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Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in the LaGrange Daily News’ football magazine, Pigskin, which is available now.

The Troup Tigers are a team full of question marks heading into 2024. The team lost one of the most talented classes in school history this spring with Noah Dixon (Clemson), Qua Birdsong (University of Central Florida), Taeo Todd (Georgia Southern), Isaiah Hall (Eastern Tennessee State), Tyler Leslie (Kentucky State), Logan Sinkfield (Fort Valley) and Dorian Brooks (University of Nebraska at Kearney) all getting the chance to play high-level football in the fall. 

These and other graduates mean that Troup will have to replace a large number of high-level starters on offense and on defense. 

The coaching staff is also dealing with some changes. Tanner Glisson, who has compiled a record of 71-35 at Troup with eight straight winning seasons, is still in charge of the Tigers, but he welcomes a new defensive and offensive coordinator. JC Copeland, a graduate of Troup and former LSU Tiger and Dallas Cowboy, has been on the coaching staff at Troup for nine years and got a much-deserved promotion to defensive coordinator this offseason. Connor McNamee, who played at LaGrange College and was previously on Troup’s staff before serving as offensive coordinator at Westlake, is back with the Tigers and will take on play calling on offense for Troup this season.

“(Connor) is a guy that we really, really liked when he was here (as offensive line coach) we liked his coaching style, we like how he relates and teaches kids, so we are really excited about having him back and that’s kind of his baby, because I’m a defensive guy,” Glisson said. “JC he’s paid his dues. I mean, he’s been here for nine years, we’ve been running the same defense for nine years. So he knows it and he’s ready to call plays.”

Despite it being somewhat of a transition year for the Tigers, Glisson is not putting any expectations on this year’s team.

“I get myself in trouble with expectations,” Glisson said. “The year that we went to the semi-finals in 2022 was kind of a surprise for us, but that was a really great thing, Then the next year, expectations were through the roof because we brought the majority of the team back and we were ranked number two, or three preseason in the state and then to get hurt was tough. The dynamics and things change so much during a season. It’s just so hard to put an expectation level on it.”

Doubt the Tigers at your own peril. The team has won four playoff games in the last two seasons, tied for the most playoff wins in two years in program history alongside the 2016-17 Troup teams that were also helmed by Glisson. Troup also won their first region title in 35 years when they clinched the Region 4-4A title in 2022. Glisson and his staff know how to turn around teams in transition quickly.

“We’ve had a good summer,” Glisson said. “A lot of these guys have not played varsity reps, so we have been going around taking part in every competition we can. We went to OTAs in Central Carrollton, three 7-on-7s and that was all just in June. We went to Thomasville for OTAs in July.”

Troup will be dropping from 4A to 3A next season. This means that the Tigers will have some new region foes on the docket. LaGrange, Fayette County, Trinity Christian and Whitewater will all be competitors from last year’s region, but Sandy Creek, Spalding, Mary Persons and Upson-Lee will be new region opponents. This is one of the largest regions in the state this year as the Tigers will play just two non-region games, 5A Villa Rica and 4A Harris County. 

“This is probably not a good year for us to be rebuilding, you know, going into that kind of a region,” Glisson said with a chuckle. “Our non-region opponents will present a big challenge as well. We also are having to get used to and deal with these new Power Rankings, so it is gonna be something that we’ve got to learn about, we’ve got to gather as much information that we can.”

No longer will playoff seeding be decided by where you finish in the region, but where you finish in the final regular season statewide power rankings.

QUARTERBACK:

For four straight seasons, Troup knew what it had at the quarterback position as Taeo Todd racked up numerous accolades and achievements. He will be nearly impossible to replace as he totaled 4,155 yards passing and 4,263 rushing yards and 97 total touchdowns.

The former Tiger will be applying his trade at Georgia Southern next season as two juniors battle it out to fill his shoes. Garrison Edwards and Chase Mosley are spending the offseason competing to see who earns the starting nod at quarterback. 

“They have a friendly little competition going right now,” Glisson said.

The duo has combined to throw just four passes at the varsity level. 

The two bring different attributes to the quarterback position.

“They’re vastly different. Garrison can throw, but he’s probably as much of a runner as he is a thrower. He’s got the ability to be a hard-nosed runner and he’s got really good speed,” Glisson said. “Chase is more of a thrower. He’s got a little bit of looseness and elusiveness in him, but he wants to stay in the pocket and throw. He’s good at throwing on the run, but he definitely wants to step up and throw in the pocket.”

Edwards and Mosley both have experience starting at the JV level, but the two only have one varsity start between them as Edwards, the team’s no. 3 quarterback last year was forced to start the Tigers’ round of 16 game against Spalding. 

“The thing about Garrison is he was probably our third or fourth quarterback last year, and got forced into an extremely tough situation when he had to start against Spalding in the playoffs,” Glisson said. “It was a very difficult situation to throw him into, but Garrison is tough. He’s hard-nosed and if your quarterback is tough, then you got a chance.”

The team is not just losing Todd, they also lost Logan Sinkfield, who started seven games last season at quarterback once Todd went down with a season-ending injury. Sinkfield performed admirably last year, throwing for 747 yards and rushing for an additional 772 yards with 20 total touchdowns.

RUNNING BACK:

Running back, like the quarterback position, will see a ton of turnover from last season. The team’s top two running backs from last season, Javari Fannin and Ashton Williams, are no longer in the picture. The two combined for 130 carries and 980 rushing yards last season.

“Losing Javari is huge for us because like I’ve said before, he was the straw that stirred the drink,” Glisson said. “We will not be returning anybody at running back that started for us last year.”

The Tigers will instead have to rely on some guys who have been chomping at the bit for a bigger role on offense, which will be much needed considering the Tigers lost their five leading rushers from the 2023 team.

Junior Travis Hodo, who turned his 15 carries into 130 yards and a touchdown last season will be the team’s leading returning rusher. He will be expected to have a bigger role in the offense alongside senior Jaquaveon Kennedy and sophomore Javarris Warner, who both played sporadically last season.

“I say they’re all different. Kennedy is more or less your Thumper. He’s over 200 pounds,” Glisson said. “Warner is more of your slot, slash guy that can catch it and run with it and go in between tackle. He can also get out there at receiver. Hodo is probably a little bit more polished and well-rounded than everybody else.”

Junior, Monta Heard could also figure into the equation at running back as well.

WIDE RECEIVER:

The offensive turnover does not just stop at quarterback and running back, it extends to wide receiver as well. Four of the top five receivers from last year’s team graduated and the one that will be returning — Tyreon Smith — will be playing primarily on defense this year. 

“He will get his touches on offense, but he will primarily be a defensive guy for us this year, starting at safety,” Glisson said. 

Smith was second on the team in receptions (16) and receiving yards (280).

Expect sophomore Davis Moncus and junior Parker Townsend to get the nod as two of the starting wide receivers this season. 

“There will be some young guys out there at that wide receiver position with a couple of those seniors stepping in a key moments for us,” Glisson said. “Parker and Davis are just great competitors. Great kids. Great character. I coach both in baseball and both of them played major roles in our elite eight baseball team, so they know what it takes to win and have that competitive edge.”

The Tigers will also have a big body out wide in first-year player Desmon Cunningham, a junior. 

“He’s a basketball player, and this is his first year with us and he brings some size and has been a great addition to the team,” Glisson said. 

Last year’s leading receiver, Noah Dixon, could lineup out wide or at tight end and his football IQ and instincts will be hard to replace.

TIGHT END:

Despite losing top tight end Ben Taylor, Glisson has had some tight ends waiting in the wings to fill the void.

“Jayce Haywood’s gonna get a lot of those reps. He will be a senior this season,” Glisson said. “John Moore will be a sophomore, we’ll get a lot of those reps as well.”

Taylor was adept at being a receiver as evidenced by his eight catches for 113 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns as a senior as well as serving an extra offensive lineman in the running game. 

Haywood and Moore will bring their own unique attributes to the position.

“John’s a kid that throws his body around really, really good,” Glisson said. “Jayce is a guy that can block, put his hand in the dirt and go out there and catch the football.”

Chandler Glisson might also get worked into the rotation at tight end and as a blocking fullback.

OFFENSIVE LINE:

Taeo Todd has gotten all the plaudits the last few seasons, but none of that would be possible without the hard work and talent of the Troup offensive line. The Troup offensive line was justly rewarded last season with the GHSF Daily Offensive Line of the Week for their performance against Whitewater.

“We feel like that has the potential to be a strength of our team,” Glisson said. 

The Tigers lost a special talent and leader in Isaiah Hall, but the team has a strong unit up front. They will be led by Jatorian Blackmon, who was an All-Region player a season ago. The senior is currently committed to playing college football at Troy University.

Wade England started every game at center as a sophomore and will earn the nod in the middle of the offensive line once again as a junior. 

Junior Gavin Laney will keep the quarterback’s blind side clean at left tackle.

Sophomores Jaylen Cannon, Bryson Demooney and Zane Taliaferro are battling it out for the other two spots on the offensive line.

“We finally got some meat up there,” Glisson said. “Looking across the front, Jatorian is 315, Laney is 255. Depending on who plays guard, Jaylen Cannon is about 290, Bryson is about 230 and if Taliaferro gets a chance to play he’s about 230 as well.”

Junior Austen Ellison, Glisson says comes off the ball really well, will figure into the offensive line depth chart in some form or fashion and could earn a starting nod depending on how pre-season and the scrimmage go.

DEFENSIVE LINE: 

The leader of the defense will reside in the trenches. Amarius Perdue is poised for a big season after playing second or third fiddle to stars like Qua Birdsong, Tyler Leslie, Charles Davis and others.

“He is one of the most talented football players on our team, so we want to keep him fresh and healthy,” Glisson said.

Perdue has started at both the offensive line and defensive line over the years and will now be the anchor up front for the defense.

Perdue will be joined by two fellow seniors Chase Hilton and Joshua Bradfield. Neither has the experience of Perdue, but both have the talent to make a big impact this season.

“Chase Hilton is gonna be a guy we rely on this year and Joshua Bradfield is another guy that we expect big things from this season,” Glisson said. 

Joining Perdue, Bradfield and Hlton as a starter will be Asher Harrelson. Kaleb McCamey, Jatorian Blackmon, Gavin Laney, Wade England, Ryan Cantrell and Terrance Reeves will all serve as valuable depth pieces.

LINEBACKER: 

The linebacker position was as hard hit by departures as any position on the roster.

“We lost all three of our starting linebackers, so that is going to be a big deal for us,” Glisson said. 

Javari Fannin, Tyler Leslie and TJ Mitchell were stalwarts in the lineup, but all three graduated in May.

Juniors Skylen Straughn and Braidyn Patrick are battling it out to see who gets the start at the SAM linebacker spot. Sophomore KJ McQueen and senior Turtle Vines are competing for reps at the middle linebacker spot. Sophomore Jeremiah Culpepper has the insight track to get the starting Weakside linebacker position.

SECONDARY:

Defensive backs look to be the strength of the Troup defense this year. The back end with be led by a pair of senior safeties in Tyreon Smith and Jayland Reed. The two will be the team’s top two returning tacklers from last season with 33 and 28, respectively. 

Reed intercepted two passes last season while Smith got his hands on one. The duo will be expected to take on a real leadership tandem this season.

“Those two guys are going to be real leaders for us and be a really good tandem,” Glisson said. “Both of them have a lot of experience.”

Senior Jeremiah Hoard started at cornerback last season and will lock down one side of the field in his final run with the Tigers. Greg Houston, who started opposite him, will miss the entire upcoming season with an injury. 

This leaves a vacancy in the secondary that somebody will have to step up and fill.

“So right now maybe Anthony Blackmon and Chase Mosley, if he’s not the quarterback, could go over there and see some reps,” Glisson said. “ Javarris Warner, one of our running backs, might also get some reps out there. It’s a position that we are still figuring out.”

Houston is set to return for his senior season in 2025, but will be dearly missed in 2024 as the team was all set to return four starters in the secondary before his season-ending shoulder injury. 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

The special teams department will have a mix of carryover and turnover. McCarty Harrelson, a sophomore, handled kicking duties in his first season with the Tigers last year. He is back in the fold, looking better than before.

“McCarty will just be a sophomore, which is really, really great. And he’s really come along and hit a big kick for us in the spring game (against Newnan) earlier this year,” Glisson said. 

Ben Taylor’s absence will not just be felt at tight end, but also by the special teams.

“We are gonna miss Ben a lot,” Glisson said. “Ben did a lot for us, including snapping and punting and a lot of it went unnoticed.”

Harrelson will be performing double duties this season as he takes on the responsibilities of punter as well.

Jayce Haywood and Zane Taliaferro will handle long snapping.