IS4S SALUTE TO VETERANS BOWL: Stringer steady leader for the Trojans

By TIM GAYLE

Jordan Stringer is one of five Trojans still remaining from the 2021 signing class, which means he’s been on hand for three different coaching staffs.

The Augusta, Ga., native was recruited to Troy by Chip Lindsey, played for two seasons under Jon Sumrall and is now playing for Gerad Parker.

“In my early years, probably yes, (it was a big transition),” Stringer said. “I was still young, still new to the game, still didn’t know how the game worked. But the older I got, the more I realized that, yes, it’s a new staff, but your program is your program. Troy is Troy, no matter who’s the coach. That’s how I started looking at it after Sumrall left. OK, they’re gone, but Troy is still Troy.”

Stringer and the Trojans face Jacksonville State on Tuesday in the IS4S Salute To Veterans Bowl at Cramton Bowl. Kickoff is 8 p.m.

‘J-Rock,’ as he is called, has been a steady leader for the Trojans. He has started the past 18 games, more than anyone else on the team, and is one of only eight players nationally that has at least 100 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. The defense, one of the best in the Sun Belt, is noted for generating tackles for loss, creating turnovers and holding opponents to just 45.5 percent in red zone touchdowns, ranking among the top 10 teams in America.

“He’s our vocal leader of our entire team,” Parker said. “Our growth and who he’s become, in my time here, is a special relationship between he and I. He’s been the heartbeat of our team and our vocal leader since we’ve been here, but especially this year. He’s got a good personality, a lively personality. He likes the camera. But he brings an energy about himself in the way he approaches the game and prepares and practices for the games that his teammates love him for.”

Stringer loves his coach, too, even if the coach prefers the offensive side of the ball.

“He’s an offensive minded guy, which is a little different, but it’s kind of cool,” Stringer said. “I love it because he leaves the defense in Coach (defensive coordinator Dontae) Wright’s and the leaders’ hands. Hasn’t much changed. The defense is the defense at Troy and it will always be like that.”

The defense, like the team, has had its ups and downs, keeping James Madison within 17-14 in the fourth quarter of the Sun Belt Championship Game or leading Clemson 16-3 in the third quarter. There has been times as well when the defense struggled, such as games against Texas State or Old Dominion.

“It just shows you how we’ve overcome adversity,” Stringer said of the highs and lows of 2025. “We’ve been through some hard games, tough games, games we should have won, probably some games that we should have lost but we won. We’ve been through it all. That’s a reflection of this team and this coaching staff. We’re built on toughness and we know how to handle hard. That’s what we’ve been doing all year.”

The Trojans will face old nemesis Jacksonville State in the 12th annual Salute to Veterans Bowl and its running back, Cam Cook, who leads FBS with 127.6 yards per game.

“I love it,” Stringer said of the matchup. “They’re going to try to make him have a big night, they’re going to try and send him out with a bang. So the defense is looking forward to the challenge. I can’t wait to go out there and play. This is the last game we’ve got together. We’ve got to go out with a bang, go out for each other and try to get this ninth win.”

Stringer has always been a team player. Now as he prepares for his final game, he only offers team goals for Tuesday night’s game at Cramton Bowl.

 “Go out there and get the offense the ball,” he said. “Keep the points off the board, give the offense the ball. That’s what we’re going to do in this last game Tuesday. The offense is going to have a great game, the defense is going to have a great game. We’re going to put it all together for one last time and it’s going to be great.

“We came up short last game, but you’re going to remember your last game, whether it was the Sun Belt Championship Game or this one. I’m glad it’s this one because now we can get the Sun Belt one off of our mind and this will be our last memory for the 2025 team. So this one is huge for us.”