NEW ORLEANS — Brandon Silvers has been a steady presence in his first two years leading the Troy offense.
Coach Neal Brown is banking on Silvers doing even more this season.
"He has the ability to be an all-league player, and it's time," Brown said at Sun Belt media day last week. "It's time. He's a third-year starter. So I'm excited to see what the season has in store for him."
Silvers, who completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 2,378 yards with 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions last year, fell short of earning preseason all-Sun Belt honors, Appalachian State's Taylor Lamb and Idaho's Matt Linehan were chosen to the first and second teams, respectively. The chances of Silvers making the jump after the season, as Brown thinks he can, likely depend on how an otherwise young offense can mold around him.
Silvers returns along with both tackles, but the Trojans lost their leading rusher and top two receivers from last year's team that went 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the Sun Belt. In position to fill those spots are plenty of players brought in by Brown since November 2014, when he was hired to follow the long tenure of the retired Larry Blakeney.
During his address at Sun Belt media day, Brown rattled off names of four true freshmen he expects to contribute on offense this season. Troy added Memphis transfers Jamarius Henderson as a running back this week, but Brown mentioned freshmen B.J. Smith and Jabir Frye as most likely to make up for the loss of Brandon Burks.
At receiver, Silvers will have junior-college transfer Tevaris McCormick and true freshmen Adarius Wesley and Sam Letton to throw to. Starters at both guards spots and center will be taken up by young players, too, Brown said.
"As an overall offense playmaker-wise, we're going to be more talented," Brown said.
The difference between Troy and teams picked below it in the standings is a defense, in which its coach has faith. The Trojans held Sun Belt teams to 25.1 points per game last year, fourth-best in the league and was third in total defense (391.8 yards per game) against conference teams.
Brown expects another step with the return of first-team all-Sun Belt lineman Rashad Dillard, three senior linebackers and a secondary that doesn't have much depth but capability among its starters.
"We're going to start the year and that's going to be our strength," Brown said of the defense.
Can it be enough to end its longest bowl drought since moving to the FBS in 2001?
"I think we are ready to take the next step and get to bowl eligibility," Brown said. "That's our goal. We talk about it openly. We want to get back to a bowl game. It's been since 2010 and our fans are ready."
FOOTBALL PREVIEWS
Arkansas State reporter Troy Schulte previewed each team in the Sun Belt conference. Read each one below:
Troy at a glance
2015 RECORD 4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt
ALL-TIME SUN BELT RECORD 55-35 in 13 seasons
COACH Neal Brown (4-8 in one season at Troy and overall)
RETURNING STARTERS 11 (5 on offense, 6 on defense)
KEY PLAYERS QB Brandon Silvers, OL Antonio Garcia, DL Rashad Dillard, WR Emanuel Thompson
KEY LOSSES RB Brandon Burks, WR Teddy Ruben, DL Tyler Roberts, OL Dalton Bennett, DB Montres Kitchens
TITLE SCENARIO The Trojans didn't beat any of the Sun Belt's four bowl teams last year — their three league victories came against Louisiana-Lafayette, New Mexico State and Louisiana-Monroe — but four of their five league losses were by 10 points or fewer. That includes a triple-overtime loss at Appalachian State and a 31-21 loss to Georgia State, both bowl teams. Coach Neal Brown is banking on experience at quarterback and in the defense's back seven to close the gap between four victories and six. To do so, Troy will have to navigate one of the Sun Belt's toughest league schedules. The Trojans get league favorites Appalachian State (Nov. 12) and Arkansas State (Nov. 17) at home, but they're in a span of six days. Then they finish with two road games, including a season-ender at Georgia Southern. The best-case scenario would be for Troy to stock up on victories early in the season — opportunities are plentiful with games against Austin Peay, New Mexico State, Idaho, South Alabama and Massachusetts — so it's not playing for a bowl berth against the league heavyweights.