Super Bowl Update

Wrote THIS STORY on left tackle James Brown, who is really enjoying a fine senior season from an individual standpoint. Brown, who has dropped 45 pounds in 2 years and is now around 6-4, 310, was recently invited to the Senior Bowl.

So look for Brown on an NFL roster as a left or right guard next season, because the NFL loves those tackles who are about 6-foot-8.

If you want some more insight into what Brown has overcome to get to this point, read THIS STORY I wrote on Brown in August.

***After reading some social media of players, looks like the foot surgery for backup QB Jamie Hampton happened sooner rather than later, and he's played his last game as a Trojan. You could say "poor guy just never could catch a break," but Jamie's not that type of guy and he's going to handle it with the class and still show the same leadership abilities to his teammates that he's shown over his 5 years at Troy - now 3 of which have ended with season-ending injuries.

With that being said, better hope starter Corey Robinson stays healthy over the next four games, or a redshirt's going to be burned. Looks like Luke Barnes would be next in line.

***Coordinators were asked if they'd start playing young players for the sake of it, but the answer was no. However, redshirt freshman linebacker Brach Bessant has emerged as a guy who is ready to play, defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell said. Bessant played some in the second half at middle linebacker against Navy, where 4-5 games ago he wasn't ready to play. Starter Xavier Lamb is a senior, so it's a big final few weeks for a guy like Bessant.