Super Bowl Update

TROY – Troy’s defensive line recruiting has had a positive effect across the board early in preseason camp.

The Trojans brought in three new players – tackles Derrek Upshaw and Xavier Melton and end Marty Stadom - but neither of the three are projected as starters at this point as the Trojans gear up for the season opener Sept. 1 at UAB.

That doesn’t mean they won’t help out, but right now it’s the veterans who have stepped up their play. 

Senior Tony Davis is the undisputed starter at defensive end and if the Trojans played today, juniors John Clark and Shermane TeArt would start at defensive tackle, with junior Aaron Williams and senior Kyle Lucas backing them up.

“You could tell from our first meeting when (the three transfers) walked in the room, those other guys sat up and they took notice,” Troy defensive line coach Randy Butler said. “When you’ve got a guy that can push for playing time, the other guys step up or they get left behind.”

The top four tackles have stepped up. Clark had three starts last season with nine tackles. TeArt battled a shoulder injury last season, but started five games and had five tackles. Williams played in 10 games last year with five tackles. Lucas started twice last year but led this group with 14 tackles.

Butler said redshirt freshman D.J. Johnson, now up to 297 pounds, is next in line. The challenge is to get 

Melton (310 pounds) and Upshaw (287 pounds) ready after solid junior college seasons. Melton started his career at Purdue and Upshaw at Middle Tennessee. But right now they’re struggling with the conditioning part.

“They’ve got to get in shape,” Butler said. “They’ve got to get it figured out and when they do, they’re going to play a lot of football for us. They need to be ready by UAB. I’m going to have them ready by UAB. They’ve got to get in shape and learn it. That’s my job (to get them to learn it). It’s their job to get in shape.”

The leader of the line is Davis, who started two years at defensive tackle but has moved to end. The preseason all-conference selection had 34 tackles, six for loss, 2.5 sacks and a 29-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown at FIU on ESPN2.

“Tony’s not the biggest, not the fastest, not the strongest guy on the football team but he might be as good as anybody we have,” Butler said. “He’s got what I call ‘it’ and he’s just a good football player.”

Stadom, who signed with Troy in 2011 but didn’t qualify until this year, is Davis’ backup.

“Marty runs real well,” Butler said. “He’s another one that’s trying to figure some things out but when he does, he’s going to be a good player.”

Redshirt freshman Deon Lee could be used as a situational player this year, Butler said. Sophomore Jadarius Garner, a walk-on from Jones County (Miss.) Junior College, is an intriguing player.

“He’s got as high a motor as anybody I’ve ever coached,” Butler said. “I really think he likes to practice and I haven’t been around many that are like that. He runs around and if it moves, he hits it. I’m excited about him.”

At the other end, the Bandit position, senior Jacoby Thomas is listed as the starter. That position is a hybrid rush end/cover linebacker position, employed by Troy coaches to get more speed on the field. Redshirt freshman Tyler Roberts is challenging Thomas.

“He’s about 225 pounds and I’d like for him to be bigger but he’s got a way of rushing the passer,” Butler said. “He’s probably the best one I’ve got in the whole defensive line of using his hands. He makes play after play after play.”

Regardless of who wins starting jobs, the depth on this year’s line seems to be much better than in the past couple of seasons.

“I feel pretty good about playing six or seven guys (inside),” Butler said. “That’s a bonus. Teams that are playing faster, faster and faster, you’ve got to be able to play some guys and we haven’t been able to do that the last couple or three years.”