Super Bowl Update

Made a similar blog post for the offense last week. Now, time to take a quick look at the 2012 defense. Again, I'm not listing everybody on the roster, thus the "quick look" format.

DEFENSIVE END - Jonathan Massaquoi is the team's top 2013 NFL Draft prospect and could possibly even get selected if he wanted to go pro a year early. His numbers as a junior weren't as good as his sophomore year, but his 2010 numbers were almost unreal and hard to top and he still earned all-conference honors. If he gets closer to that level in 2012, he'll have a chance to make more money and Troy will be better. Opposite him, I wonder if it's Tony Davis (pictured, Lamar Higgins photo) shifting from defensive tackle to end, as he started against Arkansas State and did well. That'll probably depend on how other defensive tackles step up. Other options include rising senior Xavian Evans, junior college transfer commit Brandon Timmons and two freshmen that redshirted and have bright futures if they take care of business and get bigger and stronger in Djori Johnson and Deon Lee.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE - Troy should improve here next year as most of the guys who played are back and have at least two years left. Tony Davis was all-conference honorable mention but could move to end. Shermane TeArt and John Clark played the most after Davis and will be redshirt juniors. Former walk-on Kyle Lucas got his first big action this year and he'll be a senior. Aaron Williams played more as the season went along and he'll be a junior. Beyond that, Troy is hunting some depth. Tony Gillespie will be a senior, but he didn't play in the last two games and didn't make as big of an impact transferring from junior college as most thought. Troy is hunting some recruits who can come in and add depth.

LINEBACKER - Troy loses one starter in MLB Xavier Lamb. His top backup was rising sophomore Brach Bessant, so he'll have the first shot there, most likely. Senior Jacoby Thomas has shown flashes and I've wondered why he doesn't play more and has played different linebacker spots. Brannon Bryan started every game at WLB and he'll be back as a senior. He's steady. Kanorris Davis suffered a serious ankle injury against WKU, but he should be ready for the fall. His leadership is crucial for a team that needs it. Beyond those guys, you've got Angelo Hadley, a rising junior who started a few games at nickel, and some redshirt freshmen in Tyler Roberts and Terron Bell.

CORNERBACK - Troy's top two corners this year - Bryan Willis and Jimmie Anderson - each missed multiple games because of injuries. Willis will be back for his senior year. Chris Pickett will be a junior and he's started a lot, but is still looking for his first interception. Ethan Davis and Dimitri Miles played a good amount as freshmen. Miles could end up here, at safety or even linebacker because of his size and I think he'll grow into a good one. Troy could certainly use some more immediate help here going into 2012.

SAFETY - Brynden Trawick led the Sun Belt in tackles, but that means it's because the front 7 didn't do its job. Trawick will be a senior and he's extremely physical but needs to be making some interceptions for the Trojans to be good. Barry Valcin will be a senior and he's made some plays when he's gotten in the game. I've got to think that those two are your projected starters. Cam Hudson will have something to say about that, as he earned a start but then injured his hamstring before the last three games. He'll be a junior. Beyond those three, there are questions. It's possible Pickett could move to safety, and Joe Lofton redshirted last year. Regardless, Troy needs some immediate help at either safety, corner or both and defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell indicated as such when talking to him before the ASU game.