Troy football players enter transfer portal
Published 11:32 am Wednesday, April 16, 2025
- Troy will have to replace the production of starting running back Damien Taylor, left, and bandit Phillip Lee, right, after the pair entered the transfer portal this week. (Troy University Athletics)
The end of spring signifies the beginning of yet another transfer portal window and the Troy University football team has already felt the sting of some departures, including a pair of starters.
During spring practices, returning starting cornerback LJ Green and Chieck Kaba both announced that he would be entering the transfer portal, but following T-Day a total of three more players have done so. The players entering the transfer portal include quarterback Caleb McCreary, running back Damien Taylor and bandit Phillip Lee, along with Green and Kaba.
Lee tallied 31 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, five sacks and one forced fumble. The 6-foot-4-inch, 240-pounder totaled 53 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, 7.5 sacks and one forced fumble during his Troy career. Lee will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Taylor may be the biggest offseason departure of the season for Troy as he earned All-Sun Belt honors after earning 1,010 yards and seven touchdowns on 173 carries in 2024. Following T-Day, head coach Gerad Parker mentioned to the media that Taylor had once again solidified himself as Troy’s starter in the backfield heading into the offseason. During his Trojan career, the Tuscaloosa native rushed for 1,386 yards and nine touchdowns. He will also have one year of eligibility left.
Kaba is a 6-foot-2-inch, 275-pound defensive lineman that came to Troy last season from Iowa Western Community College. He played in all 12 games and totaled 10 tackles last season. Kaba will have one year of eligibility left.
McCreary is a Wetumpka native who was one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the State of Alabama during his high school career with Montgomery-Catholic. McCreary red-shirted last season and will have four years of eligibility left.
Green, a Montgomery native, earned 27 tackles, two tackles-for-loss and two interceptions in 12 starts last season. Green will have three years of eligibility left.
Following the season, Troy also lost starters like receiver Devonte Ross, offensive linemen Boaz Stanley and Daniel King and safeties Ian Conerly-Goodly and Cecil Powell to the transfer portal.
