This was not the start that first-year Troy head coach Gerad Parker was envisioning when he took the lead for the two-time defending Sun Belt champions before this season.
A former offensive coordinator at Notre Dame, Parker has guided one of 10 Group of Five teams that have begun this season with a 0-3 record.
Yet looking beyond the surface, this is a team that has certainly had its moments despite some key injuries and a challenging non-league schedule.
Will the Trojans be able to rebound and challenge for the Sun Belt title?
That might be a stretch, but Troy should be competitive during the rest of its schedule. The non-league slate ends with Saturday’s home game against FCS Florida A&M before the Sun Belt schedule begins Sept. 28 at home against ULM.
Troy opened this season with a wild 28-26 home loss to Nevada.
A 16-yard touchdown pass from Goose Crowder to Devonte Ross with 21 seconds left in the fourth quarter pulled Troy within 28-26, but the Trojans were then unsuccessful on the two-point attempt.
The next week, Troy lost 38-17 at AAC favorite Memphis. Crowder scored on an 11-yard run in the opening minutes of the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7, but that would be his final play as he suffered a shoulder injury on the TD run.
He was replaced by sophomore quarterback Matthew Caldwell. After Crowder departed, Memphis took control, scoring 24 unanswered points.
This past week, Troy suffered a 38-21 loss at Iowa in a game that the Trojans led 14-10 at halftime and trailed just 24-21 entering the fourth quarter.
Caldwell got the start, but he was injured late in the third quarter and was replaced by Tucker Kilcrease, who would complete 2 of 5 passes for 73 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions.
In that game, offensive lineman Tyler Cappi, Caldwell, running back Damien Taylor, and safety Ian Conerly-Goodly all made their first career starts in a Troy uniform and at the FBS level.
Troy has some impressive talent, and if there is better luck on the injury front, then this team could be highly competitive. One person who has emerged as a go-to player for Troy is Ross, a 5-foot-11, 161-pound junior receiver who is coming off one of the best individual efforts during this young college football season against Iowa.
Ross had five receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns against the Hawkeyes. The touchdowns were 63 yards from Caldwell and 62 yards from Kilcrease.
In between those touchdowns, he also scored on a 77-yard punt return against one of the better defensive teams in the Big Ten. Iowa is currently 33rd nationally in scoring defense, allowing 13.67 points per game.
On the punt return, Ross wasn’t touched by any Iowa defenders. It was Ross’ first punt return of the season and only the second of his career. We might see a few more of them after his electrifying return TD against Iowa.
Last season, Ross had 40 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns. In three games this year, Ross has 15 receptions for 272 yards and three touchdowns.
In addition, senior tight end Ethan Conner had six receptions for 50 yards against Iowa. On defense, junior linebacker Jordan Stringer led Troy with 12 tackles, including eight solo stops, a tackle for loss, and a sack.
Troy is 0-3 to start a season for the first time since beginning 2014 with a 0-5 mark. That season, the Trojans finished 3-9. Even with the rough start, much more is expected of the Trojans this year.
The Sun Belt schedule will no doubt be a grind, but at least the Trojans don’t have to face preseason favorite Appalachian State.
This week, Troy is getting to face an FCS team at the right time. If the injuries get righted, Troy should be a team to take seriously the rest of the way.
