Troy's Corley expected to step up at tackle

TROY — Sidell Corley has grown up a lot off the field in the past year. Troy coaches are hoping the junior defensive tackle has now grown up on it, as well.

Head coach Larry Blakeney said before spring practice that Corley, who transferred from LSU prior to last season, has to become a big-time player on the Trojan defense, starting this spring.

“The No. 1 guy, and you can write this, Sidell Corley has got to be a man and play,” Blakeney said. “He’s got to be a starter and he needs to be a controller.

“He’s got ability and he needs to assert himself on every play and assert himself as a leader. We’ve got other guys on defense that will, but he’s got to grow into a leader.”

Corley is pegged into the role at nose tackle after Eugene Kinlaw left the team in March to turn professional before his senior season, meaning all four starters across the defensive line from last season are gone.

Corley and the new-look line will be in action in today’s T-Day spring scrimmage at 1 p.m.

But it’s been a whirlwind past 12 months for Corley and it hasn’t been easy. Last May, his mother was killed in her home and his uncle drowned.
On the same day his mother died, Corley got a tattoo in remembrance of her that signaled strength and peace.

“It was a way of coping,” he said.

Corley had spent two seasons at LSU, redshirting in 2007 and playing three games in 2008 at defensive end. He came to Troy last August and was moved to defensive tackle, which is where he’ll stay.

Surprisingly, the NCAA waived the rule that mandates transfers must sit out a year because of Corley’s family circumstances. In 12 games as a reserve, he had 11 tackles and two quarterback hurries. Bigger things are expected of him this year.

“I’m not saying he’s struggled, but it’s time,” Blakeney said. “The new has worn off and he’s now a veteran player, not a guy that transferred here and is lucky as heck he got to play because of the transfer rule, but I like Sidell. He’s got a chance to be a player.”

The 6-foot-4 Corley has taken the steps in the offseason to be a player. He was listed at 274 pounds last year, but now tips the scales at 300 pounds.

“I don’t know how this weight came about, but coach (Richard) Shaughnessy has us working hard in the weight room, so the credit is all to him,” Corley said.

He also credited his girlfriend, who has him on a strict diet and no longer lets him eat the unhealthy stuff.

“My girl has me eating all this healthy food and organic food,” Corley said. “It’s a lot of baked food — baked chicken and tilapia, some hummus and pita bread. I really don’t like any of it, but she says it’s the best thing to help me out.”

Now, it’s up to Corley to prove his worth on the field.

“I’ve got to step up,” Corley said. “I know these coaches are going to push me. It’s competition. I’ve got a job to do, and I’m going by whatever coaches tell me to do.”