Troup well-represented in all-star games
Published 2:18 pm Thursday, January 4, 2018
By Kevin Eckleberry
kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com
That looked familiar.
During the 2017 season, Troup head coach Tanner Glisson and offensive coordinator Kelby Holt were a part of a team one of the highest scoring teams in the state.
Last week, Glisson was the head coach and Holt was the offensive coordinator for the north sophomore team during the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association all-star game at Freedom Field in Warner Robins.
The north team moved the ball up and down the field on the way to a 36-21victory.
Three Troup players, and one Callaway Cavalier, were on the north team.
Defensive lineman Andy Boykin, wide receiver Kobe Hudson and tight end Luke Pernell were members of the north team, as was Callaway running back Cartavious Bigsby.
Troup had three additional players on other GACA all-star teams.
Quarterback Montez Crowe was a member of the north senior all-star team, and wide receiver Jamari Thrash and linebacker Joko Willis played on the north junior all-star team.
All of the Troup players had successful days, including the three that helped the junior team prevail.
Hudson had five catches, and he also had a pair of pass breakups while playing defensive back.
Boykin had multiple tackles while helping anchor things on the defensive line, and Pernell had a reception and “blocked really well” according to Glisson.
In the junior game, Glisson said Thrash had “six or seven catches,” and Willis had a handful of tackles.
In the senior game, Crowe rotated series at quarterback for a team led by Callaway head coach Pete Wiggins.
“We had six players, and that was the most of any school there,” Glisson said. “And that six wasn’t including King Mwikuta, who got an invite but chose not to play. That would have given us seven. That’s pretty remarkable.”
Glisson coached in a GACA all-star game last season, and he said that experience helped prepare him to be a head coach this year.
“Last year, I was the ops guy for the team, so I was the guy that kind of managed the practice schedule and did all that,” Glisson said. “And then I got an upgrade to head coach this year. And it was fun. We had a really good time.”
Glisson’s staff featured Holt, as well as six other coaches, including Heard County defensive coordinator CJ Curbow.
“We had a really good staff,” Glisson said.
Holt was the architect of Troup’s high-powered offense last season, and the all-star team ran that same system that relied heavily on the pass while getting a bunch of different players involved.
“We scored five touchdowns, and five different receivers caught touchdown passes,” Glisson said.
The all-star experience lasted three days, and Glisson said he and Holt took full advantage of the opportunity to be around so many experienced and talented coaches.
“I tell our coaches, it’s like a two or three-day coaching clinic, because you’re around some good people,” Glisson said. “You pick up on things. Anytime I go places like that, I try to bring back one or two things that helps our program.”
Another Troup player, senior place kicker and punter Carson Wreyford, has already played in one all-star game, and he has another one to come.
Wreyford will play in the Florida vs. Georgia all-star game Saturday at Southern Crescen
