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| Troy players head back to the locker room after lightning |
***Running back D.J. Taylor won't play vs. UAB, coach Larry Blakeney said. He is back in school and they are focused on getting him well and cleared and he's in good standing academically. The fifth-year senior hopes to be back on the practice field the week of ULL and might play that week but I'd say the third game, Mississippi State, is more likely.
***Senior running back Chris Anderson was academically eligible by NCAA standards, but not by Troy standards, sort of like with defensive tackle John Clark. Blakeney said he expects Clark back next spring but Anderson's a senior so this is it for him.
"I don’t think we have enough support (staff)," Blakeney said. "We don’t have enough communication. We’re doing everything we can to make sure we don’t have that happen."
***Running backs are getting beat around, it seems. Khary Franklin is nursing a shoulder injury but should be ready for UAB. Daron White has a sprained ankle and will probably not be ready to play vs. UAB. Brandon Burks will probably get a few plays here and there.
***Of the young wideouts, Brandon Brooks is the closest to playing, while Michael Lindsey and Bobby Walker are probably going to redshirt. Brooks will be on the travel squad.
“He’s not quite ready,” Blakeney said of Lindsey. “He’s a buck-52 (weight) and needs some time. I like the kid. He’s got ability and he is not afraid. He’ll go in and stick his face on people. That’s something a lot of skill guys will not do.
“Walker’s got ability. He is another one that’s real skinny and 160 and he needs to put on some weight and strength. He has got really great hands and jumping ability. He’s a fast jumper. He can jump up and catch the ball. I really like him.”
***Of the youngsters on defense, cornerback Chris Davis is definitely in the mix to play and they may have a good one in the grayshirt freshman from Thomasville. Davis and senior transfer T.J. Bryant are running behind senior Bryan Willis and JUCO transfer Zach Miller, an All-American at Butler Co (Kansas), but all four will play. Ethan Davis is still recovering from spring knee surgery.
"(Chris Davis has) shown some signs of being a player," Blakeney said. "He’s still got a lot to learn. I’ve been cautiously optimistic about his improvement. He’s a tough kid. He can jump and run pretty good. He’s learning the coverages.
"Zach Miller is what we thought he would be. T.J. is coming on. Bryan Willis has a little back problem but he’s overcome it. I think we’ve got four guys that are good enough to play corner. Ethan is not cleared. He works every day. I expect to get him back sometime. I don’t know how soon."
***True freshman Montres Kitchens has had a good camp at safety, but that's a tough position for a newcomer to play.
"Montres has had a good camp and he’s learning, but he plays deep (safety)," Blakeney said. "The deep guys have to have a Master’s in coverage or they wind up giving up big plays."
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