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.

First, I wrote THIS notebook as wideout TeBiarus Gill looks to bounce back from a rough game last week.

From the Sun-Sentinel, the game at a glance and an O-Line story.

From FAUOwlAccess.com, a video preview.

Finally, our video preview

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.

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

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.

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.“

1. What’s different, if a anything, about the offense now that Jeff Van Camp is running the show?
Like Larry Blakeney said, if you didn’t know that 12 had replaced 11, it would be hard to tell any difference. FAU runs the same plays and the results have been similar, as Van Camp has had two solid starts. The biggest difference is that Van Camp can run. Rusty Smith was very run-averse, and would rather throw it away than pull the ball down and take.off. Van Camp will do that, and he is not a bad runner. Van Camp throws harder than Smith, though he might not be as accurate.

2. People thought FAU would challenge for a league title, but what’s kept them from doing that?
This is an easy one, and there is a two-word answer: The Defense. FAU’s defense has been abysmal. Athletically they are solid, position by position, but collectively as a unit they have been awful. They haven’t been able to stop the run, and good running QBs have eaten them alive. They played pretty well last week, but Arkansas State’s offense is a mess right now.

3. What must the FAU defense do to slow Troy’s offense down?
Well, not sure if they can. Like I said, they can’t stop the run and they also have not been able to put much pressure on opposing quarterbacks. And they give up big plays. The gameplan against the Owls is pretty simple—run until they can stop you, and most times they have not been able to stop teams.

4. Give us an update on the stadium
The opening date was pushed back a year to 2011 after they couldn’t get enough money together soon enough to get it done by 2010. They are still working out the financing, but they should hit that target since they have a guaranteed revenue stream by the sale of development rights to dorms that will be next to the stadium.  Right now it is supposed to be a 30,000 seat stadium that could be expanded later on. Nothing fancy, and very much like the erector set stadium that UCF built. But it will be on campus and that should help attendance and recruiting.
5. How do you see the game going?
I just don’t see FAU’s defense being able to stop Troy consistently enough to give the Owls a chance. I think FAU will score some points, but Troy will break off a half dozen big plays get by the Owls and clinch the Belt title. Troy 38, FAU 28.

FAU has a true freshman starting at middle linebacker. His name is David Hinds. Is he the next Boris Lee, who started as a true freshman for Troy in 2006? Who knows, but read about him HERE from Ted at the Sun-Sentinel.

From the Palm Beach Post, FAU running back Alfred Morris could break an FAU record against Troy Saturday.

Also, a Tuesday practice report from FAUOwlAccess.com.

Want to take a bowl look? Go HERE as Adam Sparks of the DNJ sizes up MTSU’s possible bowl destinations if certain things happen. Basically, you can substitute Troy in for almost all of those as possible scenarios.

ONE MORE THOUGHT - I’m looking at stats across the league and thinking cornerback Bryan Willis should be the league’s Freshman of the Year. He’s 2nd in the Sun Belt with four interceptions and first, by a wide margin, with 14 pass deflections. This is all for the top team in the league. Challengers would be the QBs on the worst teams in the league - Riley Dodge and Kawaun Jakes - but, while awards are usually always stats-based, I’m not certain they deserve it over Willis based on the Sun Belt standings.

It’ll be interesting.

First, THIS story, catching up with quarterback Jamie Hampton, who suffered a bad knee injury last year at FAU. The good news is that it’s healed and he’ll be ready to compete for the starting job next year.

Also, HERE is a story on preliminary bowl talk. My formed opinion from talking to people is that coaches and players want to go to New Orleans, but higher-ups may want to try for another bowl, such as Mobile or Birmingham if either are open (I think Mobile will be but not sure about Birmingham). Just read the quotes and you’ll understand why I think that.

As a reminder, I’ll be on the radio around 9:30 a.m. CST with Barry and John. It’s on 740 AM in Montgomery. Listen online HERE.

I covered the Troy basketball win over William Carey and you can read the hoops story HERE.

I’m about to get a video up. Apologies that the audio for Yamene Coleman is low and you need to turn your speakers up. He was speaking fine, but I’ll have to get a few feet closer. Quick amateur observations is that the 5-spot is much, much better than it was last year (and it wasn’t bad last year) and Antywan Jones is much better than he was last year. JUCO transfers Vernon Taylor and Levan Patsatsia are still getting a feel for the game, but them and Macon make this year’s bench a lot better than last year. Troy just can’t afford to have Michael Vogler wear down or get hurt, and they’ll be fine.

FAU is coming off a big win over Arkansas State, which has been a disappointment this year. A big match-up this weekend will be the FAU run game, which has been very good, against Troy’s front 7.

No shortage of information coming from Owl Country. Read our good friend Ted Hutton‘s BLOG at the Sun-Sentinel and check out Tom D’Angelo‘s BLOG at the Palm Beach Post. Also, check out FAUOwlAccess.com,

Headed to Troy shortly for the weekly media gathering and will be at the basketball game tonight vs. William Carey. Trojans play their first real team Friday at Florida.

THOUGHTS - This was a lot like last year’s Oklahoma State game. Troy was facing a great offense and the Trojan offense had to match Arkansas score for score. It didn’t. The Trojans made the mistakes that Arkansas didn’t - not very many, but crucial ones at the wrong time.

This also shows a difference between the SEC and Sun Belt. Troy needs to get some slow Big 10 teams on the schedule, like an overrated Iowa team.

Bowls? Well, Troy needs to win 1 game to clinch a New Orleans Bowl berth. I think that’s where they will end up playing. I know fans want to see Troy play bigger and better teams than what Conference USA has to offer, but other than the 2006 game against Rice, the Trojans haven’t proven that they’ve moved up to the next level to face higher-tier teams. I would say different if Troy had closed the deal in 2007 and beaten FAU and if they had beaten USM last year. And even against Bowling Green this year.

Also, it looks like the SEC will fill its spots and take up the Papajohns.com spot. However, the ACC may not, and the GMAC Bowl would have an opening, though it wouldn’t be contractually obligated to take Troy. That would mean a matchup against a top-3 MAC team. It might not be bad, but by Jan. 6, most people are tired of bowls and wouldn’t tune in. Dec. 20 will get more viewers.

SOME QUOTES FROM BLAKENEY - Here’s some stuff I didn’t get in to the stories

“We knew coming in Arkansas was pretty prolific offensively. Not quite the same kind of animal on defense but getting better week in and week out. They were flying around but we thought we could move the ball had we not turned it over some of those times. Had we played better on defense in some spots, we’d have had a chance to hang around. Very good team, but we’ve got no time to dwell on it. Plenty of fish to fry.“
“I thought Mallett played awfully well. He’s got a big arm and he’s really proud of it. He comes out in warmups and throws it about 60 yards 10, 15 20 times. He gets it anywhere on the field to those guys that they have.“
“We had some moments but we didn’t have enough. They’re an SEC football program and you just don’t go prancing into many SEC football programs and do much better than we did tonight.“
“We probably could have scored two or three more times had we not turned it over.“
On Arky defense: “They weren’t confusing us. Sometimes they played zone and they played man. They played pretty good. Their defense by standards of the SEC is probably OK but by standards of tonight they were pretty good.“
More on Mallett: “This cat right here likes to throw it deep, I know that. Their misdirection pass games gave us problems. They had people wide open and I could have made some of those throws. He is a very powerful guy and very astute at what they do. He’s got a big arm and can throw it anywhere on that field. We got to him a few times but not near enough. They had a pretty good book on our blitz and would check. They’ve got good players and a good program. Mallett’s good, Petrino’s good, everybody was good tonight. They win.“