# 2024 Troy Trojans football team

The 2024 Troy Trojans football team represented Troy University as a member of the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Gerad Parker and the Trojans played their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama.

## Preseason
### Media poll

In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Trojans were picked to finish second place in the West division.
Media poll (West division) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Texas State | 92 (9) |
| 2 | Troy | 68 (4) |
| 3 | Louisiana | 66 (1) |
| 4 | Arkansas State | 65 |
| 5 | South Alabama | 54 |
| 6 | Southern Miss | 31 |
| 7 | Louisiana–Monroe | 16 |
Offensive lineman Daniel King was awarded to be in the preseason All-Sun Belt first team offense, respectively. Offensive lineman Eli Russ and punter Robert Cole were named to the second team offense and special teams.

## Schedule

The football schedule was announced on March 1, 2024.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 6:00 p.m. | Nevada* | Veterans Memorial StadiumTroy, AL | ESPN+ | L 26–28 | 27,412 |
| September 7 | 11:00 a.m. | at Memphis* | Simmons Bank Liberty StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPNU | L 17–38 | 23,246 |
| September 14 | 3:00 p.m. | at Iowa* | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA | FS1 | L 21–38 | 69,250 |
| September 21 | 6:00 p.m. | Florida A&M* | Veterans Memorial StadiumTroy, AL | ESPN+ | W 34–12 | 29,024 |
| September 28 | 6:00 p.m. | Louisiana–Monroe | Veterans Memorial StadiumTroy, AL | ESPN+ | L 9–13 | 21,253 |
| October 3 | 6:00 p.m. | Texas State | Veterans Memorial StadiumTroy, AL | ESPN2 | L 17–38 | 20,349 |
| October 15 | 6:30 p.m. | at South Alabama | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL (rivalry) | ESPN2 | L 9–25 | 25,450 |
| October 26 | 6:00 p.m. | at Arkansas State | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPN+ | L 31–34 | 17,162 |
| November 2 | 3:00 p.m. | Coastal Carolina | Veterans Memorial StadiumTroy, AL | ESPN+ | W 38–24 | 24,223 |
| November 16 | 3:00 p.m. | at Georgia Southern | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | W 28–20 | 21,762 |
| November 23 | 4:00 p.m. | at Louisiana | Cajun FieldLafayette, LA | ESPN+ | L 30–51 | 15,501 |
| November 30 | 1:00 p.m. | Southern Miss | Veterans Memorial StadiumTroy, AL | ESPN+ | W 52–20 | 19,521 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### vs. Nevada

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Troy –7.5 | 44.5 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolf Pack | 0 | 6 | 15 | 7 | 28 |
| Trojans | 7 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 26 |
at Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL
* Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 PM CST
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 89 °F (32 °C) • Wind: N at 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h)
* Game attendance: 27,412
* Referee: Nolan Dumas
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Will Kollmeyer (play-by-play), Ben Stanfield (analyst), and Junior Louissaint (sideline)
| Statistics | NEV | TROY |
| First downs | 17 | 24 |
| Total yards | 393 | 391 |
| Rushing yards | 214 | 190 |
| Passing yards | 179 | 201 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–21–0 | 20–30–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:35 | 30:25 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Nevada | Passing | Brendon Lewis | 17/20, 158 yards, 2 TD |
| Nevada | Rushing | Savion Red | 11 carries, 135 yards |
| Nevada | Receiving | Jaden Smith | 6 receptions, 81 yards |
| Troy | Passing | Goose Crowder | 20/30, 201 yards, TD |
| Troy | Rushing | Damien Taylor | 11 carries, 103 yards, TD |
| Troy | Receiving | Devonte Ross | 7 receptions, 103 yards, TD |

### at Memphis

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Memphis –18.5 | 57.5 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| Tigers | 7 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 38 |
at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium • Memphis, TN
* Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
* Game time: 11:00 a.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: NE at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
* Game attendance: 23,246
* Referee: Ted Pitts
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
| Statistics | TROY | MEM |
| First downs | 17 | 27 |
| Total yards | 251 | 372 |
| Rushing yards | 101 | 211 |
| Passing yards | 150 | 161 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–26–0 | 20–32–0 |
| Time of possession | 31:06 | 28:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Matthew Caldwell | 11/19, 113 yards |
| Troy | Rushing | Damien Taylor | 7 carries, 33 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Zeriah Beason | 4 receptions, 60 yards |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 20/32, 161 yards, TD |
| Memphis | Rushing | Mario Anderson Jr. | 17 carries, 125 yards, 2 TD |
| Memphis | Receiving | DeMeer Blankumsee | 4 receptions, 50 yards |

### at Iowa

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Iowa –23.5 | 39.5 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Hawkeyes | 0 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 38 |
at Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA
* Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
* Game time: 3:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), Cloudy, Wind SE 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
* Game attendance: 69,250
* Referee: Chris Coyle
* TV announcers (FS1): Eric Collins (play-by-play) and Spencer Tillman (analyst)
| Statistics | TROY | IOWA |
| First downs | 10 | 25 |
| Total yards | 253 | 462 |
| Rushing yards | 24 | 284 |
| Passing yards | 229 | 178 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–26–1 | 20–24–0 |
| Time of possession | 23:41 | 36:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Matthew Caldwell | 14/21, 156 yards, TD, INT |
| Troy | Rushing | Damien Taylor | 7 carries, 20 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Devonte Ross | 5 receptions, 142 yards, 2 TD |
| Iowa | Passing | Cade McNamara | 19/23, 176 yards |
| Iowa | Rushing | Kaleb Johnson | 25 carries, 173 yards, 2 TD |
| Iowa | Receiving | Jacob Gill | 5 receptions, 44 yards |

### vs. Florida A&M (FCS)

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Troy –21.5 | 48.5 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rattlers (FCS) | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
| Trojans | 7 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 34 |
at Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL
* Date: September 21, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 85 °F (29 °C) • Wind: W 3 mph
* Game attendance: 29,024
* Referee: Tim Barker
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Will Kollmeyer (play-by-play), Ben Stanfield (analyst) and Junior Louissaint (sideline)
| Statistics | FA&M | TROY |
| First downs | 19 | 24 |
| Total yards | 343 | 507 |
| Rushing yards | 55 | 212 |
| Passing yards | 288 | 295 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–39–0 | 18–25–0 |
| Time of possession | 33:05 | 26:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Florida A&M | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 25/39, 288 yards |
| Florida A&M | Rushing | Thad Franklin Jr. | 10 carries, 46 yards |
| Florida A&M | Receiving | Jamari Gassett | 10 receptions, 141 yards |
| Troy | Passing | Goose Crowder | 17/24, 291 yards, 4 TD |
| Troy | Rushing | Damien Taylor | 15 carries, 109 yards, TD |
| Troy | Receiving | Devonte Ross | 11 receptions, 229 yards, 3 TD |

### vs. Louisiana–Monroe

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Troy –6.5 | 44.5 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warhawks | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
| Trojans | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
at Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy, AL
* Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 78 °F (26 °C) • Wind: NE 4 mph
* Game attendance: 21,253
* Referee: Trennis Livingston
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Will Kollmeyer (play-by-play), Ben Stanfield (analyst) and Junior Louissaint (sideline)
| Statistics | ULM | TROY |
| First downs | 13 | 17 |
| Total yards | 247 | 260 |
| Rushing yards | 112 | 189 |
| Passing yards | 135 | 71 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 6–11–1 | 7–12–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:29 | 30:31 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Aidan Armenta | 4/6, 108 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Ahmad Hardy | 27 carries, 106 yards, TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Jake Godfrey | 1 reception, 57 yards |
| Troy | Passing | Tucker Kilcrease | 6/11, 57 yards |
| Troy | Rushing | Gerald Green | 13 carries, 102 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Zeriah Beason | 2 receptions, 30 yards |

### vs. Texas State

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Texas State –14.5 | 57.5 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bobcats | 14 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 38 |
| Trojans | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy, AL
* Date: Thursday October 3, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 80 °F (27 °C) • Wind: W 6 mph
* Game attendance: 20,349
* Referee: Scott Broadway
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), and Ashley ShahAhmadi (sideline)
| Statistics | TXST | TROY |
| First downs | 26 | 19 |
| Total yards | 467 | 331 |
| Rushing yards | 215 | 63 |
| Passing yards | 252 | 268 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20–29–2 | 19–32–0 |
| Time of possession | 31:27 | 28:33 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas State | Passing | Jordan McCloud | 20/29, 252 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Texas State | Rushing | Torrance Burgess Jr. | 12 carries, 85 yards |
| Texas State | Receiving | Kole Wilson | 4 receptions, 77 yards, TD |
| Troy | Passing | Tucker Kilcrease | 17/28, 249 yards, 2 TD |
| Troy | Rushing | Damien Taylor | 11 carries, 63 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Landon Parker | 5 receptions, 83 yards |

### at South Alabama (rivalry)

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| South Alabama –8.5 | 51.5 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Jaguars | 3 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 25 |
at Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL
* Date: Tuesday October 15, 2024
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C) • Wind: SE 4 mph
* Game attendance: 25,450
* Referee: Trennis Livingston
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Clay Matvick (play-by-play) and Steve Addazio (analyst)
| Statistics | TROY | USA |
| First downs | 14 | 12 |
| Total yards | 172 | 318 |
| Rushing yards | 36 | 160 |
| Passing yards | 136 | 158 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19–36–3 | 16–21–0 |
| Time of possession | 24:03 | 35:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Matthew Caldwell | 17/30, 142 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Troy | Rushing | Damien Taylor | 6 carries, 23 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Devonte Ross | 7 receptions, 70 yards, TD |
| South Alabama | Passing | Gio Lopez | 16/21, 158 yards, TD |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Gio Lopez | 11 carries, 67 yards, TD |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Javon Ivory | 1 reception, 57 yards |

### at Arkansas State

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Arkansas State –7.5 | 50.5 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 0 | 3 | 21 | 7 | 31 |
| Red Wolves | 13 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 34 |
at Centennial Bank Stadium, Jonesboro, AR
* Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C) • Wind: NE 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
* Game attendance: 17,162
* Referee: Scott Broadway
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Darrell Greene (play-by-play) and Pete Cordelli (analyst)
| Statistics | TROY | ARST |
| First downs | 23 | 26 |
| Total yards | 466 | 534 |
| Rushing yards | 162 | 185 |
| Passing yards | 304 | 349 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–33–3 | 25–40–0 |
| Time of possession | 30:47 | 29:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Matthew Caldwell | 22/33, 304 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| Troy | Rushing | Gerald Green | 20 carries, 113 yards, TD |
| Troy | Receiving | Devonte Ross | 11 receptions, 126 yards |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 25/40, 349 yards |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Jaylen Raynor | 12 carries, 71 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 12 receptions, 193 yards |

### vs. Coastal Carolina

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Coastal Carolina –3.5 | 51.5 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chanticleers | 7 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 24 |
| Trojans | 7 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 38 |
at Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy, AL
* Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 81 °F (27 °C) • Wind: NW 7 mph
* Game attendance: 24,223
* Referee: Jeremy Parker
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Will Kollmeyer (play-by-play), Ben Stanfield (analyst) and Junior Louissaint (sideline)
| Statistics | CCU | TROY |
| First downs | 16 | 23 |
| Total yards | 313 | 511 |
| Rushing yards | 107 | 342 |
| Passing yards | 206 | 169 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–34–0 | 9–16–0 |
| Time of possession | 26:10 | 33:50 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | Ethan Vasko | 18/34, 206 yards, TD |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing | Braydon Bennett | 10 carries, 69 yards, TD |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving | Jameson Tucker | 6 receptions, 106 yards, TD |
| Troy | Passing | Matthew Caldwell | 9/16, 169 yards, 2 TD |
| Troy | Rushing | Damien Taylor | 28 carries, 190 yards, TD |
| Troy | Receiving | Gerald Green | 1 reception, 83 yards, TD |

### at Georgia Southern

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Eagles | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
at Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, GA
* Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 69 °F (21 °C)
* Game attendance: 21,762
* Referee: Marshall Lewis
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Danny Waugh (play-by-play), Jayson Foster (analyst) and Whitney Haworth (sideline)
| Statistics | TROY | GASO |
| First downs | 27 | 19 |
| Total yards | 441 | 246 |
| Rushing yards | 153 | 75 |
| Passing yards | 288 | 171 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 26–32–0 | 17–28–1 |
| Time of possession | 38:31 | 21:29 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Matthew Caldwell | 26/32, 288 yards, 2 TD |
| Troy | Rushing | Damien Taylor | 18 carries, 92 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Devonte Ross | 10 receptions, 95 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 17/28, 171 yards, INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | OJ Arnold | 6 carries, 27 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Josh Dallas | 4 receptions, 69 yards |

### at Louisiana

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 14 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 30 |
| Ragin' Cajuns | 7 | 27 | 3 | 14 | 51 |
at Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA
* Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 68 °F (20 °C) • Wind: NE 1 mph
* Game attendance: 15,501
* Referee: Jeremy Parker
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Dan McDonald (play-by-play), Eric Mouton (analyst) and Ben Schafer (sideline)
| Statistics | TROY | LA |
| First downs | 22 | 17 |
| Total yards | 394 | 417 |
| Rushing yards | 135 | 94 |
| Passing yards | 259 | 323 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 27–44–0 | 18–24–2 |
| Time of possession | 33:37 | 26:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Matthew Caldwell | 26/42, 230 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| Troy | Rushing | Damien Taylor | 16 carries, 67 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Devonte Ross | 8 receptions, 95 yards, TD |
| Louisiana | Passing | Chandler Fields | 18/24, 323 yards, 2 TD |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Bill Davis | 19 carries, 64 yards, 3 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Lance LeGendre | 6 receptions, 109 yards, TD |

### Southern Miss

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 8 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 20 |
| Trojans | 10 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 52 |
at Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy, AL
* Date: November 30
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 53 °F (12 °C) • Wind: NE 6 mph
* Game attendance: 19,521
* Referee: Steven Robinson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Will Kollmeyer (play-by-play), Ben Stanfield (analyst) and Junior Louissaint (sideline)
| Statistics | USM | TROY |
| First downs | 15 | 24 |
| Plays–yards | 290 | 453 |
| Rushes–yards | 30-31 | 44-266 |
| Passing yards | 259 | 187 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19-31-2 | 14-27-0 |
| Time of possession | 28:18 | 31:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Tate Rodemaker | 18/30, 234 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | JQ Gray | 5 carries, 27 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Larry Simmons | 4 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD |
| Troy | Passing | Matthew Caldwell | 14/26, 187 yards, 1 TD |
| Troy | Rushing | Damien Taylor | 23 carries, 169 yards, 3 TDs |
| Troy | Receiving | Devonte Ross | 5 receptions, 70 yards |

## Personnel
### Transfers

Outgoing :
| Player | Position | New school |
| Zach Long | K | Bowling Green |
| Kobe Williams | IOL | Grambling State |
| Jeremiah Frazier | IOL | Alabama State |
| Blake Matthews | LB | Delaware |
| Fabian Rogosch | EDGE | Unknown |
| Darrell Starling | S | Unknown |
| Jayden McDonald | LB | Indiana |
| Dasheen Jackson | S | Alabama State |
| Deshaun Batiste | DL | Tulane |
| Caleb Ransaw | CB | Tulane |
| Steven Cattledge | EDGE | Unknown |
| Derrick Graham | IOL | Texas A&M |
| Jabre Barber | WR | Texas A&M |
| T.J. Jackson | DL | West Virginia |
| Chris Rodgers | S | Tulane |
| Jack Tchienchou | S | Tulane |
| JD Sherrod | QB | Kent State |
| Blake Austin | OT | Western Kentucky |
| Keyshawn Swanson | S | Western Kentucky |
| Zach Edwards | DL | Western Kentucky |
| Bryce Childress | WR | Western Kentucky |
| Deyunkrea Lewis | TE | Unknown |
| Elijah Philippe | OT | Florida A&M |
| Derek Burns | EDGE | New Mexico State |
| Joshua Donald | DL | Appalachian State |
| Elliot Janish | P | Utah |
| Tim Roberson | CB | Iowa Western CC |
| Rondell Cole | S | Arkansas Tech |
| Tavares Williams Jr. | CB | UNC Pembroke |
| Tyre Young | DB | Andrew |
| Riley Slaughter | LB | West Virginia Wesleyan |
Incoming :
| Player | Position | Previous school |
| Jah-Mal Williams | EDGE | Cincinnati |
| Joshua Donald | DL | Southern |
| Devin Lafayette | IOL | Northern Illinois |
| Jordan Perry | LB | Kansas State |
| Brendan Jackson | LB | Gardner–Webb |
| Evan Crenshaw | P | Coastal Carolina |
| Cecil Powell | S | NC State |
| Trent Henry | CB | Grambling State |
| Gerald Green | RB | East Carolina |
| Ian Conerly-Goodly | S | Southeastern Louisiana |
| Marquez Dortch | WR | California |
| Montana Wells | QB | Houston Christian |