Super Bowl Update

Shaq Beverly

TROY– When practice started for Troy on Thursday, Shaq Beverly had a leg up on the rest of his freshmen teammates. 

Beverly, a cornerback from Jacksonville, Fla., graduated from high school a semester early and was able to enroll at Troy in January, going through spring drills when the rest of his senior class was still in high school.

“Since my ninth grade year, I had taken a lot of my core classes,” Beverly said. “My first semester, all I had to take was electives and I finished those, so I got to come here.”

The 5-foot-8, 200-pound Beverly was definitely in for a treat when he arrived. He had turned 18 by the time he enrolled, but was still the youngest player on the team.

“They gave me heck a little bit, but it was pretty fun,” Beverly said. “A lot of older guys took me under their wing and helped me out, so they made things pretty smooth.”

Beverly was Troy’s first commitment of the 2012 signing class and he was one of the highest rated, as rivals.com gave him a three-star rating. He and fellow Trojan teammate Brandon Brooks, a wide receiver, led First Coast High School to the Florida 7A state championship game.

“I think it played a big role,” Beverly said, of enrolling early. “Spring went well for me. I got a chance to get out there and start. The other freshmen, they still have to adjust and get situated. With me being already situated, I think it gave me a jump on them.”

Beverly found himself atop the depth chart at one cornerback position. He’ll be challenged by several other cornerbacks during fall camp as the Trojans prepare for the Sept. 1 season opener at UAB.

Last year, Zach Johnson graduated from high school early and went through spring. It helped him as he became the starter at right guard as a true freshman.

“It makes a big deal,” defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell said. “His carryover is going to be pretty good. It’s a process. We’ll see.”

When the other true freshmen arrived in June for summer classes, it was Beverly who got to feel a little bit like a veteran. Brooks was one of the first who looked to Beverly for guidance.

“I was showing him the ropes,”Beverly said. “When I first got here, I was blinded, but when he got here, I was showing him the ropes and I was already ahead of the game.”

Playing for pride: Senior linebacker Kanorris Davis said it was tough to answer questions last fall when people who weren’t familiar with Troy football asked him if he played football and if so, how his team was doing.

“We’ve got more people trying to lead and a better attitude,” Davis said. “Three and nine (last year’s record) was a slap in the face. We’re not used to it and the public’s not used to it. When people ask you if you play football and ask what kind of season you’re having, you don’t want to say it. You want to have pride in what you’re doing.”

Haskins cleared: Sam Haskins, a 6-foot-4 junior receiver, was cleared to begin practicing on Thursday. He had been red-flagged because of a minor heart issue, head coach Larry Blakeney said, but participated in most activities Thursday.