The Best Quarterback in Troy History

The most logical place to start a series on the best players in Troy history is with the Quarterbacks. QBs are the most recognizable players in any football team and it has been no different for the Trojans.

What follows is a quick overview of each quarterbacks’ accomplishments and accolades from their time as a Trojan. No current players will be included.

A poll is included at the end of the article to allow you to vote on who you think are the best Quarterbacks in Trojan History.

Honorable Mentions

• Bubba Marriott, 1957-60
• Al Head, 1968-70
• Bobby Lee, 1972-75

The Players

#1 – Corey Robinson, 2010-13

Corey Robinson had far and away one of the most robust Troy careers on record. He was selected as an All-Sun Belt player in 2010, 2012, and 2013. Robinson also won Sun Belt Freshman of the Year for his contributions to the 2010 SBC Championship team.

The Bazooka from Paducah recorded 3 400 yard passing games and 24 300 yard passing games. For a single game performance, Corey has the 2nd (476 yards), 6th (406 yards), and 8th (404 twice) best mark in Total Offense. He has the record (485 yards), as well as 5th (417), 7th (404), 8th (396), and 10th (393) places, for the most passing yards in a game, as well as, the 8th best mark for passing touchdowns in a game with 4 three different times.

Over the course of a single season, Robinson holds the record for the 2nd (3,726), 4th (3,411), and 7th (3,121) most passing yards. For touchdowns thrown over the course of a season, Troy’s #6 held 3rd (28), 7th (21), and 9th (20) places. When looking at yards per game, Robinson holds the #3-6 spots with 286.6, 284.2, 283.7, and 286.2 respectively.

Viewed as a full career, Robinson’s impact on the Troy record books truly shows. He holds the career mark for passing yards with 13,477. He was the 9th most efficient passer with a rating of 136.2 and his completion percentage was good enough to earn him 3rd all time with 64.7 percent completed. Robinson holds the record the the most touchdowns thrown with 81 and also holds the record for the most yards per game with 280.8.

#2 – Levi Brown, 2008-09

Levi Brown was a prolific quarterback on the 5-time Sun Belt Championship teams of the mid-2000s. His impact is felt even though he was only captaining the offense for two years. Brown was named Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year in 2008 and both Offensive Player of the Year and Conference Player of the Year in 2009. He was named to the All-Sun Belt team in 2009 as well.

Brown threw for over 300 yards eight times in his career and over 400 three times. He is tied with Corey Robinson for 2nd in total offense with 476 yards and also holds the 7th (405) and 10th (403) places. Levi has the 2nd (477), 3rd (469), and 6th (413) most passing yards in a game. He is also tied with Corey Robinson and a host of other Trojans at 8th most passing touchdowns in a game with 4.

Brown set the record for passing yards in a season with 4,254 in 2009. He also holds the record for passing yards per game with 327.2 yards. His 2009 output was good enough to warrant him the 4th place in the record books with 23 touchdowns thrown.

Brown’s two successful years in Troy allowed him to enter the record books very quickly. He has the 5th most passing yards in a career with 6,284 and the 8th best passing efficiency with a 136.7 rating. He also had the 6th highest completion percentage with 62.9 passes completed and the 2nd best yards per game mark with 273.2. Brown is listed at 7th on the all-time touchdown passes thrown list with 38.

#3 – Sim Byrd, 1966-68

For playing in an era where running was king, Sim Byrd was a prolific passer. Byrd was an NAIA All-American in Troy’s 1968 National Championship season. During this career, he only had one 300 and one 400 yard performance.

Sim still holds the record for the most Total Offense put up in a game with 545 yards (1968 vs Samford).  He is currently 4th in single-game passing yards (443) and is tied at 1st and 3rd with the most touchdown passes thrown at 6 and 5 respectively.

Byrd’s legacy is found all throughout the season records as well. He ranks third in the most passing yards in a season with 3,569 in 1968. Sim Byrd has held the record for most touchdowns thrown with 41 in 1968, eclipsing Kelvin Simmons’ (more on him later) mark of 31. Byrd also holds the record for passing efficiency with a rating of 196.7, as well as, rounding out the Top 10 with a 10th place mark of 149.0. Over the course of the 1968 season, Byrd gained 2nd place all-time with 297.4 yards per game, and he placed 6th all time in 1967 with 245.7 yards per game.

During his two years in Troy, Byrd found himself in numerous career record spots as well. He ranks fourth on the passing yards list with 7.619 and fourth in passing efficiency as well with a rating of 146.0. He is 2nd all-time in touchdowns thrown with 79 and comes in at third all-time in yards per game with 238.1.

#4 – Brandon Silvers, 2014-17

2015, 2016, 2017 All-Sun Belt Selections

• 9 300+ yard games
• #5 Single-Game Total Offense – 413 yards, 2016
• #9 Single-Game Passing Yards – 395, 2016
• #8 Single-Game Passing Touchdowns – 4, twice in 2015 and twice in 2017
• #5 and #6 Single-Season Passing Yards – 3,290 in 2017 and 3,180 in 2016
• #4 and #9 Single-Season Passing Touchdowns – 23 in 2016 and 20 in 2015
• #7 and #10 in Single-Season Yards Per Game – 253.1 in 2017, and 244.6 in 2016
• #2 Career Passing Yards- 10,684
• #10 Career Passing Efficiency Rating – 135.8
• #4 Career Completion Percentage – 64.4
• #3  Career Touchdowns – 71
• #4 Career Yards Per Game – 222.6

#5 – Mike Turk, 1984-87

1987 All-American Selection

1985, 1986, 1987 All- Gulf South Selection

1986 and 1987 Gulf South Offensive Player of the Year

• 0  300+ yard game
• 0 Single-Game Records
• #7 Single-Season Passing Efficiency – 160.1, 1986
• #7 Career Passing Yards – 4,174
• #11 Career Passing Efficiency – 134.4
• #18 Career Completion Percentage – 50.0
• #8 Career Passing TDs – 30
• #15 Career Yards per Game – 90.7

#6- Omar Haugabook, 2006-07

2006 and 2007 All-Sun Belt Selection

2006 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year

2006 and 2007 Offensive Player of the Year

2006 Sun Belt Player of the Year

• 2 300+ yard games
• 0 400+ yard games
• #4 Single-Game Total Offense – 420 yards, 2007
• #8 Single-Game Passing Touchdowns – 4, twice in 2006
• #7 Single-Season Passing Touchdowns – 21, 2006
• #8 Single- Season Yards per Game – 247.9
• #6 Career Passing Yards – 5.376
• #19 Career Passing Efficiency Rating – 120.8
• #9 Career Completion Percentage – 61.3
• #6 Career Passing Touchdowns – 39
• #5 Career Yards per Game – 215.0

#7 – Kelvin Simmons, 1992-93

• 3 300+ yard games
• 0 400+ yard games
• #3 Single-Game Passing Touchdowns – 5, 1993
• #9 Single-Season Passing Yards – 2,924, 1993
• #2 Single-Season Passing Touchdowns – 31, 1993
• #3 Single-Season Passing Efficiency Rating – 174.5
• #8 Career Passing Yards – 4,000
• #1 Career Passing Efficiency Rating – 165.8
• #10 Career Completion Percentage – 60.2
• #5 Career Passing Touchdowns – 40
• #6 Career Yards per Game – 166.7

#8 – Brock Nutter, 1997-2001

1999 and 2000 All-Southland Selection

• 3 300+ yard games
• 0 400+ yard games
• #8 Single-Game Touchdowns – 4, 2000
• 0 Single-Season Records
• #3 Career Passing Yards – 7.687
• #14 Career Passing Efficiency Rating – 127.3

#9 – Carey Christensen, 1983-84

• 0 300+ yard games
• 0 400+ yard games
• 0 Single-Game Records
• #6 Single-Season Passing Efficiency Rating – 162.2
• #20 Career Passing Yards – 1,715
• #6 Career Passing Efficiency Rating – 139.7
• #13 Career Completion Percentage – 55.7
• – #16 Career Passing Yards per Game – 90.3

#10 – Willie Tullis, 1978-80

1980 All-America Selection

1979 and 1980 All-Gulf South Selection

1980 Gulf South Offensive Player of the Year

• 0 Single-Game Records
• 0 Single-Season Records
• #10 Career Passing Yards – 3,456
• #17 Career Passing Efficiency Rating – 125.5
• #17 Career Completion Percentage – 50.9
• #10 Career Passing Touchdowns – 25
• #9 Career Yards per Game – 119.2

#11 – Stan Davis, 1993-96

1996 All-Southland Selection

• 0 300+ yard games
• 0 400+ yard games
• 0 Single-Game Records
• #9 Single-Season Passing Efficiency Rating – 152.7
• #15 Career Passing Yards – 2.035
• #20 Career Completion Percentage – 48.3
• – #16 Career Passing Touchdowns – 13

#12 – Hansell Bearden, 2000-03

• 0 300+ yard games
• 0 400+ yard games
• 0 Single-Game Records
• 0 Single-Game Records
• #19 Career Passing Yards – 1,829
• #18 Career Passing Yards per Game – 76.2

Let me know in the comments what you think of my ranking and don’t forget to vote in the poll for your Top 5 Trojan QBs.

I’ll reveal the results next week.

Poll – https://forms.gle/h425bQ6HwkhDAnCh8