Troy State plunged into Division I-A football with surprising success in 2001, shocking Mississippi State of the Southeastern Conference and finishing with a 7-4 record.

In his 12th season as Troy State’s coach, Larry Blakeney has successfully moved the Trojans from Division II to I-AA and now into I-A.

Not only did Troy State beat Mississippi State last season, the Trojans were competitive in losses to national champion Miami and runner-up Nebraska. Of Troy State’s four losses, three came to teams ranked in the top 10.

Blakeney took over the Troy State program in 1991 and began the rebuilding process. In the three years before his arrival, the Trojans compiled a 13-17 record.

Blakeney, 98-34-1 at Troy State, won back-to-back Southland Football League Coach-of-the-Year awards in 1999 and 2000 and was also honored as a regional coach of the year in back-to-back years by the American Football Coaches Association. During the summer of 2000, he was given the Johnny Vaught Lifetime Achievement Award by the All-American Football Foundation.

Troy State altered its 2002 schedule in February, dropping a scheduled game against Maryland in order to add the first of a three-game series with Missouri, an agreement that will include a visit by the Big 12 Conference school to Troy in 2004.

"We are very disappointed to break the contract with Maryland," Troy State Athletics Director Johnny Williams said. "But as we continue trying to build our program to an acceptable I-A standard, we really felt the opportunity presented by this series with Missouri was something that we could not pass up because one of the games will be played in Troy. It represents another big step for our program."

Gone is four-year starter Brock Nutter, the most prolific passer in school history. Nutter completed his career as Troy State’s leader in pass attempts (964), pass completions (542) and passing yards (7,331). He was 35-13 during his career.

"You don’t replace the experience and ability of a Brock Nutter overnight," Blakeney said. "You simply try to find people to fill the role. We believe we have several who are capable of doing that."

Red-shirt sophomore Hansell Bearden (6-2, 200), who spent the last two seasons as an understudy to Nutter, loom as his replacement. He led the team during spring drills and displayed a good understanding of Troy State’s complicated "Trojan Spread" system.

Bearden completed 16-of-38 passes last fall for 1182 yards and two touchdowns. Most of that experience came in late-game duty, but Bearden has a strong arm and an ability to scramble and make plays when pass patterns fail.

Also in the mix at quarterback in the fall will be junior college transfer Matt Ray (6-3, 205) and red-shirt freshman Kaeson Maddox (6-3, 205).

Troy State also has a huge hole to fill at running back because of the loss of Demontray Carter, the team’s top ground gainer for the last two years. He led the Trojans in scoring (13 touchdowns), all-purpose yardage (1,448 yards), rushing (801 yards) and kickoff returns (455 yards).

Hoping to step into the spotlight at running back are senior LeBarron Black (5-10, 215), junior DeWhitt Betterson (6-0, 210) and sophomore Jermaine Richardson (5-10, 180).

Black has rushed for 1,004 yards and nine touchdowns in his career. He has been used primarily as a third-down back. In the T-Day Spring Game, Black had 10 carries for 25 yards. He solidified his position as starting running back during the final scrimmage of the spring with 16 carries for 47 yards and two touchdowns.

Betterson, a big, bruising back, rushed for 283 yards on 52 carries in 2001, running for a career-high 96 yards against eventual national champion Miami. Richardson is a speedster who provides explosiveness, but he has never appeared in a college game.

Junior Adrian Moore (6-1, 230), who missed the 2001 season with a knee injury, ended spring drills as the starting fullback. He started at tight end as a freshman in 1999 and 2000. He gives the Trojans a versatile threat in their diversified offense.

Also returning is senior Chris Cox (5-9, 200), who started two games last year, rushing 14 times for 49 yards and a touchdown.

The wide receiver corps should be a strong point for the Trojans as all four starters and six players who caught passes in 2001 return.

The key player is senior Heyward Skipper (6-0, 181), who will start at one of the outside slots. The big-play specialist with a good chance for an NFL career caught a career-high 60 passes for 995 yards and nine touchdowns last year. He had 17 plays of more than 20 yards and a career-high 90-yard scoring pass against Cal State-Northridge. In the 2002 spring Game, Skipper had five catches for 41 yards.

At the other outside position will be sophomore Jason Samples (6-3, 185), another speedster who caught 30 passes for 365 yards last year. He had 27 catches in his last seven games. In the spring game, Samples caught five passes for 109 yards, including two spectacular diving receptions that drew roars from the crowd of 5,000.

Also in the mix at the outside slots are junior Chad Lucas (6-1, 180), senior Thomie Venisee (6-2, 206) and red-shirt freshman Michael Morris (6-1, 180).

The starters in the slot positions will be senior transfer Drew Amerson (6-0, 170) and senior Eric Felton (5-10, 180). Amerson came to Troy State from Cal State-Northridge, which dropped its I-AA football program after the 2001 season.

Amerson caught 10 passes for 177 yards last season against Troy State. At Northridge, he was the school’s all-time leader in receptions (239) and receiving yards (2,958). He was a consensus I-AA All-American in 2001.

Felton was the Trojans’ fourth-leading receiver last year, starting five games and catching 18 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. He suffered a hand injury during spring drills but is expected to be full strength in time for fall practice.

Junior Chris Day (6-0, 174) and red-shirt freshman Blake Broadhurst (5-10, 165) will also see playing time at slot receiver. Day, yet another speedster, caught 17 passes for 221 yards last year while playing on the outside and in the slot.

Junior Cedric Phillips (6-2, 240) returns as the starter at tight end, along with backup senior Jonathan Tomlin (6-3, 240). Phillips started every game last year and Tomlin played tight end and fullback.

The line returns intact and will be deeper this season thanks to strong efforts in the spring by some of the younger players. Every starter returns, along with two reserves who saw significant playing time.

"All of our guys have had a year in the offense and played considerable time," line coach Greg Adkins said. "Staying healthy will be the key. Last season, we were able to avoid major injuries. If we can do that again, we have a chance to be even better."

The starting tackles and the line’s foundation are senior Stan Curington (6-7, 294) on the left and junior Branden Hall (6-4, 318) on the right.

"Stan is our most experienced player," Adkins said. "He had a solid junior year, and we are looking for big things out of him again. Branden is our most talented lineman. He has the potential to be an All-Independent type guy."

Playing behind Curington will be junior Henry Tellis (6-5, 297), who made strong strides in the spring. Working behind Hall on the right will be red-shirt freshman James Edwards (6-5, 285) and sophomore Kyle Smith (6-3, 325).

Senior center Trent Garmon (6-1, 305) missed the last two games of the 2001 season with a shoulder injury. He had off-season surgery and is slated to start in the middle.

"Trent will be our leader out there," Adkins said. "We expect him to come back strong."

Senior Rodney Johnson (6-4, 287) is listed on the depth chart as the starter at right guard, but he also played center some in the spring. Sophomore Lee Milliner (6-3, 270) will provide depth at center.

The starter at left guard will be senior Robin Lee (6-2, 288).

Sophomore place-kicker Drew Boteler (5-9, 156) returns, but faced tough competition in the spring from sophomore Matt Munyon (5-11, 185). Munyon is a transfer from Florida State and has a strong leg. He is likely to handle kickoff duties and long field goals.

Boteler will kick extra-point attempts and field goals inside 30 yards. He made 5-of-10 field-goal attempts last year, and 27-of-31 point-after tries.

The line will be anchored by right end Osi Umenyiora (6-3, 267), a senior who is considered an NFL prospect. He was ninth on the team in tackles last year with 59, and also had 10 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Other returning starters are tackle Davern Williams (6-3, 285) and senior nose guard Jose Gamboa (6-1, 265). Williams had 61 tackles last year and Gamboa had 65. Williams missed spring practice with shoulder surgery.

The starter at left end will be senior Shelton Felton (6-2, 250), who led the Trojans with 11 tackles for loss as a backup last year. He missed spring practice with an injury and could be pushed by sophomore Demarcus Ware (6-5, 220).

"Shelton is a proven guy for us," Bolt said. "He missed all spring with an injury, but we expect him to come back full speed and start for us in August."

Said Blakeney, "Our first group is solid. Each of them has started or played a good bit. Our concern is with the second group. You need to be able to run two groups out there, and our second bunch is still learning. We just need those young ones to come on."

Blakeney will be looking for several players to step up and fill the spots vacated by Jimmy McClain, Corey Sears and Ben Waldrop, a trio that combined for 289 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 22 quarterback pressures in 2001.

The only returning starter is middle linebacker Naazir Yamini (5-11, 234), a senior who led the team in tackles with 105 last year. He underwent shoulder surgery and missed the final workout of spring practice, but should be ready for fall practice.

"Naazir has been a great leader for us this spring," Bolt said. "But we’ve got two other players in Gordon Williams and Robby Farmer who have played some. They have got to step up now and become quality players for us. During the spring, I thought they did that."

Williams (6-0, 220), a senior, will start at the weak-side position. Farmer (6-1, 220) is a sophomore from Hayden, Ala.

Starting at the strong-side position will be senior DeLoise Moore (6-1, 210), a junior college transfer who came to Troy State in 2001. He was converted to safety last fall, but moved to linebacker in the spring.

This group will be led by cornerback Rayshun Reed (5-11, 190), a senior who was an All-Independent performer last season. He led the team with six interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. He played some strong safety last year, but will return to the corner this year, a position where he has already attracted the attention of NFL scouts.

The other corner will be junior Freeman White (5-9, 175), who made 45 tackles last year and intercepted three passes. He led the team with 13 passes broken up.

Starting at strong safety will be sophomore Damien Coleman (6-0, 195), while the free safety will be sophomore Derrick Ansley (6-1, 180). Coleman started the final five games in 2001 while Ansley won his job back from Deiric Jackson (5-9, 183), a senior who started every game at right cornerback last year.

Senior Roger Ridgeway (5-11, 185) established himself as the frontrunner during spring drills. He averaged 38.3 yards per kick on 10 tries in 2001 before losing the job to freshman Jeremy Schatz, who has since left the team.

Junior Lance Lieb (6-0, 180) is listed behind Ridgeway on the depth chart. Freshman Thomas Olmsted (6-4, 215) could push for a starting nod.

The return game will be bolstered by Amerson, who will join Dan and Skipper on kickoffs. He could see action on the punt return team as well.

Skipper led the Trojans with 21 punt returns for 215 yards in 2001 and will likely return as the starter in the fall.

Senior Lee Walls (6-4, 282) returns as the long snapper and will be backed up by sophomore Pate Harrison (5-11, 209).

Bragg Knott (6-4, 210), a freshman from Homewood High School in Birmingham, Ala., will be in the mix for playing time at quarterback. A two-year starter, Knott’s team was 27-3 during his last two seasons, winning the Class 5A state title in 2000 and finishing runner-up last year.

As a senior, Knott completed 91-of-132 passes for 1,109 yards and six touchdowns. He finished his career with 2,124 passing yards.

Marlo East (6-0, 180) from Washington County High School in Sandersville, Ga., will add to the competition at running back. He had 1,200 rushing yards on 179 carries, 210 yards receiving and 218 yards in returns as a senior.

Several incoming freshman could factor into the playing rotation at wide receiver, including Toris Rutledge (6-3 175) from Reddick, Fla.; Zsan Robinson (6-2, 180) from Rockledge, Fla.; Frank Taylor (6-2, 190) from Moulton, Ala.; Martin Teal (6-5, 210) from St. Petersburg, Fla.; Larry Brackins (6-5, 200) from Dothan, Ala.; and James Earl Cray (5-11, 174) from Hazelhurst, Ga.

Troy State would like nothing better than to finish its second season in I-A football with another 7-4 record. That will be tough because the Trojans must face Nebraska and Missouri of the Big 12 and Mississippi State and Arkansas of the SEC.

With nine starters back on offense and eight on defense, Troy State does have a chance for another successful season.

Nutter and Carter must be replaced, but there is still plenty of offensive talent.

"Last season coming out of the spring, we knew who would make plays for us," Shannon said. "Coming into this season, it is a completely different story. We have returning depth on the offensive line, and we are better at wide receiver, but our biggest question is at quarterback. We need our players at that position to bring their best to the table each game.

The entire offensive line returns, and that gives the Trojans’ offensive coordinator even more confidence in his "Trojan Spread" offense.

"I expect to be even more productive this season than we were a year ago," Shannon said. "That comes with being in the system for a year. The personnel has adjusted to the system and the system to the personnel. Everything starts with the front five, and because we have five starters back there, we should be stronger overall as a unit."

The strength of the Trojans will be the defense, where six of the returning eight starters are seniors. Blakeney believes having an experienced, talented core will pay dividends during the season.