First off, Troy announced its signing class of 13 players today. From talking to coaches, it’s the best they’ve had. Sounds like a very good group.
The headliner is Windemere, Fla., LHP Jimmy Hodgskin, who is actually on his official visit this weekend. He’s a big-time LHP that’s going to get drafted high if scouts meet his money demands, but if he comes to Troy, it’ll be big for the Trojans.
Troy finished up fall practice a few weeks ago. If they open tomorrow, the lineup would look like this.
C - Steven Felix or Todd McRae
1B - Ryan Ditthardt
2B - J.R. Myers or T.J. Rivera SS - Adam Bryant
3B - Chase Whitley (JUCO transfer could end up being Troy’s top player)
LF - Miles Hoyle
CF - Steven Rosado
RF - Chad Watson
DH - either Jake Sullivan or one of the OFs with Felix moving from catcher to OF. Blake Martz is also a possibility
The weekend rotation would look like this: Tyler Ray, Andrew Dickinson, Drew Hull, with the top closers being Whitley and Nick Ward. Obviously, the weekend rotation after Ray and the midweek/middle relief guys will have to step up for this team to have a good year, because I think they’ll hit.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 11/20 at 05:55 PM
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It’s a long day for me, as I’ll be in Troy covering the AISA championships, trying to find the next hidden gem. Is there another Kyle Wilborn dominating the pack? I guess I’ll find out
First, I wrote THIS notebook as wideout TeBiarus Gill looks to bounce back from a rough game last week.
What: Troy (2-0) at Florida (2-0) When: Tonight, 6 p.m. Where: O’Connell Center, Gaineville, Fla. TV: FSN Florida and channel 42 in Troy on Troy Cable. Radio: Troy ISP Network with Barry and Taylor calling the action
MEDIA: Check out this story I wrote on center Yamene Coleman. Also, HERE is a story from the Gainesville Sun on Florida’s 3-point woes.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS
TROY
G - Michael Vogler (6’1, 180, Sr.) - 18 ppg, 6 rpg, 7.5 apg
G - Brandon Hazzard (6’2, 192, Sr.) - 24 ppg, 7 rpg, 54% 3pt
G - Richard Delk (6’4, 191, Sr.) - 9 ppg, 6.5 rpg
F - Antywan Jones (6’6, 190, Sr.) - 7 ppg, 7 rpg
C - Yamene Coleman (6’9, 230, Sr.) - 13 ppg, 8 rpg
ABOUT TROY: Trojans are coming off two easy wins over lower-classed schools, but the level of competition goes way up here ... This is a chance for a marquee out-of-conference win that could help the Sun Belt get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament along with its automatic ... Vernon Taylor (14.5 ppg) has been a spark plug off the bench and Trayce Macon (11.5 ppg, 57% 3pt) has greatly improved after a redshirt season. ... This is the first of 8 straight games away from Trojan Arena.
FLORIDA
G - Kenny Boynton (6’2, 183, Fr.) - 17 ppg
G - Erving Walker (5’8, 171, So.) - 8.5 ppg, 4.5 apg
F - Dan Werner (6’8, 230, Sr.) - 2.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg
F - Alex Tyus (6’8, 220, Jr.) - 8 ppg, 8.5 rpg
C - Vernon Macklin (6’10, 240, Jr.) - 14.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.0 bpg
ABOUT FLORIDA: Gators have fallen a bit since winning 2 straight NCAA titles ... Lanky forward Chandler Parsons is a spark off the bench (14.5 ppg, 7 rpg) and is a lot better than the starter at his position, Werner ... Boynton was a 5-star recruit in the 2009 class ... Gators shot 33 percent, but attempted 31 more free throws in a 20-point win over Ga. Southern Wednesday, so the possibility of that exists ... Macklin is a big-time transfer from Georgetown.
PREDICTION: Troy struggles with UF’s inside game and overall athleticism. This won’t be close to being football-bad, but I don’t think the Trojans have a chance in what is their toughest out-of-conference game this year. UF 85-71
Posted by Drew Champlin on 11/20 at 12:40 AM
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Troy is slated to have four official visitors this weekend, all from the JUCO ranks, all with the potential to become mid-year enrollees.
Remember that this list is tentative and could change even at the last minute. These are just the official visitors. There will be several more kids, some highly recruited and some not, making unofficial visits.
GREG JENKINS - QB - MS GULF COAST CC - The 6-foot-2, 215-pound dual-threat QB finished the year with 1,897 yards passing, 18 TDs and 4 INTs with 651 rush yards and 8 TDs. He’s a very solid commit to Troy. His season isn’t over yet, as MGCCC has a bowl game in two weeks.
BRETT MONCRIEF - WR - MS GULF COAST CC - The 6-foot-4 Moncrief has a pretty good season and has attracted some bigger schools, mainly Ole Miss. His commitment to Troy is softer, and coaches are hoping to hang on to him because he would be a big-time get. Moncrief, the son of former NBA player Sidney Moncrief, signed with Oklahoma State out of high school.
STONEY JACKSON - OL - GARDEN CITY CC - Jackson signed with Troy in 2008 from Luverne and went the JUCO route. From what I found, he’s listed a freshman at Garden City CC in Kansas. He was signed as a defensive end out of high school, but coaches are looking at him as an OL and will get a look at him this weekend to see if he’s got the body and frame to garner an offer.
JARED FLEMING - OL - EAST CENTRAL MS CC - Listed at 6-foot-5, 290 pounds on this roster, Fleming is from Louisville, MS, and is another OL from Middle of Nowhere, MS, like Tyler Graves. Graves is actually hosting Fleming on his visit.
Just four on this visit weekend, and all JUCO offensive guys. Some Troy coaches are out evaluating on Friday before the game Saturday. The weekends of Dec. 4-6 and Dec. 11-13 will be big weekends for Troy as they hope to get some more mid-year guys.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 11/19 at 09:34 PM
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Yes, it’s FAU Day in the Dothan Eagle, as I went the extra mile to make sure you guys know a little bit more about your opponent.
Let’s go with THIS bit on new quarterback Jeff Van Camp, who had some interest to go to Troy, but didn’t get an offer. He would have gone to FAU anyway. Troy signed two high school quarterbacks that year - Tanner Jones and Jonathan Chandler, and some JUCO guy named Omar Haugabook.
Also, THIS NOTEBOOK, focusing on Owls tight end Jason Harmon.
Harmon actually won a national honor. Also from Ted, HERE is a story on FAU gearing up for Troy’s passing attack.
From Tom, THIS LOOK on how FAU gave Levi Brown his first big break. Also, THIS story on the FAU offensive line.
Also, HERE is a Wednesday practice report from FAUOwlAccess.com
Interesting quote from FAU DC Kirk Hoza on Troy’s offense: “You don’t look them and say ‘there is something we can take advantage of.“
Posted by Drew Champlin on 11/19 at 02:44 AM
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