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Athlon Sports
Troy Football: 2024 Trojans Season Preview and Prediction
By Athlon Sports,
1 day ago
With a first-year head coach, it’s tough to say where this program can go and how quickly it can get there. Going from a defensive coach to an offensive one without the key contributors to their championship runs makes the Trojans one of the biggest question marks in the G5.
With the departure of head coach Jon Sumrall and several key contributors, the Troy Trojans are massively depleted heading into the 2024 season. On the heels of back-to-back Sun Belt titles, it’s going to be the first year of a program rebuild.
Former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Gerad Parker enters his first season at the helm and his first season ever as a head college coach, save for six weeks in the interim role at Purdue eight years ago.
Likely starting quarterback Goose Crowder completed nine passes on 13 attempts with a touchdown last season, his first since he transferred from West Virginia. He replaces Gunnar Watson. Running back Damien Taylor will have to help replace the production of NFL-bound Kimani Vidal, last year’s Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year. Several major contributors along the offensive line will also have to be replaced in 2024, presenting Parker with a number of questions for his debut season.
Former Notre Dame OC Gerad Parker takes over a Troy team that thrived under former head coach Jon Sumrall, now the coach at Tulane.
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Previewing Troy’s Defense for 2024
Under Sumrall, Troy played some of the best defense in school history. The Trojans featured the best scoring defense in the Sun Belt in 2023, allowing just 17.1 points per game. They also had the best total defense in the league, allowing only 308 yards per game.
While the defense also lost several major pieces to the portal and the professional ranks, a few notable Power 4 transfers have been added to the roster to help some of the returning contributors. That includes former Cincinnati edge rusher Jah-Mal Williams, who appeared in 10 games last season for the Bearcats.
Another notable transfer is former FCS Gardner-Webb linebacker Brendan Jackson, who had 71 tackles with 11.5 for a loss and four sacks and was an All-Big South selection last season. If the Trojans hope to continue their reputation of being statistically one of the top rushing defenses in football, Jackson will likely be integral. Troy allowed 3.2 yards per carry in 2023.
Junior linebacker Jordan Stringer is expected to play a significant role for Troy’s rebuilt defense in 2024.
Petre Thomas&solUSA TODAY Sports
Previewing Troy’s Specialists for 2024
Placekicker Scott Taylor Renfroe was perfect on PATs in 2023, going 50-for-50. He was 19-for-24 on field goal attempts. Punter Robert Cole had 13 punts of more than 50 yards last season. Devonte Ross averaged 21 yards per kickoff return, and with the departure of punt returner Jabre Barber, he’ll likely pick up more of those duties.
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