Trojans Banged Up Going Into NU Contest

2 comments so far September 22, 2006 by Steve Hanway

Take a look at the injury report released by the Troy athletic department:

"Senior running back Sean Dawkins (knee) and junior safety Sherrod Martin (shoulders) are out and will both likely redshirt. Freshman running back Xavier Walker (knee) continues to be doubtful. Junior Ira Guilford (back) missed the first three games and is questionable. Senior offensive lineman James Gardner suffered a sprained knee in the Florida State game but played against Georgia Tech. Junior linebacker Marcus Richardson suffered a broken collar bone against Georgia Tech, had surgery on Sunday after the game, and is out 4-6 weeks. Senior receiver Smokey Hampton suffered a high ankle sprain against Tech and is probable against Nebraska."

Not that the running game was a feared part of the Troy arsenal anyway, but with three backs hurt (including Guilford) as well as an offensive lineman, the rushing attack for the Trojans is hardly in top physical condition going into Saturday's game.

Free safety Sherrod Martin finished second on the team in tackles meaning a new starter will be playing against the Huskers. Junior linebacker Marcus Richardson was also a starting defender in 2005 and was sixth in tackles a year ago. So that's two starting defenders out against a Husker team averaging more than 400 yards and 38 points per contest.

When you consider that the Huskers only missing starter since the season begain is Kurt Mann who is replaced by a 300 lb. upperclassman in Byford, you have to think the injury factor hurts Troy more than Nebraska. Especially when a smaller program like Troy is less likely to have the kind of quality depth that a major program like Nebraska has.

Still, the Trojans have shown themselves to be a "tough out" so the Huskers will still need to play well to put the game away.

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