Super Bowl Update

Troy was looking for a boost on its defense, and found two teammates they'll be counting on from Northeast Mississippi Community College.

Cornerback Jeremy Spikner and linebacker Eli Canton signed with Troy in December and will begin their careers at Troy this spring. Spikner will be a junior and Canton a sophomore.

Spikner, from Southaven, Miss., was just 5-foot-10 and 155 pounds as a senior in high school. Now, he's 6-foot-1 and 190.

"I like their football program," Spikner said. "They put out some NFL caliber players and send them to the league. I like the coaches and got to meet all of them on my official visit. I really liked my recruiting visit. They put us up in a nice hotel and fed us well."

A high ankle sprain hampered Spikner during his sophomore season, but he did have two interceptions while playing in about half of the team's games. As a freshman, he had four interceptions, seven pass breakups and 27 tackles.

With Troy losing one corner to graduation, a starting spot is up for grabs.

"I want to come in and play hard and make a name for myself," Spikner said. "I want to prove to the coaches why they recruited me and earn that starting spot."

Canton isn't the only former teammate of Spikner's that he will be reuniting with at Troy. Safety/linebacker Martrez Reaves was a high school teammate of Spikner.

"He’s athletic," Spikner said. "He can play anywhere you tell him to play. He’s strong, he’s good in the weight room, he’s good in class and he’s good out of class."

For Canton, it's all about proving the doubters wrong. The 6-foot-2 and a half, 250-pound middle linebacker had a good high school career at a big high school in Hernando, Miss., but the best Division I offers he got were as an invited walk-on.

Wanting more than that, he went to Northeast Mississippi and had a big season, getting 95 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception.

"It definitely fueled the fire, no doubt," Canton said. "Anytime somebody’s telling you they don’t think you’re good enough, it’s always motivation."

Canton had some interest pick up in junior college as he heard from Minnesota, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. It's possible he could have gotten more offers had he returned for his sophomore season, but he found what he wanted in Troy.

"I really liked the coaching staff and felt like they were telling me the truth. The prestige of their defense and what they’re known for speaks volumes," Canton said. "I’ve never won a state championship, but winning the Sun Belt and having a chance to go to a bowl game excites me. I feel like Troy is one of the best schools I could have gone to.

"They want me to play inside. I know they signed a bunch of linebackers, so when we get to spring, it’ll be open competition to see who plays."

Canton was recruited by linebackers coach Benjy Parker, and senior offensive lineman Cody Woodiel was a former high school teammate.

"Coach Parker and I had a real good connection," Canton said. "I got to know Coach (Jeremy) Rowell more as he came to my school. I took a liking to him and Coach Parker immediately when I met them."