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Crestview's Pickett headed to Troy
Pickett, a Daily News All-Area selection at running back, chose the Trojans over Southern Mississippi. And actually, it wasn’t much of a choice.
“I kind of considered Southern Miss, but Troy with the people there, the coaches and the closeness to being here made it a pretty easy decision for me,” Pickett said. “I’ve been watching their program and they’ve been winning the Sunbelt (Conference) almost every year for the last few years. Before a few years ago, you wouldn’t see Troy on TV or anything like that, but they are getting more recognition now and I like that.”
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Pickett piled up more than 1,800 yards in total offense and scored 127 points for the Bulldogs this season, but he’ll be playing cornerback for the Trojans.
Pickett admitted he enjoyed being the go-to guy on offense, but he knows he’ll still have opportunities to show his ball skills at Troy.
“I’m going to miss playing offense,” he said. “I want that ball in my hands, but I’ve played corner before. I know if I get that opportunity I’m going to be able to get that ball in my hands through (interceptions). And I know they are going to let me return kicks and punts, so that’s going to be a big deal.”
Pickett was recruited to the Trojans by former Crestview quarterback Jeremy Rowell, who will be Pickett’s position coach. It didn’t take long for Rowell and Picket to click.
“Coach Rowell is real cool,” Pickett said. “I ain’t known him that long, but it’s like I’ve known him since I was a freshman. It’s like I know him like I know my coaches here (that) I’ve been around four years.”
Crestview coach Matt Brunson, who is a Troy alumnus himself, said it’s a special day any time he has a player sign scholarship papers, but it might be a little extra special that Picket signed with Troy.
“It’s a great day any time you have a young man sign a Division-I college scholarship, and definitely so with it being my alma mater Troy,” he said. “It’s a special place and with its close proximity to Crestview, we will be able to go up and watch him play.”
