Super Bowl Update

We're getting to the back end of these specific position previews

THE SKINNY: Where Troy was inexperienced going into last season, the Trojans are experienced and get some more weapons back with the presumed academic eligibility of Jamel Johnson and Chip Reeves, both of whom did very well in spring practice. Johnson will be a junior and Reeves a fifth-year senior. Reeves may be the best deep threat in the Sun Belt. Junior Eric Thomas stepped up as Troy's go-to receiver last year and had a school-record (At the FBS level) tying nine touchdowns. Sophomore Chandler Worthy appears ready to take his game to another level as well. Three highly-touted freshmen join several others who got valuable experience last year, such as senior Justin Albert, junior Felton Payton, senior Jaquon Robinson and sophomore B.J. Chitty.

PROJECTED STARTERS: Troy rotates a lot at these positions and will usually play 9-10 guys per game, and have at least 15 players catch a pass. When I refer to positions, X and Z are outside receivers and H and Y are inside receivers. I think the top four would be Thomas (X), Worthy (H), Robinson (Y) and Johnson (Z) with junior Jim Teknipp as the tight end when Troy uses one.

DEPTH: There is a good bit of depth and you'll see guys like Reeves (X), Chitty (Z), Payton (Y), Albert (H) probably be next in line. Many of these players can play multiple positions. Go even further than that and guys like redshirt freshman Bryan Holmes (X or Z), junior Sam Haskins (Y) are in the mix. Offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield mentioned walk-on transfer J.J. Harbin and Chris Williams as having good spring practices. Troy is bringing in three freshmen in Brandon Brooks, Bobby Walker and Michael Lindsey. I am not sure where they project, but would peg Lindsey as a slot receiver and perhaps the other two as outside receivers.

YOUNG GUY TO WATCH: Holmes. He's Chip Reeves-lite, and he'll be used a few times this year on deep balls. He's very fast and can burn defenses just like Reeves can on deep balls. He's got the same lean frame. Reeves is a very good football player and does well with blocks, etc., so if Holmes is also good with his assignments, he'll play a good amount.

BOTTOM LINE: There are several guys I've mentioned and not quite enough balls to go around. Competition brings out the best in players, usually, and it will be interesting to see which guys step up. The good thing is that most of these guys are proven and experienced and should help quarterback Corey Robinson put up some good numbers.

TOP MOMENT OF MY ERA (since 2005): Every time Jerrel Jernigan got the ball, you had the chance for a highlight play, and he had many of them. But the most important catch came in that 2006 game at Middle Tennessee as the Trojans were making a late comeback. Down 20-14 in the final minute and facing 4th and 17, Smokey Hampton found an opening in the middle of the defense and caught a pass from Omar Haugabook, getting hit in the air and falling down pretty much on his head, but holding on. On the next play, Troy scored and hit the PAT to go up 21-20 and start at stretch of five straight championships.

But back to some highlights of Jernigan to relive the good moments: