Troy Football 2019 Spring Primer: Offense

The first spring of the Chip Lindsey era is set to get underway on March 19 and we’ve got your positional outlook right here.

Troy returns a lot of production from the quarterbacks and running backs from 2018, including a stellar offensive line. The Trojans will have to replace 147 receptions from their top three targets from last year, though.

With a new coaching staff comes a new evaluation period. It’s essentially a reset for players vying for spots in the rotation, especially with a system shift.

It’s impossible to tell what Lindsey and staff plan to do with Troy personnel now, but we’ve got a complete breakdown of what they’ve got at their disposal to work with.

Quarterbacks

Troy will have one of the most interesting quarterback battles in the Sun Belt, only magnified by the new staff and offense.

The Trojans have five scholarship quarterbacks, seven total, and two who started at least six games each last season.

Senior Kaleb Barker was the game one starter in 2018 and led the offense for the first five and a half games. Barker went down in the Georgia State game and was replaced by now-junior Sawyer Smith, who started the remainder of the games.

Barker was 5-1 as a starter and accounted for 1,274 yards of offense and 13 touchdowns. Smith was 5-2 and threw for 1,669 passing yards and 14 touchdowns.

With Barker behind center, the offense had an option feel to it with plenty of RPO’s and perimeter runs sprinkled throughout. With Smith, the passing game went vertical.

The two will battle for a lead throughout spring while another battle rages beneath them.

Junior college quarterback and former Vanderbilt signee Jacob Free was brought in along with Gavin Screws to compete with redshirt freshman Gunnar Watson for a spot as Troy’s quarterback of the future.

Post spring projection

Jr Sawyer Smith

OR

Sr Kaleb Barker

So Jacob Free

rFr Gunnar Watson

Fr Gavin Screws

Running backs

BJ Smith had just 262 career rushing yards heading into his junior season before racking up 1,186 yards in his first year as a starter.

He’s joined by Jabir Daughtry-Frye as the only two ball carriers with any real experience.

Lindsey’s staff is going to be tasked with finding a third running back out of a group of four others sparring for a spot in the rotation. Sophomore DK Billingsley may have a leg up after being the most impressive running back in last year’s spring and arguably the spring before.

This is a new staff, though, and a new evaluation period comes with it. Redshirt freshmen Josh Mays and Trevon Woolfolk can play there to a few snaps a game, as well.

There is a wildcard at play here, however. Texas A&M transfer and redshirt freshmen Charles Strong is currently awaiting a waiver request to either be denied or accepted. The running back redshirted last year and an accepted waiver request would mean Strong wouldn’t have to miss two consecutive seasons, at least that’s what the school is hoping for.

Strong is the biggest running back in the group and a former highly touted recruit, one with offers from Alabama to Ole Miss to Florida State. If Strong’s waiver is accepted, he’ll almost undoubtedly be a key part of the backfield. Until then, Strong will be left out of my post spring projection.

At fullback, senior Zacc Weldon has returned as the prototypical blocking back for the Trojans. How he’ll be used in an offense that is moving away from a power spread to a more traditional spread is yet to be known.

For more on Smith and company, check out our first spring primer here.

Post spring projection

Sr BJ Smith

Jr Jabir Daughtry-Frye

So DK Billingsley

rFr Josh Mays

OR

rFr Trevon Woolfolk

Wide Receiver

This is by far the trickiest position to gauge without seeing a single practice or knowing what kind of packages and rotations Lindsey plans to use. Nevertheless, we’ll give it a shot.

Troy has lost its top three receivers to graduation in Damion Willis, Deondre Douglas and Sydney Davis. The additions of uber-talented JUCO products Khalil McClain and Reggie Todd are huge, though.

Three players with three unique strengths and quality experience are back. The lanky deep ball threat Luke Whittemore is back, the speedy Tray Eafford is back and the strong Richard Hallman is back.

The above five are the five most likely to top the depth chart. There are a host of others, though, that will be taking a shot at the top group. That deep group is led by sophomore Bret Clark, who was a key receiver last spring. Clark also appeared in eight games last year, catching three passes.

Former JUCO product Daniel Crowell took a redshirt last year but could have some of the best hands of the entire group and will be making a move playing time, as well.

Beyond that, there is a lot of youth. There is also plenty of potential, giving the staff a challenge. Lindsey’s staff must evaluate the group, sort out the position battle at the top and develop the potential at the bottom.

Instead of using Brown’s positions for the projected depth chart, I’m listing all of them together. Also, instead of writing “or” between every player, just imagine that there is in fact an “or” between almost every player.

Post spring projection

Jr Khalil McClain

Jr Reggie Todd

So Luke Whittemore

Jr Tray Eafford

Sr Richard Hallman

---

So Bret Clark

Jr Daniel Crowell

---

So Timmie Gibson

rFr Demontrez Brown

So Chris Robinson

So Bee Hinton

Sr Johnathon Ortner

Tight End

This is a light position group. Brown used a tight end primarily as a blocker and very, very occasionally as a receiver. If a tight end was used as a pass catcher, he was usually just listed as a Y-receiver.

There are three tight ends listed on roster. The most experienced one is junior Sam Letton, who missed the majority of last season with a suspension. Redshirt freshman AJ Lewis has the most potential of the group, especially as a receiver. The group is then rounded out by sophomore Trey Coryell.

Post spring projection

rFr AJ Lewis

Jr Sam Letton

So Trey Coryell

Offensive Line

Troy may head into the 2019 season with the Sun Belt’s best offensive line, but it’ll need to stay healthy because the group is currently top-heavy.

The Trojans lost one starter, center Deontae Crumitie, but return five with starting experience. Junior Dylan Bradshaw has the least amount of experience of that group, but still played over 300 snaps between guard and center.

Bradshaw may have the inside track on the center position while seniors Tristan Crowder and Kirk Kelley hold down the guard spots. Senior JL Gaston returns as the starting right tackle.

Returning at left tackle is a player that NFL scouts may have an eye on going forward. Sophomore Austin Stidham was one of the Sun Belt’s pass blockers, if not the best, and has Antonio Garcia-level potential.

Outside of those five, there are nine players with little to no experience. Sophomore Travius Harris, junior Gerald Bell and redshirt freshman Hamilton Hawthorne all have a strong chance of being on the post-spring depth chart.

Redshirt freshman Jake Andrews also has a good chance on account of the versatility he brings. Andrews actually made multiple appearances in 2018 as a blocking tight end and can move across the line.

Post spring projection

LT

So Austin Stidham

Jr Gerald Bell

LG

Sr Kirk Kelley

So Travius Harris

C

Jr Dylan Bradshaw

rFr Jake Andrews

RG

Sr Tristan Crowder

rFr Grant Betts

RT

Sr JL Gaston

rFr Hamilton Hawthorne

Others

Sr Bobby Klemm

So Kade McLaney

So Jake Baker

So Bubba Hudson