Troy Trojans 2023 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Troy Athletics Communications)

Key Players Returning:

QB Gunnar Watson, RB Kimani Vidal, WR/KR Jabre Barber, WR/PR Deshon Stoudemire, OG Daniel King, OT Grant Betts, DE Richard Jibunor, DE Javon Solomon, DT Luis Medina, NT AJ Pierce, LB Jayden McDonald, CB O’shai Fletcher, CB Reddy Steward and FS Dell Pettus.

Key Players Departing:

RB DK Billingsley, WR RaJae’ Johnson, WR Tez Johnson, OC Jake Andrews, OG Deandre Butler, OT Austin Stidham, DE TJ Jackson, DT Shakel Brown, DT Will Choloh, LB Carlton Martial, LB KJ Robertson, NB TJ Harris, FS Craig Slocum, PK Brooks Buce and PT Nicholas Woolfolk.
Top 10 Recruits:

3 Star Recruits: 
WR Chris Lewis (Kentucky transfer), RB Asa Martin (Memphis transfer), OT Eijah Philippe (Scranton, Pennsylvania), QB Will Crowder (West Virginia transfer), OT Eli Russ (Oklahoma State transfer), OT Colby Smith (Auburn transfer), DL Malaki Pegues (Oxford, Mississippi), EDGE Steven Cattledge (Scooba, Mississippi), CB Jack Tchienchou (Atlanta, Georgia) and CB Reggie Bracy (Iowa transfer).

2022 Results:

G01  @ #21 Ole Miss  L  10-28
G02  ALABAMA A&M BULLDOGS  W  38-17
G03  @ Appalachian State  L  28-32
G04  MARSHALL  W  16-7
G05  @ Western Kentucky  W  34-27
G06  SOUTHERN MISS  W  27-10
G07  TEXAS STATE  W  17-14
G08  @ South Alabama  W  10-6
G09  @ Louisiana  W  23-17
G10  ARMY  W  10-9
G11  UL-MONROE  W  34-16
G12  @ Arkansas State  W  48-19
SBC  COASTAL CAROLINA  W  45-26
BOWL  vs. #25 UTSA Roadrunners  W  18-12

Team Info:

2022 Overall:  12-2 (1st in SBC West/SBC Champions)

Home:  7-0
Away: 4-2
Neutral:  1-0
SBC:  7-1
Non-SBC:  5-1

Head Coach:  John Sumrall

Troy:  12-2
Career:  12-2
Bowls:  1-0

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Gunnar Watson (206-335, 2818 yards, 61.5%, 7.6 avg., 14 TD, 12 INT)
Rushing: 
Kimani Vidal (231 car., 1132 yards, 4.9 avg., 10 TD)
Receiving: 
Deshon Stoudemire (41 rec., 507 yards, 12.4 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: 
Kimani Vidal (10)
Sacks: 
Richard Jibunor (8)
Tackles: 
Dell Pettus (66)
Interceptions:
 Reddy Steward (3)
Pass Deflections: 
Reddy Steward (12)
Tackles For Loss: 
Richard Jibunor  (12)
Forced Fumbles:
 Richard Jibunor (3)
Kick Returns: 
Jarris Williams (4 ret., 62 yards, 15.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: 
Deshon Stoudemire (6 ret., 69 yards, 11.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: 
None
Punting: 
None

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  18  Gunnar Watson  (RS SR)
RB:  28  Kimani Vidal  (JR)
WR:  4  Marcus Rogers  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  1  Jabre Barber  (RS JR)
WR:  11  Deshon Stoudemire  (SR/TR)
TE:  89  Clayton Ollendieck  (RS SR/TR)
LT:  77  Derrick Graham  (RS SO)
LG:  67  Grant Betts  (RS SR)
OC:  66  Eli Russ  (RS SO/TR)
RG:  74  Daniel King  (JR/TR)
RT:  63  Carson Burt  (RS JR)
KR:  7  Devonte Ross  (SO)
PK:  40  Scott Taylor Renfroe  (RS SO)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  6  Javon Soloman  (RS JR)
NT:  4  Buddha Jones  (SR/TR)
DT:  95  Luis Medina  (RS SO)
DE:  9  Richard Jibunor  (RS SR/TR)
LB:  12  Terry Thomas  (RS SO)
LB:  22  Steven Cattledge  (JR/TR)
NB:  14  Caleb Ransaw  (JR)
CB:  11  O’Shai Fletcher  (RS SR)
CB:  18  Reddy Steward  (SR)
FS:  1  Dell Pettus  (SR)
SS:  3  Keyshawn Sawnson  (RS JR/TR)
PR:  1  Jabre Barber  (RS JR)
PT:  48  Robert Cole  (JR/TR)

Team Grades:

Offense:

Quarterbacks:  B
Running Backs:  B
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  B

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  C
Punters:  C

Schedule:

09/02 
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN LUMBERJACKS  |  Troy trails the series 2-3.  The Trojans won (27-7) the last meeting between schools in 1999.

09/09  @ Kansas State Wildcats  |  Troy lost (5-41) the only prior meeting between schools in 2003.

09/16  JAMES MADISON DUKES  |   The series is tied 1-1.  The Trojans won (27-7) the last meeting between schools in 1999.

09/23  WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS  | Troy leads the series 10-2-1.  Last season’s  

09/30  @ Georgia State Panthers  |  Troy leads the series 5-4.  The Trojans lost (10-37) the last meeting between schools in 2021.

10/07  ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES  |  Troy trails the series 8-11.  The Trojans are 3-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (43-50) was in 2019.

10/14  @ Army Black Knights  |  First meeting between schools.

10/28  @ Texas State Bobcats  |  Troy leads the series 12-1.  The Trojans are 8-0 since 2013 and their only series loss (17-31) was in 1997.

11/02  SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS  |  Troy leads the series 8-3.  The Trojans are 7-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (8-19) was in 2017.

11/11  @ UL-Monroe Warhawks  |  Troy leads the series 11-8-1.  The Trojans are 3-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (16-29) was in 2021.

11/18  LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS  |  Troy trails the series 10-13.  The Trojans are 3-4 since 2013 and their last series loss (21-35) was in 2021.

11/25  @ Southern Miss Golden Eagles  |  Troy trails the series 4-8.  The Trojans won (27-10) last season’s meeting between schools and their last series loss (42-47) was in 2019.

Predictions:

Home:  2-4
Away:  1-5
Neutral:  0-0
SBC:  2-6
Non-SBC:  1-3

Overall:  3-9  (5th in SBC West)