Troy Selects Will Crowder as Starting Quarterback for 2024 Opener Against Nevada

Troy has officially named Will “Goose” Crowder as their starting quarterback for the season opener on August 31 against Nevada.

Crowder, who was the Trojans' primary backup to the now-departed senior Gunnar Watson last season, secured the starting position over sophomore Tucker Kilcrease, Gardner-Webb transfer Matthew Caldwell, and freshman Caleb McCreary. Hailing from Gardendale, Crowder had a solid performance last year, completing 9 of 13 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown during limited play.

Before joining Troy, Crowder spent two years at West Virginia under the guidance of former Troy head coach Neal Brown and current offensive coordinator Sean Reagan. During his stint with the Mountaineers, he completed all eight of his pass attempts for 85 yards and a touchdown across three games.

As Troy looks to build on their recent success—having won the Sun Belt Conference for the past two years—they face the challenge of replacing nine starters on offense and ten on defense. This transition comes under the leadership of first-year head coach Gerad Parker. Former quarterback Gunnar Watson, who has left after a six-year tenure with the Trojans, ended his career with impressive stats: 10,275 yards and 65 touchdowns.

The much-anticipated matchup between Troy and Nevada will kick off at 6 p.m. on August 31 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Fans can catch the game live on ESPN+.