'Measuring-stick game' awaits Troy with season-opening trip to Boise State
There's no warm-up game for Troy as the Trojans are coming off their best season in their FBS history.
Troy went 10-3 last year, winning the Dollar General Bowl over Ohio. It was the first 10-win season for Troy since moving up to FBS in 2001. Troy was also briefly ranked in the Associated Press top 25, also a first.
Last year, Troy opened up at home against Austin Peay, an FCS team that went 0-11. This year, it starts at Boise State, a probable preseason top 25 team coming off a 10-3 season. The game kicks off on Sept. 2 at 2:45 p.m. CT
Brandon Silvers enters his fourth year as a starting quarterback. Troy returns most of its offensive production, including 1,288-yard rusher Jordan Chunn and top receivers Emmanuel Thompson and Deondre Douglas, who combined for 1,560 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
Troy must replace Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and sack monster Rashad Dillard, but Brown feels good about some young players. Brown said Troy's deepest positions are at receiver, running back and defensive tackle.
Who's back
QB Brandon Silvers, Sr. (3,180 yards, 23 TD, 12 INT)
RB Jordan Chunn, Sr. (1,288 yards, 16 rush TD)
CB Blace Brown, Jr. (6 INT)
Who's gone
DL Rashad Dillard, LB William Lloyd, OL Antonio Garcia, K Ryan Kay, LB Terris Lewis
The leader: QB Brandon Silvers. The fourth-year starter edged out three upperclassmen in 2014 to win the starting job as a freshman. Silvers earned all-conference honors and the Gulf Shores native is the leader of this offense.
Get to know: WR Damion Willis. The 6-foot-4 Willis played a small role in Netflix's Last Chance U, but is now featuring as a big threat in the Trojans' offense. He could slip past returning starter Deondre Douglas at the X receiver spot.
Pivotal game: at Arkansas State, Jonesboro, Ark., Dec. 2 - The season finale could be for the Sun Belt championship. The other top contender, Appalachian State, avoids both Troy and ASU.
Coachspeak: "Who is going to apply pressure to the quarterback? Are we going to have to generate it from schematics, or some of these young kids like Zo Bridges, Terrance Corbett and Kelvin Lucky going to be able to win 1-on-1 battles." - Brown on replacing Rashad Dillard's team-best 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
There's no warm-up game for Troy as the Trojans are coming off their best season in their FBS history.
Troy went 10-3 last year, winning the Dollar General Bowl over Ohio. It was the first 10-win season for Troy since moving up to FBS in 2001. Troy was also briefly ranked in the Associated Press top 25, also a first.
Last year, Troy opened up at home against Austin Peay, an FCS team that went 0-11. This year, it starts at Boise State, a probable preseason top 25 team coming off a 10-3 season. The game kicks off on Sept. 2 at 2:45 p.m. CT
Brandon Silvers enters his fourth year as a starting quarterback. Troy returns most of its offensive production, including 1,288-yard rusher Jordan Chunn and top receivers Emmanuel Thompson and Deondre Douglas, who combined for 1,560 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
Troy must replace Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and sack monster Rashad Dillard, but Brown feels good about some young players. Brown said Troy's deepest positions are at receiver, running back and defensive tackle.
Who's back
QB Brandon Silvers, Sr. (3,180 yards, 23 TD, 12 INT)
RB Jordan Chunn, Sr. (1,288 yards, 16 rush TD)
CB Blace Brown, Jr. (6 INT)
Who's gone
DL Rashad Dillard, LB William Lloyd, OL Antonio Garcia, K Ryan Kay, LB Terris Lewis
The leader: QB Brandon Silvers. The fourth-year starter edged out three upperclassmen in 2014 to win the starting job as a freshman. Silvers earned all-conference honors and the Gulf Shores native is the leader of this offense.
Get to know: WR Damion Willis. The 6-foot-4 Willis played a small role in Netflix's Last Chance U, but is now featuring as a big threat in the Trojans' offense. He could slip past returning starter Deondre Douglas at the X receiver spot.
Pivotal game: at Arkansas State, Jonesboro, Ark., Dec. 2 - The season finale could be for the Sun Belt championship. The other top contender, Appalachian State, avoids both Troy and ASU.
Coachspeak: "Who is going to apply pressure to the quarterback? Are we going to have to generate it from schematics, or some of these young kids like Zo Bridges, Terrance Corbett and Kelvin Lucky going to be able to win 1-on-1 battles." - Brown on replacing Rashad Dillard's team-best 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
