Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer
Spring Practice Position Breakdown: Defense
4/16/2013 4:30:00 PM | Football
With a strong returning core and a solid influx of young talent, the Troy football team is anxious to start the 2013 season looking to bring another Sun Belt title back to Troy. In the coming days, TroyTrojans.com will offer a positional breakdown of the Trojans as spring practice unfolds into the culmination of the T-Day Spring Game on April 20.
Today's final installment will focus on the defense, where five starters return from last year's squad, as the unit will be under the direction of new defensive coordinator Wayne Bolt, plus new leadership from cornerbacks coach Dustin Landry. The defense returns five of its ten leading tacklers from 2012, including four who started in at least half of their total number of games played in.
Defensive Line
With the departure of Tony Davis and Kyle Lucas, the Trojans' defensive line will look to use the return of Shermane TeArt, plus a plethora of over players who have substantial game-time experience under their belts, to battle in the trenches this fall.
TeArt, now a senior, started in all five games he played in last season, but was sidelined due to an injury. In his five appearances, he picked up nine tackles and two tackles for loss. Although he hasn't been 100 percent this spring, TeArt still looks to be a vital part of the line as the fall approaches.
“I sat just about all last year,” TeArt said in an interview with the Dothan Eagle. “This is my last year, my last go-round. I want to get to a bowl game, make sure I leave on a good note.” Head coach Larry Blakeney added that TeArt must stay healthy in order to have a great season.
While he wasn't a part of the defensive line unit last year, Tyler Roberts will move to a defensive end role this year after serving as Troy's hybrid linebacker in 2012. In that spot Roberts totaled 35 tackles, 6.5 for loss, with two sacks, three quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.
Joining him as a returner with game experience on the opposite end is Marty Stadom. The senior, who didn't record a start but played in all 12 games in 2012, is Troy's leading tackler at the position after he picked up 21 stops, four for loss, and two sacks a year ago.
At the inside positions, Xavier Melton, Aaron Williams and D.J. Johnson all return with playing experience. Melton, listed as Troy's No. 1 nose tackle, returns for his senior season after recording seven tackles and one sack in 2012. Williams, also a senior, enters his senior campaign in contention with Lonnie Gosha at the defensive tackle position after picking up eight tackles and a forced fumble last season. Gosha, a transfer from Arkansas, is currently listed as the No. 1 tackle and, according to Blakeney, could be a star before his departure.
“He'll be, I believe, an all-star player before he leaves here,” Blakeney said. The sophomore spent last season as a redshirt after totaling seven tackles and a sack for Arkansas in 2011. Other players looking to make an impact include Jadarius Garner, Deon Lee and Antonio Gillespie.
Linebackers
Although Troy loses Kanorris Davis and Brannon Bryan at linebacker, the Trojans do return Dimitri Miles and Mark Wilson to go along with a few other players with game experience.
The duo of Miles and Wilson both return after recording 44 tackles last season, as Miles picked up a sack and two fumble recoveries, while Wilson totaled two tackles for loss and one fumble recovery.
The unit will also have to adapt to the new coaching direction of Wayne Bolt, as former linebackers coach Benjy Parker has now shifted to coach the safeties.
Other potential playmakers at the linebacker spot include Eli Canton (nine tackles, one pass breakup, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble), Jeremy Spikner, Shaq Beverly (three tackles), Wayland Coleman-Dancer and Terris Lewis.
Defensive Backs
Two of Troy's top-five returning tacklers from last year, Chris Pickett and Camren Hudson, return in 2013 for their senior campaigns.
Although the duo have been ailing injuries this spring, they do look to be some of Troy's secondary's top two threats in the defensive backfield.
Pickett picked up 61 tackles, three forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and two pass deflections last season, while Hudson, in just five starts,
finished with 50 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles.
Due to Hudson and Pickett wearing the yellow jerseys this spring, safeties coach Benjy Parker has been able to see some younger players develop in Montres Kitchens and JaQuadrian Lewis, who are listed as the No. 2 player at strong safety and free safety. Other players looking to get time at safety include Jeremy Spikner, Shaq Beverly and Joe Lofton.
At the cornerback spot, Chris Davis returns as a sophomore after starting two games a year ago, while Ethan Davis returns for his sophomore year after appearing in six games in 2012. Other potential names at cornerback include Josh Burnham, Jacquez Young, and transfer Keion Payne.
Today's final installment will focus on the defense, where five starters return from last year's squad, as the unit will be under the direction of new defensive coordinator Wayne Bolt, plus new leadership from cornerbacks coach Dustin Landry. The defense returns five of its ten leading tacklers from 2012, including four who started in at least half of their total number of games played in.
Defensive Line
With the departure of Tony Davis and Kyle Lucas, the Trojans' defensive line will look to use the return of Shermane TeArt, plus a plethora of over players who have substantial game-time experience under their belts, to battle in the trenches this fall.
TeArt, now a senior, started in all five games he played in last season, but was sidelined due to an injury. In his five appearances, he picked up nine tackles and two tackles for loss. Although he hasn't been 100 percent this spring, TeArt still looks to be a vital part of the line as the fall approaches.
“I sat just about all last year,” TeArt said in an interview with the Dothan Eagle. “This is my last year, my last go-round. I want to get to a bowl game, make sure I leave on a good note.” Head coach Larry Blakeney added that TeArt must stay healthy in order to have a great season.
While he wasn't a part of the defensive line unit last year, Tyler Roberts will move to a defensive end role this year after serving as Troy's hybrid linebacker in 2012. In that spot Roberts totaled 35 tackles, 6.5 for loss, with two sacks, three quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.
Joining him as a returner with game experience on the opposite end is Marty Stadom. The senior, who didn't record a start but played in all 12 games in 2012, is Troy's leading tackler at the position after he picked up 21 stops, four for loss, and two sacks a year ago.
At the inside positions, Xavier Melton, Aaron Williams and D.J. Johnson all return with playing experience. Melton, listed as Troy's No. 1 nose tackle, returns for his senior season after recording seven tackles and one sack in 2012. Williams, also a senior, enters his senior campaign in contention with Lonnie Gosha at the defensive tackle position after picking up eight tackles and a forced fumble last season. Gosha, a transfer from Arkansas, is currently listed as the No. 1 tackle and, according to Blakeney, could be a star before his departure.
“He'll be, I believe, an all-star player before he leaves here,” Blakeney said. The sophomore spent last season as a redshirt after totaling seven tackles and a sack for Arkansas in 2011. Other players looking to make an impact include Jadarius Garner, Deon Lee and Antonio Gillespie.
Linebackers
Although Troy loses Kanorris Davis and Brannon Bryan at linebacker, the Trojans do return Dimitri Miles and Mark Wilson to go along with a few other players with game experience.
The duo of Miles and Wilson both return after recording 44 tackles last season, as Miles picked up a sack and two fumble recoveries, while Wilson totaled two tackles for loss and one fumble recovery.
The unit will also have to adapt to the new coaching direction of Wayne Bolt, as former linebackers coach Benjy Parker has now shifted to coach the safeties.
Other potential playmakers at the linebacker spot include Eli Canton (nine tackles, one pass breakup, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble), Jeremy Spikner, Shaq Beverly (three tackles), Wayland Coleman-Dancer and Terris Lewis.
Defensive Backs
Two of Troy's top-five returning tacklers from last year, Chris Pickett and Camren Hudson, return in 2013 for their senior campaigns.
Although the duo have been ailing injuries this spring, they do look to be some of Troy's secondary's top two threats in the defensive backfield.
Pickett picked up 61 tackles, three forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and two pass deflections last season, while Hudson, in just five starts,
finished with 50 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles.
Due to Hudson and Pickett wearing the yellow jerseys this spring, safeties coach Benjy Parker has been able to see some younger players develop in Montres Kitchens and JaQuadrian Lewis, who are listed as the No. 2 player at strong safety and free safety. Other players looking to get time at safety include Jeremy Spikner, Shaq Beverly and Joe Lofton.
At the cornerback spot, Chris Davis returns as a sophomore after starting two games a year ago, while Ethan Davis returns for his sophomore year after appearing in six games in 2012. Other potential names at cornerback include Josh Burnham, Jacquez Young, and transfer Keion Payne.
Goose Crowder - T-Day
Saturday, April 18
Donnie Smith - T-Day
Saturday, April 18
Gerad Parker - T-Day
Saturday, April 18
Gerad Parker - April 16
Thursday, April 16