Pre-recruiting/spring look: OFFENSIVE LINE

December 13, 2007

Drew Champlin

This is the first look at the 2008 Trojans. It’s never too early to speculate on the next season, especially since Troy’s 2007 season is over. Most of these will not focus on 2008 recruits as no one has signed on the dotted line yet.

Note: Players are listed in class based on what they will be in 2008.

WHAT TROY IS LOSING: Nothing, unless players leave on their own or are steered in the direction of a smaller school.

WHAT TROY IS RETAINING: Everything. Senior Chris Jamison at left tackle, junior Danny Franks at center, senior Wes Potter at right guard and senior Dion Small at right tackle started every game this season and Small capped it off with a 1st team all-conference selection. Jamison was honorable mention and Franks was on the ballot. Senior Will Chambliss started at left guard until the Arkansas State game when sophomore Tyler Clark, who came in as a walk-on, took over. John Schlarman did a great job with this unit in his first year, especially considering he didn’t arrive until the summer. This was supposed to be a weak unit but turned out to be the most consistent. Junior Steven Adams saw some time at center, senior Steven Merkel split time with Potter at right guard but Small and Jamison played pretty much every snap. I think Tyrell Curtis ended up redshirting but ex-OC Tony Franklin was high on him and Potter from Snow Junior College. Curtis was listed as a left tackle. Coaches were high on Nic Riley at right tackle, but he’s not going to unseat Small. He could provide insurance should Small need a rest. Micah Grimes redshirted this year and he’ll be a star on the Trojan line before he’s done. Coaches are happy with the way he’s progressing and thought he would play in 2007, but he wasn’t needed. He’ll play somewhere in 2008, likely at guard. Jamarr Thompson arrived with some high fanfare but needs to get his body in better shape before he can be a dominant force. He also redshirted last year. Jacob Creech signed in 2007, but was a grayshirt and he’s expected to enroll in January. Coaches also signed Jeremiah Wright, but he didn’t qualify. Mark Cogburn and Windham Rotunda came over in the spring from the College of the Sequoias but Cogburn suffered a career-ending knee injury and Rotunda wasn’t on the dress list and doesn’t figure to contribute unless he can get as mean as he looks. Let’s just say Troy coaches were desparate for O-Lineman last year after losing four starters and coaches at that particular institution out west let Troy coaches believe their players were a little bit better than they were, or didn’t disclose prior injuries. Senior Emeka Okosa was highly thought of by ex-ex-OC Mark Fleetwood, but has yet to make any contribution.

I don’t see another big O-Line overhaul in this recruiting class, but Troy could add a new face or two.

DREW’S PREDICTION: Good chance the starting five stays the same as it ended at the end of the year, with Jamison, Clark, Franks, Potter and Small. The two-deep could be Curtis, Chambliss/Grimes, Adams, Chambliss/Merkel and Chambliss/Thompson. Chambliss can play any position on the line except center and could win his starting spot back. This is probably the deepest OL Troy has ever had and probably the best in the conference. Remember where games are won: at the line of scrimmage.

Another Chris Todd link

Drew Champlin

From one of his hometown papers, exploring the possibility of going to Auburn instead of Troy.

I’m still a little unclear on when they can sign. I’ve tried finding it online, but was told the 18th. I’m not sure how long he actually has to make a decision.

Thursday links

Drew Champlin

If you read the print edition of the Dothan Eagle, you see two stories relating to Tony Franklin taking the Auburn OC job.

I wrote on Troy keeping the same offense. Collin Mickle of the OA News wrote on Franklin taking the job.

Wednesday night roundup

December 12, 2007

Drew Champlin

Spoke with head coach Larry Blakeney. He said he didn’t have a timetable on naming a new offensive coordinator, but will continue to run the same offense. He did say they would look to hire a new offensive assistant, but that person would not be the offensive coordinator.

That means the new guy will come from this staff - either outside receivers/special teams coach Shayne Wasden, inside receivers coach Neal Brown, running backs coach Chad Scott or offensive line coach John Schlarman.

Wasden has been here four years, Brown two, Scott one and Schlarman one. He said he hadn’t decided yet which one would take over. The biggest thing is keeping the system in place and letting recruits know that will be the case.

Blakeney did say the recruiting should stay on course but expressed concerns of losing a quarterback recruit. He obviously couldn’t say his name.

That, if you’ve been paying attention, is Chris Todd. Well, I talked to Todd, and he said the switch isn’t set in stone, but he and his family are setting up a visit to Auburn this weekend.

You never know, Momma might not like what they’re feeding him at Auburn. Troy’s going to still recruit him, but Todd has a close relationship with Tony Franklin. He did have good things to say about Troy.

“I am aware of what Tony is doing,“ Todd said. “I called him and congratulated him. After talking with my family, we decided to set up a visit to Auburn and we’ll go from there. I can’t say a bad thing about Troy. I enjoyed the visit and the people I met were great.“

A dead period starts in recruiting next week, Dec. 17 and runs through Jan. 3, with Jan. 2 and 3 being days that coaches can contact mid-term enrollees that have signed letters of intent. Mid-term enrolles have to sign next week, Dec. 18, so Todd’s got a quick decision. Auburn has two quarterback commitments listed by rivals.com, though both are freshmen. AU also has three returning quarterbacks on scholarship - Neil Caudle, Blake Field and Kodi Burns.

Personally, I think it’s an extreme, extreme longshot that Todd sticks with Troy, but you never know what could happen.

As far as the camps Franklin has been having at Troy? Blakeney is hoping they’ll continue, because it’s logistically near-impossible to do it at Auburn. I’m pretty sure Franklin wants to keep running the camps at Troy.

Some quotes from Tony Franklin

Drew Champlin

I spoke with him a few minutes ago. His teleconference doesn’t start for 15 more minutes, but here’s what he had to say. He doesn’t think Troy will miss a beat because he “hired plenty of coaches smarter than him.“

“I was coming back Sunday from watching a quarterback in Kentucky. (Auburn assistant) Eddie (Gran) called me and asked me to stop by. We ended up talking for a few hours (with other coaches as well) and it went from there.“

“The hardest thing for me about leaving Troy was leaving Larry (Blakeney). He was gutsy enough to hire me and give me a chance. Not only is he a great coach, he’s just a wonderful human being and a great friend.“

On the opportunity…
“In any profession, you always want to try to make it to the highest level. I think this is an opportunity to compete in the best conference in all of college football. As you go through life, you look through challenges and this is one of them.“

Haven’t spoke with Chris Todd, the quarterback who committed from JUCO to sign with Troy, but he’s probably going to go to Auburn. I’ll see if I can catch him with him later.