On April 21, Troy senior quarterback Matthew Caldwell entered the transfer portal, marking the second signal-caller to do so since the end of spring practices. 

Earlier this month, Montgomery native Caleb McCreary also entered the transfer portal. Caldwell is a 6-foot-4-inch, Auburn native that started his career at Jacksonville State. After two years at Jax State, Caldwell transferred to Gardner-Webb in 2023. He transferred to Troy last season and started the final five games of the year after injuries took their toll on the quarterback position. 

Caldwell completed 141-of-223 passes in 2024 with 1,608 yards and 13 touchdowns along with eight interceptions. He also scored five rushing touchdowns. Caldwell was named SBC Player of the Week on Nov. 18, 2024, after throwing for 288 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Georgia Southern. 

With a number of injuries in 2024, Troy started Goose Crowder, Caldwell and Brantley native Tucker Kilcrease at different times. With Crowder’s return from injury in the spring, he has cemented his position as Troy’s returning starting quarterback. Caldwell was likely to battle with Kilcrease for the No. 2 quarterback role heading into fall camp. 

With Caldwell and McCreary’s departures, only Crowder, Kilcrease and incoming true freshman Jack James remain on the roster at the quarterback position for Troy. Since the end of spring, Troy has lost running back Damien Taylor, bandit Phillip Lee, tight end Brody Dalton, defensive lineman Cheick Kaba and running back Jamontez Woods to the transfer portal. Taylor recently committed to Ole Miss and Lee committed to Arkansas. Troy has also received a commitment from running back Trey Cooley (Georgia Tech) out of the transfer portal and former Georgia receiver RaRa Thomas has already signed with the Trojans.