Trojans picked to finish 2nd in Sun Belt

By Drew Champlin

Published: July 22, 2008

NEW ORLEANS — Boris Lee felt insulted. Troy head coach Larry Blakeney was surprised.

Troy was picked second in this year’s Sun Belt preseason poll, released at the conference’s Media Days. The Trojans, who went 8-4 last year, got a first place vote. Florida Atlantic, which returns most of its team from last year’s New Orleans Bowl champion team, was an overwhelming choice for the league’s top team.

“I’m insulted being second,” said Lee, a Troy junior linebacker. “Everyone should feel insulted if they’re not picked first. Even if they didn’t win a game last year.”

Blakeney said he picked Troy fifth based on other experienced quarterbacks in the league and where Troy’s home games lie.

“We’re always picked a little higher than we should,” Blakeney said. “I appreciate the confidence. In reality, where we’ve got to play in the league on the road and where our home games lie, we’ve got to have some injury luck and some other luck.

“But I hope we’re not into settling.”

Troy plays at FAU, at UL-Monroe, who is picked third, and at Middle Tennessee and North Texas. Seven of the first nine games are on the road.
Arkansas State was picked fourth, followed by Middle Tennessee, UL-Lafayette, North Texas and Florida International.

Troy had five players on the Sun Belt preseason first team — Lee, right tackle Dion Small, defensive end Kenny Mainor and defensive backs Sherrod Martin and Tavares Williams.

Troy opens practice next Wednesday July 30 in preparation for its Aug. 28 season opener at Middle Tennessee.

Blakeney happy about offensive line: When Blakeney was asked about an area he was comfortable with, he was quick to mention the offensive line.

“We’ve got them all back,” Blakeney said. “We were multi-purpose last year. We were top 25 in a couple of offensive categories and a lot of that is because of those guys.”

Starters Chris Jamison, Tyler Clark, Danny Franks, Wes Potter and Small round out the line from left to right. Returnees Will Chambliss, Steven Adams and Steven Merkel have all played. Redshirts Micah Grimes, Windham Rotunda and Tyrell Curtis are looking to crack the rotation.

Grayshirt update: Blakeney said the staff is still deciding on whether or not to grayshirt quarterback Corey Robinson, but that they’re leaning toward the grayshirt.

That way Robinson, who is on campus, would delay full-time enrollment until Jan. 2009. He set a national record with 91 touchdown passes at Lone Oak High School in Paducah, Ky.

“We’d like to separate him (in eligibility) from the guys we already have,” Blakeney said. “He’s got a chance to be a great player. This would let him grow more and mature.”

Projected starter Jamie Hampton is a sophomore, as well as backup Tanner Jones. Levi Brown, another backup, is a junior. Dan Parker will enroll this fall with the freshman class.

Other projected grayshirts are wide receivers Felton Payton and Gavin Ellis, offensive linemen Jimbo Arnold and Kyle Wilborn and linebacker Johnny Thompson.