(WR Chris Lewis – Troy University Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
WR/RS Devonte Ross, TE Ethan Conner, OC Eli Russ, OG Daniel King, DE Raymond Cutts, DT Luis Medina, LB Jordan Stringer, LB Terry Thomas, PK Scott Taylor Renfroe, and PT Robert Cole.
Key Players Departing:
QB Gunnar Watson, RB Kimani Vidal, WR/KR Jabre Barber (Texas A&M transfer), WR Chris Lewis, WR/PR Deshon Stoudemire, OG Grant Betts, OT Carson Burt, OT Derrick Graham (Texas A&M transfer), DE TJ Jackson (West Virginia transfer), DE Richard Jibunor, DE Javon Solomon, DT Buddha Jones, NT AJ Pierce, LB Jayden McDonald (Indiana transfer), CB Don Callis, CB O’shai Fletcher, CB Caleb Ransaw (Tulane transfer), CB Reddy Steward, FS Dell Pettus, FS Keyshawn Swanson (Western Kentucky transfer), and SS Irshaad Davis.
(RB Gerald Green – ECU Football)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: RB Gerald Green (East Carolina transfer), WR Zeriah Beason (Hutchinson, Kansas), DS Keion Dunlap (Enterprise, Alabama), ATH Jywon Boyd (Troy, Alabama), EDGE Trashun Griffin (Centreville, Alabama), ATH Marlin Odom (Lucedale, Mississippi), CB Trent Henry (Grambling transfer), EDGE Derek Burns (Kilgore, Tex), DT Kevin Norwood (Theodore, Alabama), and LB Kam Weaver (Andalusia, Alabama).
2023 Results:
G01 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN W 48-30
G02 @ #15 Kansas State L 13-42
G03 JAMES MADISON L 14-16
G04 WESTERN KENTUCKY W 27-24
G05 @ Georgia State W 28-7
G06 ARKANSAS STATE W 37-3
G07 @ Army W 19-0
G08 @ Texas State W 31-13
G09 SOUTH ALABAMA W 28-10
G10 @ UL-Monroe W 45-14
G11 LOUISIANA W 31-24
G12 @ Southern Miss W 35-17
SBC APPALACHIAN STATE W 49-23
BOWL vs. Duke L 10-17
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 11-3 (1st in SBC West/SBC Champions)
Home: 6-1
Away: 5-1
Neutral: 0-1
SBC: 7-1
Non-SBC: 4-2
Head Coach: Gerad Parker
Troy: 0-0
Career: 0-6
Bowls: 0-0
(WR Devonte Ross – @devonteross22)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Goose Crowder (9-13, 94 yards, 69.2%, 7.2 avg., 1 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: Damien Taylor (67 car., 346 yards, 5.2 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Devonte Ross (40 rec., 428 yards, 10.7 avg., 3 TD)
TD’s Scored: Chris Lewis (10)
Sacks: 6 Tied (1.5)
Tackles: Jordan Stringer (68)
Interceptions: Jordan Stringer/Damaje Yancey (1)
Pass Deflections: Justin Powe/Terry Thomas/JT Thompson (1)
Tackles For Loss: Terry Thomas (3)
Forced Fumbles: Jordan Stringer/TJ Thompson (1)
Kick Returns: Devonte Ross (11 ret., 231 yards, 21.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Devonte Ross (1 ret., 3 yards, 3.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Scott Taylor Renfroe (19-24 fg/fga., 79%, 50-50 xp/xpa., 107 pts.)
Punting: Robert Cole (52 punts, 2198 yards, 42.3 avg., 14 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 9 Goose Crowder (RS JR/TR)
RB: 0 Gerald Green (RS SR/TR)
WR: 1 Landon Parker (RS RS/TR)
WR: 7 Devonte Ross (JR)
WR: 2 Peyton Higgins (RS JR)
TE: 14 Ethan Conner (SR/TR)
LT: 58 Elijah Prather (RS FR)
LG: 50 Boaz Stanley (RS SO/TR)
OC: 66 Eli Russ (RS JR/TR)
RG: 74 Daniel King (SR/TR)
RT: 75 Zerian Hudson (JR/TR)
KR: 7 Devonte Ross (JR)
PK: 40 Scott Taylor Renfroe (RS JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 0 Raymond Cutts (RS SR/TR)
NT: 93 Kam Curry (JR/TR)
DT: 95 Luis Medina (RS JR)
DE: 1 Phillip Lee (RS JR)
LB: 44 Jordan Stringer (RS JR)
LB: 4 Brendan Stringer (RS JR)
NB: 3 Devin Lafayette (RS JR/TR)
CB: 9 Damaje Yancey (SR/TR)
CB: 21 LJ Green (RS FR)
FS: 39 Ian Conerly-Goodly (JR/TR)
SS: 25 Justin Powe (RS SO)
PR: 7 Devonte Ross (JR)
PT: 48 Robert Cole (SR/TR)
(LB Jordan Stringer – USA Today Sports)
Team Grades:
Offense:
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 NEVADA WOLF PACK | First meeting between schools.
09/07 @ Memphis Tigers | Troy trails the series 1-4. The Trojans lost (0-32) the last meeting between schools in 1941.
09/14 @ Iowa Hawkeyes | First meeting between schools.
09/21 FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS | The series is tied 2-2. The Trojans won (59-7) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/28 UL-MONROE WARHAWKS | Troy leads the series 12-8-1. The Trojans are 4-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (16-29) was in 2021.
10/03 TEXAS STATE BOBCATS | Troy leads the series 13-1. The Trojans are 8-0 since restarting the series in 2016, and their only series loss (17-31) was in 1997.
10/15 @ South Alabama Jaguars | Troy leads the series 9-3. The Trojans are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (8-19) was in 2017.
10/26 @ Arkansas State Red Wolves | Troy trails the series 9-10. The Trojans are 4-2 since restarting the series in 2016, and their last series loss (43-50) was in 2019.
11/02 COASTAL CAROLINA CHANTICLEERS | The series is tied 3-3. The Trojans won (45-26) the last meeting between schools in 2022, and they lost (28-35) the prior meeting in 2021.
11/16 @ Georgia Southern Eagles | Troy leads the series 14-7. The Trojans are 4-4 since 2014, and they won (27-24) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/23 @ Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns | Troy leads the series 11-9. The Trojans are 4-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (21-35) was in 2021.
11/30 SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES | Troy trails the series 5-8. The Trojans are 1-4 since restarting the series in 2016, and their last series loss (42-47) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
SBC: 4-4
Non-SBC: 2-2
Overall: 6-6 (4th in SBC West)
gridironpredictions.net 