2010 NCAA football preview: Troy
The Trojans of Troy University wasted little time in making their mark on the ranks of the FBS (previously known as division I) when they made the move up in 2001. Longtime coach Larry Blakeney managed to keep their winning ways in 2001 going 7-4. They faltered a little over the next few seasons going 4-8 in 2002 and 6-6 in 2003.
They joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2004. Within two years they became one of the most consistent and talented teams in the conference winning all or a piece of the conference title from 2006-2009, going 6-1 in conference play from 2006-08 and undefeated in it last year.
What the team has not had much luck at have been winning bowl games, losing the New Orleans Bowl in 2008 and the GMAC Bowl last season. Looking ahead to the 2010 season, Blakeney may have a tough time getting back to a bowl game let alone repeating as conference champs. Thirteen starters are gone from last year’s squad including most of the skill positions.
Blakeney has done well in close to two decades with the Trojans with his fair share of down seasons to go with the good ones. With the work that it will take to make the team competitive in 2010 it would not be surprising to see the Trojans slip in 2010.
Offense
Losing so many starters can never be a good thing. Losing a virtual genius of an offensive coordinator in Neal Brown is difficult as well, but if you are going to break in a new coordinator the best time to do so may be when you are going to be breaking in so many new starters.
Luckily, the team will have a veteran presence returning at quarterback. Jamie Hampton was the starter in 200 before getting hurt and giving Levi Brown the chance he needed to shine. In five games in 2008 he threw for almost 1100 yards and had ten touchdown passes. What is encouraging about Hampton are the two games that saw him complete 70 percent of his passes; the eight interceptions are discouraging though. Whether or not he has the talent to allow Troy to be the fourth best passing team in the nation remains to be seen.
Of his skill players coming back DuJuan Howard, Shawn Southward, and Jerrel Jernigan are a pretty talented combination. Harris rushed for over 1000 yards in 2008 before he ended up splitting carries in 2009 with Southward. The duo combined for almost 1200 yards and 22 touchdowns last season and could do so again. Jernigan caught 71 passes for more than 1100 yards with Levi Brown behind center and will probably not miss a beat with Hampton taking over.
Defense
The Trojans were okay against the run last season (53rd in the nation and fourth in the conference), but not too good against the pass (118th in the nation and ninth in the conference). With most of the front seven gone and some experience returning in the secondary it would not be surprising to see those statistics flip in 2010.
Of the front seven, only senior Daniel Sheffield comes back. He will be expected to improve off of last season’s 47 tackle performance being surrounded by so much inexperience. Donnell Golden and Xavier Lamb are a talented pair and should get up to speed pretty quick.
The secondary should be much better than the unit that gave up almost 300 yards a game last season. Cornerback Bryan Willis showed some promise at times last season and could end up being an all-conference player before he is done playing. Junior strong safety Barry Valcin had 52 tackles in his first season of action last season and should be even better this year.
Winning four straight conference titles is an incredibly tough task; winning a fifth is even tougher. The Trojans will have their work cut out for them replacing as many starters as they will be forced to do, but should stand to make a good run for the title again.
Tags: