2007 signing class

August 27, 2009

By Drew Champlin

Below is a look at the 2007 signing class and how the signees fit in with today’s team. Notable walk-ons or transfers not listed below include QB Levi Brown and OL Tyler Clark.

HERE is the release on the January enrollees. HERE is the release from Signing Day.

JANUARY SIGNEES
OL - Windham Rotunda - Was here for two seasons, redshirting one, but didn’t contribute.
OL - Mark Cogburn - Coaches from College of Sequoias in California lied to Troy coaches about his knee injury, hence the reason you’ll never see another athlete from that school play at Troy. Cogburn tore up his knee (again) not far into spring practice and had to give the sport up.
OL - Dion Small - All-conference player for two years and one of Troy’s best OL ever. Tried out with the Bucs and Bills but didn’t make it.
WR - Kennard Burton - Solid player for two years, started for much of his career. Team’s second-best WR last year.
DB - Sam Sellers - Solid member of special teams
DL - Akeem Brown - Brother of NBA bust Kwame Brown, but never made it to Troy.
DL - Jeremy Jenkins - Was here for a year but academics got him.

FEBRUARY SIGNEES
Brandon Boudreaux DL 6-1 230 Auburn, Ala./Auburn HS - Grayshirted, now a reserve defensive end
Jacob Creech OL 6-3 275 Boaz, AL/Boaz HS - Grayshirted, in the mix as a backup OL
Tyrell Curtis OL 6-4 290 Delta, UT/Delta HS/Snow JC - Redshirted his first year, in the mix as a backup OL
Jeffery Daniels LB 6-1 210 Brantley, AL/Brantley HS - Never made it to campus
Dion Gales DL 6-6 290 New Orleans, LA/J.F. Kennedy HS/Miss. Gulf Coast CC - Two-year starter, now with the Kansas City Chiefs
Donnell Golden LB 6-2 215 Quitman, GA/Brooks County HS - Started some last year when Bear Woods was hurt, will start the first two games this year. Just a sophomore and has a bright future.
Will Goggans P 6-2 210 Douglas, GA/Coffee County HS - Started last year as a redshirt freshman and will continue to start for the next three years barring injury.
Micah Grimes OL 6-4 300 Ft. Meade, FL/Ft. Meade HS - Redshirt sophomore is the Trojan’s No. 6 OL and top videographer
Jamie Hampton QB 6-2 180 Cedar Bluff, AL/Cedar Bluff HS - Started five games last year and trying to make his way back from a serious knee injury. Coaches are hoping to redshirt him this year.
DuJuan Harris RB 5-9 180 St. Petersburg, Fla./Brooksville Central HS - Now a junior, one of the top players in the Sun Belt
Fred Hawkins RB 6-0 180 Luverne, AL/Luverne HS - Never made it to campus
Richie Henderson WR 6-2 185 Daphne, AL/Daphne HS - Was supposed to grayshirt, but decided not to play football
Jerrel Jernigan ATH 5-10 175 Eufaula, AL/Eufaula HS - Now a junior, one of the most dynamic players in the country
Stanley Jones RB 6-0 190 Dothan, AL/Houston Academy - Left the team after one season
Eugene Kinlaw DL 6-3 280 Homerville, GA/Clinch County HS - Bloodbath went to JUCO for two years, got his grades right and is supposed to start this year
Xavier Lamb LB 6-0 215 Tallahassee, FL/Lincoln HS - Would be starting anywhere else in the league, like Golden. Just a redshirt sophomore
David McDowell LB 6-3 245 Asheville, NC/Roberson HS/Butler County CC - Redshirted last year and will split time with Daniel Sheffield this year
Ricky McGee RB 5-8 175 Tallahassee, FL/Lincoln HS - Never made it to campus
Kejuan Phillips DB 5-10 180 Waycross, GA/Ware County HS - Grayshirted, now a projected starter at CB as a sophomore
Wesley Potter OL 6-5 320 Bellevue, WA/Interlakes HS/Snow JC - Started 12 games in 2007 and 3 games last year. His -2 yards receiving garnered him 0 votes in the Heisman race last year.
Lennie Richardson LB 6-3 210 Ashburn, GA/Turner County HS - Redshirted in 2007 but left the team before the 2008 season. 
Rashad Roussell DL 6-4 270 Boutte, LA/Hahnville HS/Jones County JC - Redshirted in 2007, hoping to get clearance after injuries in a car wreck to play this year as a backup DT
Barry Stokes DL 6-4 300 Soperton, GA/Treutian County HS - Never made it to campus
Michael Taylor PK 5-10 180 Pensacola, FL/Washington HS - Redshirted in 2007, kicked off last year, trying to push for starting PK job
Stacey Williams DB 6-0 185 Douglas, GA/Coffee County HS - Never made it to campus
Jeremiah Wright OL 6-3 275 Fort Valley, GA/Peach County HS - Never made it to campus

Thursday link

By Drew Champlin

I asked quarterback Levi Brown what it would be like to face his old coach from Richmond (Dave Clawson) next week. Clawson is the first-year head coach at Bowling Green.

HERE is what Levi had to say, followed by some BGSU notes at the end.

Looking back at the 2006 signing class

August 26, 2009

By Drew Champlin

The 2006 signing class was filled with contributors. HERE is a list of the mid-term enrollees and HERE is the February release.

Notable walk-ons and newcomers not listed on signing charts include WRs Andrew Davis and Zack Marcum and DE Brandon Lang. A late summer signee was JUCO WR Mykeal Terry, a three-year contributor and part-time starter. Let me know if I’ve missed anyone.

I’m going through the recent signing classes to see how they figure into this year’s team.

JANUARY GUYS - JUCO
QB Omar Haugabook - Two-year starter will go down as one of the best Trojan quarterbacks of all-time. Pro success hasn’t been in Haugabook’s favor yet but he did spend the year as the starting QB with the SIFL’s Houma Conquerors
DB Elbert Mack - Started at cornerback for two years, led the country in interceptions in 2008, now fighting for a starting spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneners after making the team as an undrafted free agent

JANUARY GUYS - GRAYSHIRTS
WR Patrick Cherry - Senior this year, will play as a backup at the H-receiver spot
OL Mike Fair - Not with the team anymore
LB Boris Lee - Became immediate contributor and is still my pick for SBC Defensive Player of the Year this year
K Patrick McGlon - Not with the team anymore
RB Xavier Walker - Not with the team anymore (suffered bad knee injury early on)
OL Jim Bob Williams - Still with team as a student coach. Told me last December that doctors said he wanted to walk properly when he was 40 then it was advised to give up football. Had knee problems

FEBRUARY SIGNEES
Jeff Banks LB 6-3 215 Ft. Myers, FL/Ft. Myers HS - Never made it to campus
Chris Bowens DB 6-0 185 Columbus, GA/Shaw HS - Will start this year at free safety. Solid four-year contributor who is finally healthy after nagging foot issues
Chris Bradwell DE 6-5 280 Northeast Mississippi CC - Missed first year after being one of three arrested on burglary charges, but was SBC Newcomer of the Year his senior year in 2007 and is still with the Tampa Bay Bucs
Justin Bray DB 5-11 170 Columbus, GA/Shaw HS - Back at defensive back and will help in the corner rotation for his senior year. Has also played wide receiver.
Jonathan Chandler QB 6-1 190 Opelika, AL/Opelika HS - Moved to WR last year and trying to get in the rotation
Nikko Doyle LB 6-3 235 Northeast Mississippi CC - Highly-touted LB who would have started in 2006 if not for an arrest on burglary charges. He, like Bradwell, missed the 2006 season but elected not to come back to the school.
Derrius Jackson DB 6-1 180 Chabot (CA) CC - Didn’t qualify from JUCO
Jeremy Jenkins DT 6-4 260 Gainesville, FL/Eastside HS - Was here for a couple of years but ended up having to leave (academics)
Tanner Jones QB 6-1 190 Wakulla, FL/Wakulla HS - Has been a backup QB hampered by knee injuries. Status for this season is in doubt because of a right knee injury.
Jamare Mathis DE 6-4 210 Gadsden, AL/Litchfield HS - Redshirted as a freshman but didn’t come back the following year. 
Cedric McKinley DE 6-6 240 Bratt, FL/Northview HS - Was placed in JUCO by the Troy coaches but spurned Troy and signed with Minnesota last year out of JUCO
Bryant McKissic DB 6-1 190 Phenix City, AL/Central HS - Redshirt junior who has battled shoulder problems and now is listed as a backup safety.
Doug Mimms QB 6-0 185 Montgomery, AL/Macon-East Academy - Never made it to campus
John Mark Patrick LB 6-3 215 Pace, FL/Pace HS - Came in as a linebacker, moved to DE. Transferred to South Alabama and is now listed as a starting defensive end.
Marcus Pittman DT 6-4 290 Garden City (KS) CC - Solid two-year contributor/starter out of JUCO. Very quiet kid but good player. 
Johnathan Reese LB 6-1 210 Butler Co. (KS) CC - Was here for a year but didn’t come back for his senior year.
Untavious Scott DE 6-3 210 Pahokee, FL/Pahokee HS - Was at camp for a few days but academic scores were flagged and he had to return home
Sam Sellers RB 5-11 185 Troy, AL/Pike Liberal Arts School - Grayshirted, enrolled in Jan. 2007, key special teams player
Cameron Sheffield DE 6-2 225 Portal, GA/Portal HS - Senior defensive end who is one of the best in the league and could be a high draft pick next year.
Austin Silvoy WR 6-3 180 Nease, FL/Nease HS - Finally healthy after battling injuries since midway through redshirt freshman year and he’s a backup Y-receiver. 
Gerald Tate WR 5-10 185 Dodge City (KS) CC - Solid contributor in his last two seasons after barely playing in 2006.
Randy Underwood DE 6-6 210 Jasper, AL/Walker HS - Played some as a freshman LB. Tony Franklin wanted to move him to WR in 2007 and redshirt him, but he left because he wanted to play basketball somewhere.
Cornelius Williams WR 6-1 180 Hoover, AL/Hoover HS - Former MTV Two-a-Days star is a senior and a key offensive player. Starter at Y-receiver.

Wednesday link

August 25, 2009

By Drew Champlin

I wrote this story on linebacker Kanorris Davis because of the academic obstacles he’s overcome.

The guy is a redshirt freshman and is probably the most ripped guy on the team. He won’t be a factor in the LB rotation for another year or two, but should make some big special teams plays this year.

Filming a Troy video with the bossman today for the Web site, and I’ll get it linked when it gets posted.

2005 signing class and how they relate to today’s roster

By Drew Champlin

Leading up to next week’s game, I’ll look at the past five signing classes and see where they are. The 2005 class was inked not long before I started covering Troy. HERE is the original release. Also, the Trojans added quarterbacks Larry Dockery and Julian Foster later that month, and the group included five notable walk-ons: LB Bear Woods, OL Steve Adams, RB Nate Nolin, TE Travis Boyd and K Sam Glusman

Joe Baker LB 6-1 215 Hardwick, GA Baldwin County High - Was here for about a year, if I remember. I think academics got him.
Tim Bolton RB 6-0 170 Atlanta, GA Mays HS - Was here a year or two. Seems like he had a knee injury that hampered him, but can’t remember completely.
Chris Burkhalter OL 6-2 260 Ashland, AL Clay County High - I think a neck injury curtailed his career and he tried to make it back as a long snapper, but I don’t see his name on the roster anymore.
Patrick Cherry WR 6-1 197 Live Oak, FL Suwannee High - Grayshirted, enrolled in Jan. 2006. Now a senior and backup at the H-receiver spot.

Henry Chubb DB 5-11 185 Waycross, GA Ware County High - Was here for two years. Best remembered for recovering the fumble on the onside kick at the Miracle in Murfreesboro in 2006. Transferred to Georgia Southern after that season, where he was a part-time starter.
Daniel Coleman WR 6-1 175 Opp, AL Opp High - I don’t think he qualified. If he made it, he wasn’t here long.
Mike Fair OL 6-4 255 Cartersville, GA Cartersville High - I think he grayshirted and had his career cut short with injuries,
Danny Franks OL 6-4 320 Bartow, FL Bartow High - He’ll end up being one of the better signees of this class. Fifth-year senior heading into his third season as starting center.
Courtland Fuller WR 6-1 178 Columbus, GA Kendrick High - Fifth year senior has played all over the secondary and will be a first-year starter at safety
Jeremy Hawkins DE 6-3 217 Americus, GA Americus High - Fifth year senior is a reserve defensive end.
Jack Hayes OL 6-4 250 Columbia, MS Simpson Academy - Went the JUCO route and signed elsewhere.
Larry Johnson TE 6-4 220 Decatur, GA Towers High - I remember him because I talked to him after the first fall practice that year, but I think he left after two years.
Anthony Jones RB 6-2 195 Niceville, FL Pace High - Had his moments for two years, but didn’t fit into the system, and transferred to Jacksonville State.
Antione Jones LB 6-2 205 Pensacola, FL Pensacola High - Not sure. Don’t think he made it here.
Cedric Jones WR 6-1 180 Waycross, GA Ware County High - I remember asking Blakeney about freshmen that stood out on the first day and he mentioned this kid. Later on, I think he got homesick and left.
Jarvis Kinchen WR 6-2 175 Ft. Myers, FL Dunbar High - Didn’t qualify
Boris Lee LB 6-2 225 Fargo, GA Clinch County High - Grayshirted and enrolled in Jan. 2006. He’s my pick for Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year.
Baron Lemar DE 6-5 280 Lutcher, LA Ft. Scott (KS) Community College - I think he toiled around for a couple of seasons.
Chris Lucas WR 5-10 180 Toney, AL Hazel Green High - Was here for a couple of years but transferred to Sam Houston State
Patrick McGlon K 5-10 175 Hoschton, GA Buford High - Grayshirted and enrolled in Jan. 2006, but wasn’t here for very long.
Terence Moore DB 6-3 200 Columbus, GA Shaw High - Played some as a true freshman and had a stellar career. Went to camp with the Bucs but didn’t last long; still a very good Trojan defensive back.
Eugene Newbold DE 6-7 245 Midfield, AL Midfield High - I think he was here for a year or two. Not sure what happened.
Derick Pendergrass DB 6-0 190 Manning, SC Georgia Military Academy - Reserve in 2005, broke his foot in 2006 and got a medical redshirt and a reserve in 2007.
Patrick Pinchon DT 6-3 250 Danville, AL Danville High - Didn’t qualify
Nic Riley OL 6-4 265 Kathleen, GA Houston County High - Backup for four years but was declared academically ineligible prior to the year. Would have likely started at right tackle.
Darrion Thomas DE 6-3 245 Homerville, GA Clinch County High - I don’t think he made it here.
Xavier Walker RB 5-10 185 Bridgewater, NJ Raritan High - Grayshirt, came in Jan. 2006 but an early knee injury hurt him.

Larry Dockery, QB - Brought in to compete for the QB position, but never materialized

Julian Foster, QB - Started some as a freshman in 2005, played a little in 2006 but then transferred to Jacksonville State. A pleasant kid to me, but was constantly in the coaches’ doghouse.