Troy’s Jordan Chunn looking to back up impressive freshman campaign

Rewind a little less than a year ago. Troy running back Jordan Chunn sat in the locker room inside Tine Davis Fieldhouse with his headphones on.

A lot of things raced through his mind as he was preparing for his first college football game, just a handful of months after playing his final high school game. He thought about his running assignments, the signals, and the crowd that awaited the team inside Veterans Memorial Stadium. His thoughts also drifted back to Gurley, his hometown just outside of Huntsville.

The little boy that grew up on the football fields at home was about to step in to the bright lights of major college football.

He never imagined it would happen like it did.

“That game will be one I remember forever,” Chunn said last fall. “When I was little, I wanted to play football, and then to get a chance to do, and be successful; man, that is as good as it gets.”

Chunn bulldozed his way to 65 yards on just 10 carries, averaging well over six yards every time he toted the ball. He also caught three passes for another 22 yards, ending the night with 87 yards on 13 touches.

But perhaps his biggest moment of his college debut came early in the fourth quarter.

With Troy trailing UAB 31-17, Chunn bounced off four would-be tacklers and tip toed his way across the goal line for his first collegiate touchdown.

The score would spark a dramatic Trojan rally that saw Will Scott drill a 30-yard field goal in overtime to give Troy the win.

That night against UAB was just foreshadowing to what Chunn would do throughout the season.

Chunn found the end zone twice against Duke, Louisiana-Monroe, Georgia State, Texas State and Western Kentucky en route to a season total of 14 touchdown runs.

That number led all freshman backs in the nation, and tied for 19th overall.

While Chunn want to help his team in whatever we he can, he isn’t concerned with the box score.

“I want to make big play, but I don’t car about the stats,” Chunn said. “I had a lot of short runs last year, and this year I want some longer, more explosive this year.”

Chunn and Brandon Burks have been rotating in an out of the backfield during much of fall cam, just like last season.

In 2013, Burks out gained Chunn on the ground 675-514, but Chun took the touchdown titled 14 to 2.

The two backs are competing for action, but are quick to help one another out for the betterment of the team.

“He knew the offense well before I did last year, and he always helps me with plays I struggle with,” Chunn said. “He will also come up to me sometimes and ask me questions like ‘How did you keep your like that when they hit you?’ and I will teach him a thing or two. He is going to get his reps, and I am going to get my reps. We just have to make our reps count.”

One of the major things Chunn wanted to improve on will never be found in a stat line.

But it can be the difference in spending the holidays in Gurley at home or in Troy preparing for a bowl game.

“Last year when I got here, Coach Beckles would always tell me to ‘cover down’ and finish the play,” Chunn said. “I was the lazy guy, and would just stop in the middle of the play. This year, I have really worked to always finish. We will all be better this time around.”

As the season opener looms just a couple of weeks away, Chunn has his headphones ready. They will make the trip to Legion Field with him as a little reminder to where it all started.