But because Troy’s Mike linebacker is from Mobile and knows a number of the South Alabama Jaguars as friends as well as foes, well, his perspective on Wednesday’s showdown at The Vet is personal.
“Jalen Tolbert (receiver), the safety, Tre Young, yeah, I still stay in touch with them,” Martial said of his former McGill-Toolen teammates. “The quarterback Cephus (Johnson), I went to middle school with Cephus. We have always been really tight.”
So much so that Tolbert texted Martial a quick evaluation of the linebacker from South Alabama coaches: “Block him,” it read. “Make sure you put your hands on him.