Troy football receives preseason accolades

Weeks before the first game of the 2026 football season, the Trojans take the field as they practice their hits, runs and plays during fall camp. Fall camp started Wednesday, Aug. 5, and will last until Saturday, Aug. 22.

Brady Fitch photos

The Troy Trojans Football team, the reigning Sun Belt West Division champions, are picked to win the West again this year by 12 of the 14 voters for the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Awards, with the other two predicting them to be second.

“It’s a tremendous compliment,” said head coach Gerad Parker when describing the pressure of the preseason accolade at Sun Belt Media Day.

However, Coach Parker emphasized that the team cannot be distracted by outside noise.

“The expectation is the expectation that was already set on January 13 to win the league,” Parker said.

The Men of Troy are looking to meet these lofty expectations, backed by key returning seniors, defensive lineman Donnie Smith and punter Evan Crenshaw. These two players were picked as Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year for their respective phases of the game.

“Pretty early in this deal, we said we are going to take Donnie Smith and Evan Crenshaw… (because) you bring great players to this thing, but the most important piece of this is they’re both awesome young men,” Parker said.

Smith headlines the Trojan defense as an All-Sun Belt First Team member for the 2025 season, as he led the conference in sacks with 11. The pass rusher was not only the premier pass rusher in the Sun Belt rusher but also stacked up well against anyone in the nation, as Smith was one of only 13 players in the nation to record 10 sacks, 10 tackles-for-loss and 40 total tackles.

“I’ll say just keep working in my pass rush… being a guy that is not on the field just for pass rushing… being a guy that could be on the field at all times in the run game, in pass dropping situations, just a better player all around,” Smith said.

It is not typical for teams to bring a special teams player to media days, but Evan Crenshaw is not a typical punter.

For the 2025 season, he was voted to the All-America First Team by the Football Writers Association, Sporting News and Phil Steele outlets. Crenshaw is the first Trojan to earn multiple All-American First Team honors, while also being the Sun Belt’s inaugural Special Teams Player of the Year. The junior was also selected as a Ray Guy Award Finalist, an honor presented to the nation's best punter each year.

Crenshaw totaled over 3,000 punt yards with a 45.69-yard average per punt. He had 29 punts land inside the 20-yard lineline, and 21 punts travel over 50 yards.

In addition to these key players, Goose Crowder, Jordan Lovett, Jordon Jones and Justin Powe also earned spots on the preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team.

Goose Crowder is a returning captain and quarterback, who logged over 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air last season despite missing time due to injuries. The fifth-year senior is healthy and looking to put it all together this year for the Trojans.

Lovett was selected to the all-purpose position on the All-Sun Belt Second Team for his versatility. The rising junior back was second on the team in rushing yards last season with 339, breaking out in Troy’s home win against Louisiana, where he rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Jordan Jones is the highlight of the transfer portal for the Trojans as an offensive tackle. The transfer senior earned All-MAC Second Team honors last year at Ohio by starting 13 games for the top two offense in the Mid-American Conference.

Returning to Troy’s defense with Smith is Justin Powe, who started 13 games at safety last season. The Alabama native was third on the team in total tackles last season while also swarming the ball with an interception, pass breakup, forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in the 2025 season.

In addition to Sun Belt Awards, there have been multiple Trojans who have seen preseason recognition from national outlets. Crenshaw has also been recognized by the Sporting News for the 2026 season as a preseason All-America First Team member. Two players have been added to Award Watch Lists, with Smith on the Bronko Nagurski Award and Colton Walls on the Patrick Mannelly Award.

Troy Football has played in three of the last four conference championship games. This year, the team looks to meet its own expectations of winning the championship by all being connected with “Troy Wi-Fi,” as Coach Parker stated on Media Day.