By Drew Champlin
Here’s some basics.
***Saturday’s scrimmage is at 2 p.m.
***Ray Carter, an offensive lineman who enrolled in January from JUCO, has left the team for personal reasons.
***Steven Adams, a returning starter at right guard who had been working at center, had shoulder surgery earlier this week and is questionable to be back for the start of fall, but coaches think he will be because of his toughness. Danny Franks has been out with foot surgery, and recently senior Tyrell Curtis, who was running with the first team at left guard, broke his foot and is out for the spring.
***Your starting offensive line for Saturday’s scrimmage will be James Brown at LT, either Tyler Graves or Jacob Creech at LG, Tyler Clark at C, Micah Grimes at RG and Nic Riley at RT. Graves is the backup LT, Zach Swindall is the backup C and Kyle Wilborn the swing guy on the right. Those are the top guys.
***On defense, there won’t be a different nickel back and different WLB. That’s one position now, meaning you’ve got to hit and cover. Daniel Sheffield and David McDowell are battling for that spot.
***Offensive coordinator Neal Brown said Cornelius Williams has making plays all over the field, especially in live drills.
***Two running backs have stood out. Redshirt freshmen D.J. Taylor, a bigger guy, will be used like Sean Dawkins (07) was, as a blocker and power back. T.J. Mitchell has proven he can play at this level. Senior Maurice Greer had a challenge issued on him, but has responded and done well. Greer is “100 percent better than he was in the fall on knowing his assignments, which was the biggest problem for him last year.“
***On transfer WR Jason Bruce: “Everything’s new for him, but he’s got some playmaking ability. He’ll be able to help us this fall.“
***On freshman WR Josh Jarboe: “He’ll be good. It’s up to him how good he wants to be early.“
***Two 2008 signees who were declared partial qualifiers (props) last year are still in school and expected to be on the team this fall if they pass 24 hours by fall. They are running back Chris Anderson and linebacker KaNorris Davis. Both will be listed as sophomores but can get their year back if they graduate in four years.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 03/25 at 06:19 PM
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By Drew Champlin
Due to rain forecasted later today, the Troy-Auburn baseball game has been postponed and will be made up Wed. April 29, the day after Troy plays at Auburn.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 03/25 at 12:49 PM
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By Drew Champlin
On the gridiron, here is the feature I wrote on senior OL Nic Riley, who is bidding for a spot at tackle. Last week, I wrote on a fifth-year senior on defense, featuring Courtland Fuller, the projected starter at strong safety.
Trojans practice today. If it’s not rained out, I may be there.
On the baseball field, I wrote this baseball notebook, talking to head coach Bobby Pierce before the Trojans won at Jacksonville State, 5-1.
A few things stood out to me about the baseball game, which Troy hopes is a positive turnaround. You don’t see a DH lead off much, but that’s what Miles Hoyle did, hitting a home run on the third pitch of the game. Troy needs a spark there and Hoyle could be that guy. Chad Watson, who had been leading off and playing CF, moved to the sixth spot and started in LF. Also, redshirt freshman Daniel Peterson got the start in center. A broken ankle ended his season early last year and maybe Peterson, who is a plus defender and a true centerfielder, is back from that fully. Pierce told me just a week ago that he wasn’t ready, but if he started, he obviously is now. Steven Rosado, who started the year in CF, has been battling a wrist injury and, well, it’s tough to hit when your wrists hurt.
The pitching was very good as Andrew Dickinson and Drew Hull threw four good innings each and Josh Storm, who needs to round back to last year’s form, struck out 2 in the ninth.
Hopefully today’s game with Auburn doesn’t get washed out. I’ll be there saddled up on the table in front of the press box on the side that Barry and Jerry will be calling the game. I keep suggesting they get Chris to be their dugout reporter, but that’s falling on deaf ears at the moment.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 03/25 at 02:15 AM
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By Drew Champlin
Talked to head coach Bobby Pierce, whose team is on the way to Jacksonville State.
Catcher Blake Martz’ preliminary diagnosis is a sprained MCL and he’s out 2-to-3 weeks. No MRI has been done yet, but that’s the first word based on the trainers. Steven Felix is really the only guy left there now, which is a problem. Jake Sullivan now becomes the backup, but he’s battling a back problem. He can catch and throw but can’t swing a bat. He could in an emergency basis, but can’t go a full 9 innings because of that. Infielder Adam Bryant has worked some at catcher in an emergency role.
Starting pitchers for the midweek are Andrew Dickinson against JSU tonight and Tim Wheeler vs. Auburn Wednesday. Problem is, it’s supposed to rain and storm all day and night in Troy Wednesday, so that game may not get played.
Reliever Josh Storm is on the bus to JSU and might get to pitch tonight. He says his hand is better.
Pierce liked the effort in the teams’ series loss to WKU. The Tops are 8-1 in league play and remind me of Troy’s dominance in the A-Sun back in 2005.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 03/24 at 04:09 PM
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