(Photo Credit: Associated Press)
Key Players Returning:
RB B.J. Smith, RB Kimani Vidal, WR Tray Eafford, WR/KR Reggie Todd, OC Dylan Bradshaw, OG Jake Andrews, OG Grant Betts, OT Austin Stidham, DE Richard Jibunor, DE Javon Solomon, DT Will Choloh, DT Luis Medina, NT A.J. Pierce, LB Carlton Martial, LB Jayden McDonald, LB K.J. Robertson, CB O’shai Fletcher, CB Reddy Steward, NB T.J. Harris, FS Craig Slocum, SS Kyle Nixon, SS Dell Pettus, KR Tez Johnson, and PK Kyle Coale.
Key Players Departing:
WR Kaylon Geiger, WR Khalil McClain, CB Terence Dunlap, PK Evan Legassey, and PT Jack Martin.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruit: CB Taiyon Palmer (NC State transfer).
3 Star Recruits: LB Kevon Glenn (Florida State transfer), RB La’Damian Webb (Florida State transfer), RB Jarris Williams (Eight Mile, Alabama), OG Ivan Shultz (Mobile, Alabama), LB Phillip Lee (Jacksonville, Florida), QB Quayde Hawkins (Bainbridge, Georgia), WR Peyton Higgins (Florence, Alabama), OT Lawson Chandler (Bainbridge, Georgia), and RB Damien Taylor (Northport, Alabama).
2020 Results:
G01 at Middle Tennessee W 47-14
G02 at #18 BYU L 7-48
G03 Texas State W 37-17
G04 EASTERN KENTUCKY W 31-29
G05 GEORGIA STATE L 34-36
G06 at Arkansas State W 38-10
G07 at Georgia Southern L 13-20
G08 MIDDLE TENNESSEE L 17-20
G09 at Appalachian State L 10-47
G10 at South Alabama W 29-0
G11 #13 COASTAL CAROLINA L 38-42
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 5-6 (5th in Sun Belt East)
Home: 2-3
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-0
SBC: 3-4
Non-SBC: 2-2
Head Coach: Chip Lindsey
Troy: 10-13
Career: 10-13
Bowls: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Gunnar Watson (211-301, 2141 yards, 70.1%, 7.1 avg., 16 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing: Kimani Vidal (101 car., 516 yards, 5.1 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Reggie Todd (43 rec., 530 yards, 12.3 avg., 6 TD)
TD’s Scored: Reggie Todd (6)
Sacks: Will Choloh (5)
Tackles: Carlton Martial (114)
Interceptions: 5 Tied (1)
Pass Deflections: Dell Pettus/Reddy Steward (5)
Tackles For Loss: Carlton Martial (10)
Forced Fumbles: Richard Jibunor (2)
Kick Returns: Reggie Todd (19 ret., 368 yards, 19.4 avg., 3 TD)
Punt Returns: Tez Johnson (9 ret., 42 yards, 4.7 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Kyle Coale (22 punts, 809 yards, 36.8 avg., 6 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 18 Gunnar Watson (RS SO)
RB: 26 B.J. Smith (RS SR)
WR: 2 Reggie Todd (RS SR/TR)
WR: 13 Tray Eafford (SR)
WR: 15 Tez Johnson (FR)
WR: 10 Luke Whittemore (RS JR)
LT: 79 Austin Stidham (RS JR)
LG: 67 Grant Betts (RS SO)
OC: 65 Dylan Bradshaw (RS SR)
RG: 55 Jake Andrews (RS SO)
RT: 77 Derrick Graham (FR)
KR: 2 Reggie Todd (RS SR/TR)
PK: 6 Kyle Coale (RS SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 30 John Hines (RS SR/TR)
NT: 21 Shakel Brown (JR/TR)
DT: 5 Will Choloh (JR)
DE: 9 Richard Jibunor (RS SO/TR)
LB: 2 Carlton Martial (RS JR)
LB: 7 K.J. Robertson (JR)
NB: 8 T.J. Harris (JR)
CB: 11 O’Shai Fletcher (RS SO)
CB: 18 Reddy Steward (SO)
FS: 4 Craig Slocum (RS JR)
SS: 31 Dell Pettus (SO)
PR: 15 Tez Johnson (FR)
PT: 44 Luke Magliozzi (RS JR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense:
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/04 SOUTHERN JAGUARS | First meeting between schools.
09/11 LIBERTY FLAMES | Troy trails the series 1-2. The Trojans lost (16-22) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/18 at Southern Miss Golden Eagles | Troy trails the series 2-8. The Trojans lost (42-47) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/25 at UL-Monroe Warhawks | Troy leads the series 10-7-1. The Trojans are 2-3 since 2011, and they won (35-27) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
10/02 at South Carolina Gamecocks | Troy trails the series 0-3. The Trojans lost (24-69) the last meeting between schools in 2010.
10/09 GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES | Troy leads the series 13-7. The Trojans are 3-4 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series win (49-28) was in 2019.
10/16 at Texas State Bobcats | Tory leads the series 10-1. The Trojans are 6-0 since renewing the series in 2013, and their only series loss (17-31) was in 1997.
10/28 at Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | The series is tied 2-2. The Trojans lost (38-42) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (45-21) was in 2018.
11/06 SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS | Troy leads the series 6-3. The Trojans won (29-0) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (8-19) was in 2017.
11/13 LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS | Troy trails the series 9-12. The Trojans are 2-5 since 2011, and they lost (3-53) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/20 APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEERS | Troy trails the series 3-6. The Trojans are 1-5 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series win (28-24) was in 2016.
11/27 at Georgia State Panthers | Troy leads the series 5-3. The Trojans lost (34-36) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (37-20) was in 2018.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
SBC: 4-4
Non-SBC: 1-3
Overall: 5-7 (4th in Sun Belt East)
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