, LB, Valley, Ala. (2008 GRAYSHIRT)
**Bear in mind that these commitments are verbal and are non-binding until National Signing Day, the first Wednesday in February.
The players with SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT by their names are midyear enrollees and should be eligible for 2009 spring practice.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 12/28 at 02:48 PM
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I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Looks like we’re back to work and hopefully I can get some signee news for you in the next day or so.
Anyway, FAU did the Sun Belt well with a Motor City Bowl win over Central Michigan in what was basically a road game. Our good friend Ted Hutton chronicles it all in cold Detroit (I’ve been fortunate this job has taken me many different places. I hope Detroit on Dec. 26 is not one of them). Last year at SBC Media Days, the talk was how the Belt had passed the MAC and was percentage points away from passing the CUSA based on some power poll. Since the Sun Belt went 1-for the CUSA (with the 1 win being FAU over UAB), I’d say that gap has stretched a bit further.
In my opinion, it wasn’t a good year for the Sun Belt. A couple of notable wins were Middle Tennessee at home over Maryland and Arkansas State on the road at Texas A&M.
Now, for some poll results. Based on voting at 11:15 a.m. CST Dec. 27, here’s what we got.
Offensive MVP YOUR VOTE: Levi Brown (53%) MY PICK: Levi Brown. Up until Jerrel Jernigan hurt his knee and had to play at less than 100 percent, I would have said him. What Levi Brown did after taking over in Game 6 and leading this team was remarkable
Defensive MVP
YOUR VOTE: Boris Lee (34%) looks like he overtook Bear Woods by a vote since last night MY PICK: Brandon Lang. The junior defensive end was dominant, very dominant, and could be Troy’s next first round pick if he stays healthy
Special Teams MVP
YOUR VOTE: Jorrick Calvin (76%) MY PICK: Jorrick Calvin. In the last half of the year, he gave fans something to be excited about in the return game and at corner.
Biggest Surprise YOUR VOTE: Levi Brown (79%) MY PICK: Levi Brown. Mostly since no one thought he’d play this year, and the TD-INT ratio (15-3) was very good.
Play of the Year
YOUR VOTE: Jorrick Calvin’s strip, recovery and 17-yard score to open the New Orleans Bowl (39%) MY PICK: Give some love to Terence Moore’s INT return against LSU. But, it wasn’t on national TV. When it happened, it put Troy up 24-3. At that point, even in the second quarter, I thought Troy had that game won. It would be the play everyone is still talking about had the game continued on that same course.
Which Troy team was better (over the last three years)? YOUR VOTE: Tie, 2007 and 2008 (43 percent) MY PICK: 2007. That was a great team that deserved better. I’m still debating on which team was better - 2008 or 2006
Heartbreaking moment of the year
YOUR VOTE; Letdown at LSU (79%) MY PICK: Letdown at LSU. That would have been the road win over a power program, a legit power program.
Troy’s biggest SBC challenge next year
YOUR VOTE: FAU (33%) MY PICK: FAU. The Owls return plenty on offense and I’d put them ahead of the rest of the pack, with MTSU and FIU also in the mix.
I’ll have some PRE-SPRING, PRE-RECRUITING position previews over the next few days.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 12/27 at 11:26 AM
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Hopefully I’ll check back in after Christmas, but here are some polls I’d like you guys to vote on. On the 27th, I’ll close the voting, post your results, and post what I voted for. I hope I didn’t leave something off - I did this on a whim.
I wanted to say thanks to all who read this blog. It’s been a fun football season and the best is yet to come, so don’t stop reading. It won’t stop with football - I’ll get you the same basketball and baseball coverage as well, and we’ve always got recruiting and spring football.
It was a pleasure meeting everyone who introduced themselves to me in New Orleans, and I enjoyed having numerous people come up to me and say “I’m Mr. Ho” or “This is Mrs. Ho.“ I wish you all happy and safe holiday season and Merry Christmas.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 12/24 at 12:20 AM
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Here’s my GAME STORY and Ken Rogers’ COLUMN from this late-ending game.
There were three times I thought USM would be dead in the water, but to their credit, they stuck with it and won the game.
1. Jorrick Calvin’s TD early
2. When DeAndre Brown left with the leg injury
3. When Troy went up 27-17 and then stopped USM on its next drive.
Now, the OL got worse after Danny Franks left with a concussion. He looked pretty bad in the hotel a few hours after the game. Hopefully he’ll heal soon. Apparently, tight end Travis Boyd got a concussion too, that I didn’t know until a little while ago.
What I’m wondering is if Boyd’s on the field goal block team (on the right side) and wasn’t in at the end, and someone missed an assignment allowing a blocker to come free.
To me, USM just looked like the better team tonight. Troy was a great team that had a great year but it had some faults, namely lack of depth on defense and lack of execution on short-yardage/some red zone situations. That’s the reason it went 8-4 in the regular season and not 10-2.
I think next year can be really, really good IF they shore up the offensive tackle position and at safety. Defensive tackle is a question mark supposedly but there’s some great recruits coming in. I keep hearing about this Nebraska transfer that was here this year and it’s really flown in under the radar. Well, I’M PRETTY SURE IT’S THIS GUY. He’s on the Troytrojans.com roster (Kevin Dixon, No. 59). I’ll try to find out more about him but he had to sit out this year. Not sure if he will be a senior or a junior.
My notes didn’t get posted online. They aren’t as good as they normally are because of time, so I’ll just post them here
Moreland returns from injury
Just two weeks after having surgery for a broken collarbone, running back Xavier Moreland returned to play his final game. Moreland ran four times for 28 yards. Franks leaves with injury
Center Danny Franks missed the final quarter of the game with what head coach Larry Blakeney said as “he got knocked out.“ Steve Adams moved to center and Wes Potter to right guard.
Jernigan breaks school record
With a 3-yard reception in the third quarter, Jerrel Jernigan broke the Troy single-season record for catches in a year with his 73rd catch. The record was previously held by Danny Grant in 1968.
Jernigan later scored on a 6-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to put Troy up 27-17.
USM’s top target goes down early
USM wideout DeAndre Brown left the game just five minutes in with a lower leg fracture. Brown was going for a pass in the end zone with Chris Bowens in coverage when it looked like he injured his leg on the plant before jumping up for the pass. Replays showed his leg bending below the knee and he was carted off on a stretcher.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Brown (67 catches, 1,117 yards, 12 TDs) was on several All-America lists and named Conference USA Freshman of the Year. He had one catch for 9 yards in the game.
Umpire hurt
After a 9-yard run by Troy’s DuJuan Harris, umpire Art Hines had to be helped off the field by Troy head trainer Chuck Ash. Hines’ left knee was examined on the training table and then wrapped in ice. He didn’t return to the game. It was Hines’ last game as an official, as he is retiring after this year.
Bowl odds and ends
Jorrick Calvin’s 17-yard fumble return 50 seconds into the game was the fastest score in the game’s history … Austin Davis’ 64-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Baptiste to make it 7-7 was the longest in the game’s history. … Kennard Burton became the 12th Trojan to catch a TD with his 4-yard score in the first quarter, which is tops in the nation. … Maurice Greer’s 53-yard kickoff return in the first quarter is the second-longest in the game’s history. … The announced attendance was 30,197, a New Orleans Bowl record. … Cornelius Williams’ 38-yard punt return in the third quarter that set up a Troy score was a New Orleans Bowl record.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 12/22 at 02:38 AM
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