2004 Silicon Valley Classic • 2006 New Orleans Bowl Champion 2008 New Orleans Bowl • 2010 GMAC Bowl
TROY UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
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2010 SEASON PREVIEW
Along with Addison, a senior, the Trojans will look for sophomore Jonathan Massaquoi, who redshirted last year, to step in at defensive end to fill the void left by the graduation of Lang and Sheffield. Depth behind those two is limited, meaning their health will be a key in the fall. Inside on the line there are a lot of young, talented players, but only few with playing time. Junior Sidell Corley, who arrived at Troy late during camp last year from LSU, will be counted on to be a key cog inside. Seniors Emmanuel Dudley and Riley Flowers both missed time due to injury last year and will be joined by sophomore Tony Davis and redshirt freshmen Aaron Williams and Shermaine TeArt. “Aaron Williams is a key guy who has to come on,” Blakeney said. “James Searcy looks like a football player and he needs to be a football player. Jonathan Massaquoi needs to step up and be a man because he has ability. Sidell Corley needs to be a horse for us and the two inside guys, Dudley and Flowers, need to be ready.” At linebacker, juniors Xavier Lamb and Donnell Golden have served as understudies to Lee and Woods for the last two seasons. Both have shown that they can play, but they now must show that they can be leaders as well as players. They will be joined in the linebacker mix this spring by sophomores Jacoby Thomas and Kanorris Davis, along with redshirt freshman Johnny Thompson. Sophomore Brannon Bryan, who redshirted last year, will also be in the mix for playing time. gaping. Gone are all four starters on the defensive front, all of whom may end up playing in the NFL next year. Ends Brandon Lang and Cameron Sheffield are both sure draft picks while tackles Kevin Dixon and Eugene Kinlaw, who decided to leave school early to pursue a professional career, will both be in NFL camps in July. Also gone is the heart and soul of the Troy defense for the last two years, linebackers Boris Lee and Bear Woods. Both will also be in NFL camps and leave an emotional and leadership void on the defense in addition to the loss of their considerable combined skills. Throw in the loss of veteran safeties Courtland Fuller and Chris Bowens, plus veteran linebacker David McDowell, and it is obvious that the Troy coaches have a huge rebuilding job on their hands. “We have a lot of work to do,” Blakeney said. “We have some guys who I think are ready to play, but it is going to be an important set of practices for our defense. “We are going to look to guys like Mario Addison at defensive end because he has leadership qualities as well as ability. Xavier Lamb has always been a player. He played behind one of the best in the league (Lee) and I am looking forward to seeing him and Donnell Golden.” In addition to all of the losses, two returning seniors will also missed the spring following off-season shoulder surgery. Linebacker/nickel back Daniel Sheffield started 12 games last year and is a known commodity, but safety Bryant McKissic has been plagued by shoulder woes his entire career and could have used the spring to establish himself.
In the secondary, Freshman All-American Bryan Willis returns at one corner, and seniors Willard Ross and Barry Valcin, who both saw considerable playing time in 2009, return to the safety spots. Valcin started most of the 2009 season at corner, but was recruited to play safety. The other corner spot is open to competition, with mid-term junior college transfer Jimmie Anderson getting first shot. He will likely be pushed by junior Chris Blanton and sophomore KeJuan Phillips, who both redshirted last year. Freshman Caleb Massey will vie along with senior Sam Sellers for playing time behind Ross and Valcin at safety. “We have high hopes for Barry Valcin and Willard Ross at safety,” Blakeney said. “We get KeJuan back and that is good. Jimmie Anderson, who is coming in from junior college, is one we hope will step right in.” Special teams must replace one of its two long snappers with just Wes Henry returning, but both kickers – junior punter Will Goggans and junior placekicker Michael Taylor – also are back in the fold in 2010. Holder Austin Silvoy is also returning this year. In the return game, Jernigan, Southward and Harris are all back with experience on kickoffs and Gill returns as the punt returner, although Jernigan will get work there this season. This season will be one to remember for the Trojans as they look to reload after winning their fourth consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship last season. Although they will be young in some places, they are well-versed in experience at other positions that could prove to be beneficial as the season goes on. The Trojans open the year at home against Bowling Green on September 4.
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