Troy notes: Trojans get good injury news

By Drew Champlin

Published: November 6, 2008

TROY — Troy got some better injury news this week, when two of its best players resumed practicing.

Linebacker Bear Woods (foot) and wideout Jerrel Jernigan (knee) have both practiced this week in preparations for Troy’s 2:30 p.m. game with Western Kentucky at home Saturday.

“I would say Bear is probable and 3 (Jernigan) is doubtful,” head coach Larry Blakeney said Thursday.

Woods has missed the last two games with a lingering foot injury and missed three so far this year. Jernigan missed last week’s loss at ULM after having his knee scoped.

“He looks like a heck of a player to me,” Blakeney said of Jernigan. “He has not gone full out, but he has worked with gear on. He probably hasn’t gone a full practice yet.”

It’s possible Jernigan could be ready for the Nov. 15 game at LSU.

“That’s all up in the air,” Blakeney said. “If he plays this week, certainly we’ll have a role for him next week. We won’t be sure he’s ready to play until we put him out there. We’re shooting for the (UL-Lafayette) game (Nov. 22) with him.”

Redshirt freshman linebacker Donnell Golden, who left earlier this week for a family medical situation, likely won’t play.

“He’s a rep guy and he has not practiced,” Blakeney said.

Golden started the last two games for Woods and had interceptions in both of them. If he can’t go, senior Trinidy Thomas or freshman Rod Winston would back Woods up.

Cornerback Chris Bowens has been hampered by a foot injury and he likely won’t play either. Center Danny Franks (ankle), who played against ULM, has been practicing and is expected to start.

Coaches have Kentucky ties: Offensive coordinator Neal Brown, a Danville, Ky., native, was excited about showing family and friends Troy’s explosive offense last year when Troy went to WKU.

The Trojans struggled offensively but snuck out with a 21-17 win. One of those touchdowns came on defense.

“I had about 30 family and friends at the game,” Brown said. “They were pumped about seeing us play, and we went out there and put a stinker out there on
offense. Defense played really well.”

Brown said his father got his master’s degree at WKU and one of his best friends played soccer there. Brown played at Kentucky along with offensive line coach John Schlarman and running backs coach Chad Scott.

Brown said WKU didn’t show much recruiting love.

“Before (current head coach David) Elson got the job, they didn’t sign a bunch of Kentucky kids,” Brown said. “They were running the option, too, so I wouldn’t have been real fired up about it anyway.”

First official visitor:  Troy’s recruiting is starting to hit high gear, as the first official visitor for the Trojans’ 2009 class is expected to be on campus this weekend. Josh Brown, a defensive back from St. Petersburg, Fla. (Dixie Hollins High), is listed at 5-foot-11, 204 pounds and lists Troy, Iowa and Wake Forest as his top three schools on rivals.com