Super Bowl Update

Khary Franklin had a good spring after moving from wide receiver (Cass Davis photo)

Troy is known for being a passing offense, but this year's group of running backs is battle-tested, experienced and talented. They showed that during spring practice.

"Running the ball, making an emphasis on running the ball with a couple of linemen out, I think we got better at that," Troy offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield said. "Our backs really did a nice job of breaking tackles and protecting the ball early on in spring."

Three rising seniors got the carries last year. Shawn Southward (123 carries, 556 yards, 4 TD), D.J. Taylor (82-367-6) and Chris Anderson (59-217-1) carried the load. Southward was the 2009 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and he's a physical back at 192 pounds. Taylor is even bigger at 230. The two appeared a bit ahead of Anderson because of their better ability to hit the hole, but Anderson (185 pounds) has great ability in the open field. The fourth senior is T.J. Mitchell, who got two carries last year. 

But Troy's running back depth doesn't come close to stopping there.

Really and truly, besides those top three guys and four seniors, two guys that did some nice things throughout spring were Khary Franklin and Daron White," Edenfield said. "I believe both of those guys can give us some added (dimension), a different kind of back in there. Usually, you need all your backs throughout the course of the year."

Franklin is a junior who moved from wide receiver to running back. White is a redshirt freshman.

"The whole group got better," Edenfield said. "I know Coach (Jeff) Beckles worked hard on finishing runs and being physical they did that. I'm excited about that group. Absolutely (it's the deepest it's been). Being the way we were last year, we're going to get better. We're going to put an emphasis on that."

Brian Exley, a sophomore walk-on, got five carries last year but was injured all spring. Jarod Lee, a junior walk-on, can play some H-back (bigger blocking back). Troy signed two running backs - Andre Allen and Brandon Burks - from the high school ranks in February.