Posting this now, since practice starts so early tomorrow and didn't want to get this lost in the shuffle. This story will run in the Thursday print edition, and on dothaneagle.com HERE.
BY DREW CHAMPLIN | dchamplin@dothaneagle.com
TROY – Offensive lineman Luke Lawrence is looking forward to seeing where he fits in as Troy begins fall camp with an 8:15 a.m. practice today.
The true freshman from Tuscaloosa’s Hillcrest High School turned 18 this spring. Most of Troy’s defensive tackles are 21 and older, giving Lawrence, who will start off at guard, the chance to prove his worth.
“You’ve got to start somewhere,” Lawrence said Monday. “I’m going to try my best. I’m not going to go in there looking to not start. I’ve been working hard in the offseason trying to get in shape and ready to go.
“I feel new a little bit, but I’ll see when camp actually starts how new it will be.”
Lawrence was one of several true freshmen who enrolled during the first or second summer terms to get ready for college life ahead of time. Wide receiver Brandon Brooks, who led his First Coast High School (Fla.) team to a state runner-up finish, was another one.
“It helped me get acclimated on campus and get accustomed to how things were around campus,” Brooks said. “I feel a step ahead of the freshmen that are coming in.”
Brooks said he would start out at Y-receiver, an inside position in Troy’s four-wide offense. He played both outside positions in high school, but feels like he can adjust. He had a chance to get adjusted when quarterbacks and skill players worked out in voluntary 7-on-7 drills with no coaches supervising.
“At my high school, we really had to learn every position,” Brooks said. “We could get thrown in at any position at any time.”
Troy has more experience at receiver going into this season as opposed to last, but coaches certainly have let players get opportunities as true freshmen in the past.
“I wouldn’t mind taking a redshirt, but I’m not going into camp looking for a redshirt,” Brooks said. “Hopefully I can get into the rotation.”
Coaches encouraged players to get to school early, but the NCAA changed the rules this year. A player couldn’t enroll in summer school until he had fully been cleared by the NCAA, or he would count in the 25 scholarship newcomers who would count in the fall.
“It’s always better for them if they can come in early,” Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said.
Quarterback Corey Robinson said players spent the summer harping on making improvements from last year’s 3-9 season. The Trojans were picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt and open the season Sept. 1 at 11 a.m. at UAB.
“The entire summer, we talked about what we went through last year and how we never want to go through that again, and getting back to what Troy was before,” Robinson said. “I think that’s what’s going to happen.”
Troy’s preseason camp will run through Aug. 14, as classes start the next day. There will be an 8:15 a.m. practice every day except for an 11 a.m. scrimmage on Aug. 11 and Fan Day on Aug. 12 from 1-3 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Troy will have two-a-day practices on Aug. 7 and Aug. 9 with afternoon practices running from 3:15-4:30 p.m.
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