Super Bowl Update

So, Troy begins spring practice Sunday night around 5:30, last I was told. Practices are open to the public, and there are three scrimmages.

What to look for at every position, briefly:

QB - Corey Robinson is back as a two-year starter, but there are three quarterbacks who have all used their redshirts (Dallas Tidwell, Luke Barnes, K.D. Edenfield), and a JUCO quarterback (Deon Anthony) enrolled in January to compete for the job. Anthony is a dual-threat guy coming off a successful JUCO career. You could say he's like Omar Haugabook, but he's 3 inches taller. Looks like there's a lot on the line for all of these guys.

RB - There are four seniors, three who take nearly all of the carries, but look at scrimmages for guys like redshirt freshman Daron White, sophomore Brian Exley and the fourth senior, T.J. Mitchell, to get the bulk of the carries.

WR - It will be good to see Jamel Johnson in a Troy uniform again. Chip Reeves, too, though he's not expected to practice until August unless something has changed. Both are incredible athletes, in my opinion, and will make the entire offense better.

OL - Who will replace James Brown at left tackle? Looks like senior Jarred Fleming, who started games at right tackle and left guard last season, will get the first crack with Dalton Bennett, a redshirt freshman, behind him. Center is a spot for grabs as well.

DL - Who will be the defensive ends? Tony Davis is likely to play there, but who else? Could be redshirt freshman Deon Lee or junior college transfer Brandon Timmons, or someone else. Will the defensive tackles be better and stronger and able to command two offensive linemen on blocks?

LB - Troy signed five midyear linebackers, by my count (Brandon Powe, Wayland Coleman-Dancer, Martrez Townes, Eli Canton, Mark Wilson) from the JUCO ranks, but return two starters in Brannon Bryan and Kanorris Davis (who probably won't do much after his late season ankle injury), plus a sophomore in Brach Bessant who was ready to play big snaps by the end of last season. There are more names, but who of this group will step up?

DB - It looks like JUCO corner Jeremy Spikner will have an opportunity to win a starting spot. This unit has some guys who have played coming back, but need guys who can step up and be big-time playmakers in the secondary, forcing fumbles and stepping in front of and picking off passes in games more often.

K/P - Will Scott, Ryan Kay and Jed Solomon are the names to watch here. Looks like two of these guys will emerge as your kicker and punter, but which ones? Long snapper is a battle as well.

2012 Troy Spring Practice Schedule
Practice 1 – Sunday, March 18
Practice 2 – Tuesday, March 20
Practice 3 – Thursday, March 22
Practice 4 – Saturday, March 24
Practice 5 – Tuesday, March 27
Practice 6 – Thursday, March 29
T-Day – Saturday, March 31 (2 p.m.)
Practice 8 – Tuesday, April 3
Practice 9 – Thursday, April 5
Scrimmage 2 – Friday, April 6 (6 p.m. in Phenix City)
Practice 11 – Tuesday, April 10
Practice 12 – Thursday, April 12
Scrimmage 3 – Saturday, April 14


SPRING ROSTER - Can be found HERE. Scanning through it, scholarship player names I'm not seeing from last year who had eligibility left and I have not already written on are: RB Montrell Conner, WR Hollis Moore, OL Cody Jenkins, LB Terron Bell. None of these guys made an impact on the year (or more) that they were here.

I had already written on DE Jonathan Massaquoi, TE Gavin Ellis, DT Tony Gillespie, DE Xavian Evans and DB D.J. Jones not returning.