Troy notes: Fuller gets first interception, but suffers knee injury

It took 50 games, but Troy senior safety Courtland Fuller finally got his first career interception in Troy’s 48-31 win over UL-Lafayette Saturday.

Fuller, who is in his first year as a starter, intercepted a Chris Masson pass and returned it 48 yards to the ULL 3-yard line. On Troy’s first play, Shawn Southward scored from three yards out.

Fuller also recovered a fumble in the second quarter at the ULL 27, which set up a 23-yard touchdown run by Southward.

Unfortunately, Fuller’s season and career came to an end when he suffered what is thought to be a torn ACL in his right knee.

“I’m glad I got my first interception,” Fuller said. “It was a blessing. I had been waiting and waiting patiently, and I finally got my first interception.”

Fuller will graduate in May with a degree in sport and fitness management and had pro football aspirations. He said if that doesn’t work out, he’ll go into coaching.

“It hurts just the same (as an early-season injury would),” Fuller said. “I know it’s bad, but I’ve just got to think positive and try to get healthy. If I can’t (get healthy for pro days), I guess that’ll be it.”

He’s sure to get plenty of ribbing from his teammates for finally getting the interception that had eluded him.

“He stole it from me,” linebacker Bear Woods said. “I’m so glad he caught it. Him getting hurt, I know he put it out there all on the line. I wouldn’t want to play with anyone else other than Courtland.”

Secondary shakeup
Willard Ross, a junior college transfer, got his first career start in Saturday’s game. He started at free safety, shifting Chris Bowens to cornerback in place of Barry Valcin.

Bowens had been a cornerback until this year. Ross and fellow junior Bryant McKissic saw a lot of time at safety, as they’ll be the top candidates to start at the safety positions next year.

Valcin, Bowens and normal starter Bryan Willis rotated at cornerback. Bowens also saw some time at safety.

Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said Ross started because Valcin had battled a hamstring injury this week.

Bowl update
Troy’s bowl situation may not be resolved until next Sunday when BCS bids are handed out. The St. Petersburg and Papajohns.com Bowls, which have secondary Sun Belt tie-ins, are out because the Big East has filled out all its bids.

The GMAC Bowl in Mobile (Jan. 6) could have an opening if Boise State of the Western Athletic Conference gets a BCS spot. The WAC has a secondary tie-in with the GMAC Bowl against a team from the Mid-American Conference.

The Sun Belt is required to send a team to the Dec. 20 New Orleans Bowl. Normally, it’s the champion, but Middle Tennessee, which finished 9-3, could get that spot if another spot opens up for Troy.

There were no bowl representatives at the Troy-ULL game or at the Middle Tennessee-UL-Monroe game in Monroe Saturday. Both ULM and ULL finished 6-6.

Jarboe travels to game
Redshirt freshman wideout Josh Jarboe, who wasn’t at last week’s game against FAU, made the trip to Lafayette with the team, but he did not dress out.
Blakeney said he would be back on the roster for the bowl game, but the two-game absence was not injury related.

“He’s done good, and I think he understands some of the things he needs to do other than being a ballplayer,” Blakeney said. “He’s got more talent than (just the football field). This boy can play the piano. I’m going to have a talk with him Monday and try to reiterate some of the things he needs to do to be happy. Bowl team, he’ll be on it.”

By the numbers
11 – Yards on a first-quarter punt by ULL’s Spencer Ortego
83-24 – Troy outscored Sun Belt opponents by that margin in the first quarter of games this year.
142 – Receiving yards by Jerrel Jernigan, the third-best total for him this year.
3 – Number of ULL quarterbacks that threw for 100 yards.