After defeating Campbell 48-7 last week, Liberty will face a tough road test against the Troy Trojans. We got in touch with Thomas Gleaton from The Trojan Wall: an authority on Troy athletics.
ASOR: Troy went 5-6 last year, but added some big-name transfers over the offseason and handled Southern University 55-3 last week. How far has the team seemingly come since last year, or is it too early to tell?
Thomas Gleaton: The short answer is it’s too early to tell. Troy has historically done really well against FCS teams in week 1 or 2, but the performance Saturday was the most dominant performance we’ve seen under Chip Lindsey. The offense looks like it’s overcome the struggles from the last season and a half, and the defense felt like it finally put both pieces together: a dominant front and an aggressive secondary. All that being said, Liberty is a massive test, and consistency has been this team’s weakness for the past decade.
ASOR: How pleased have you been with the job Chip Lindsey has done since coming aboard in 2019?
TG: I don’t think pleased is the right word. As a fan and alum, watching the win column split in half has been tough. The problem is that Lindsey’s teams have shown flashes of greatness (Georgia Southern, 2019, and Coastal Carolina last year) but they always seem to fall short. Just last year the Trojans were 1-4 in games decided by a touchdown or fewer points. That takes Troy from a 5-6 team to a 9-2 team, which is where fans expected to be when Neal Brown left. It’s pretty clear throughout the Wiregrass that Lindsey has one more shot at getting there or he’s done.
ASOR: What are some key takeaways from fall camp and Troy’s game last week?
TG: First of all, Taylor Powell earned the starting job. He’s good at adapting to the defense and making plays happen.
Second, Troy’s offense is more balanced than you’d expect. The Trojans have three running backs who could each start if not for the other two, and the receiving corps is deep as ever. Luke Meadows, the new offensive coordinator is in charge of one of the conference’s best offensive lines, and between him and passing coordinator John Carr, they’re attacking the defense’s weaknesses more than playing to each unit’s strengths.
Third, the defense is stingy. The front six picked up just two sacks, but it felt like they were in the backfield all game. At the other end, the return of corners coach Al Pogue has lit a spark in a unit that was already known for scoring on takeaways. Saturday saw the most interceptions by this defense in one game since 2018.
Finally, the “it” factor, the momentum that Troy fans felt under Neal Brown resurfaced this weekend. The team is gelling and as long as players are executing, the Trojans are going to be a problem for any team.
ASOR: Maybe a bit tied into the previous question, but who are some key players on both sides of the ball for Troy this year?
TG: Taylor Powell is a transfer from Mizzou who took over the starting role. He’s shown himself to be not only a smart field leader but an accurate passer. He will find a window. Kimani Vidal, BJ Smith and Jamontez Woods are the Cerberus in the backfield, each with enough power, speed and vision to make a 5-yard run any given play.
Reggie Todd is WR1, with speed and height to make him an issue any pass play. The problem is Tez Johnson, WR2, actually led the team in receiving yards Saturday. The one play you’ll notice most is Powell finding Johnson underneath on a cross route.
On defense, linebacker Carlton Martial is basically the monster under your bed. He’s picked up more than 100 tackles each of the past two seasons, leading the team and the conference both times. Will Choloh is the guy your offensive line will point to each play. He’s a menace and an anchor on that defensive line.
In the backfield, safeties Kyle Nixon and Dell Pettus lead a massive rotation of corners that include Zion Williams, the Sun Belt Player of the week who made two of the team’s four picks and took one to the house.
