Troy University Athletics
Troy’s Solomon, Vidal Selected in NFL Draft
4/27/2024 4:00:00 PM | Football
TROY, Ala. – Troy's Javon Solomon and Kimani Vidal were selected in the NFL Draft on Saturday, marking the first time since 2010 that multiple Trojans were selected in the same draft. Solomon went to the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round, while Vidal was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the sixth round.
Solomon becomes the first Troy defensive player selected in the NFL Draft since Jonathan Massaquoi was a fifth round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2012, while Vidal is Troy's first skill position player selected since Jerrell Jernigan was taken by the New York Giants in the third round in 2011.
Javon Solomon, EDGE – Buffalo Bills, Round Five, Pick 168
Named to the All-Sun Belt First Team after leading all of FBS with 16 sacks and ranking ninth with 18 tackles for loss … Set the Sun Belt single-season sack record and the Troy FBS sack record; it was the most sacks by a Trojan since Kenny Craik's single-season record of 20 in 1980 – the most in the last two decades at Troy was NFL legend Osi Umenyiora's 15 in 2002 … Finished career second all-time in Sun Belt and Troy history with 33 career sacks, while ranking third in program history in tackles for loss … One of two players at the FBS ranks to record at least a half sack in 10 games … Recorded four of Troy's nine sacks at ULM, tying Osi Umenyiora (2002) for the Troy single-game record; named the Co-Senior Bowl Defensive Players of the Week with teammate Richard Jibunor … Finished career with six multi-sack games, the most in Troy's DI history and 38th most at the FBS level since 2000 … Finished season with 48 total pressures, nine more than anyone else on Troy's team and 23rd nationally among edge defenders despite playing just 592 snaps … Ranked sixth among edge defenders per PFF with a 90.8 defensive grade … Recorded 11 sacks in Troy's final five games of the season ... Forced two fumbles in Troy's Sun Belt Championship Game victory over App State
Kimani Vidal, Running Back – Los Angeles Chargers, Round Six, Pick 181
Finished second nationally rushing for 1,661 yards on 297 carries … Topped the 100-yard mark seven times and rushed for 200-plus yards three times … Named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year … Tied for 15th nationally with 14 rushing touchdowns … Part of just the third 3,000-yard, 1,000-yard passing/rushing duo in school history … Became Troy's first AP All-American since 2000; named to the AP All-America Third Team … MVP on the Sun Belt Championship Game after rushing for 233 yards and five touchdowns; first player in FBS championship game history with five rushing TDs … Set the Troy career (4,010), single-season (1,661) and single-game (248) rushing records … Also set Troy records for single-season 100-yard rushing games (7), single-game rushing touchdowns (5), while tying the career 100-yard game record (13) … Responsible for three of the top 16 rushing games at the FBS ranks in 2023 … Averaged 3.58 yards after contact … Led the country with 47 rushes of 10-plus yards … Finished second nationally with 82 rushes for a first down … Among running backs with at least 143 carries, led the nation (per PFF) with a 79.3 pass blocking grade … Among running backs with at least 20 targets, one of just eight players nationally to not be charged with a dropped pass
Solomon becomes the first Troy defensive player selected in the NFL Draft since Jonathan Massaquoi was a fifth round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2012, while Vidal is Troy's first skill position player selected since Jerrell Jernigan was taken by the New York Giants in the third round in 2011.
Javon Solomon, EDGE – Buffalo Bills, Round Five, Pick 168
Named to the All-Sun Belt First Team after leading all of FBS with 16 sacks and ranking ninth with 18 tackles for loss … Set the Sun Belt single-season sack record and the Troy FBS sack record; it was the most sacks by a Trojan since Kenny Craik's single-season record of 20 in 1980 – the most in the last two decades at Troy was NFL legend Osi Umenyiora's 15 in 2002 … Finished career second all-time in Sun Belt and Troy history with 33 career sacks, while ranking third in program history in tackles for loss … One of two players at the FBS ranks to record at least a half sack in 10 games … Recorded four of Troy's nine sacks at ULM, tying Osi Umenyiora (2002) for the Troy single-game record; named the Co-Senior Bowl Defensive Players of the Week with teammate Richard Jibunor … Finished career with six multi-sack games, the most in Troy's DI history and 38th most at the FBS level since 2000 … Finished season with 48 total pressures, nine more than anyone else on Troy's team and 23rd nationally among edge defenders despite playing just 592 snaps … Ranked sixth among edge defenders per PFF with a 90.8 defensive grade … Recorded 11 sacks in Troy's final five games of the season ... Forced two fumbles in Troy's Sun Belt Championship Game victory over App State
Kimani Vidal, Running Back – Los Angeles Chargers, Round Six, Pick 181
Finished second nationally rushing for 1,661 yards on 297 carries … Topped the 100-yard mark seven times and rushed for 200-plus yards three times … Named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year … Tied for 15th nationally with 14 rushing touchdowns … Part of just the third 3,000-yard, 1,000-yard passing/rushing duo in school history … Became Troy's first AP All-American since 2000; named to the AP All-America Third Team … MVP on the Sun Belt Championship Game after rushing for 233 yards and five touchdowns; first player in FBS championship game history with five rushing TDs … Set the Troy career (4,010), single-season (1,661) and single-game (248) rushing records … Also set Troy records for single-season 100-yard rushing games (7), single-game rushing touchdowns (5), while tying the career 100-yard game record (13) … Responsible for three of the top 16 rushing games at the FBS ranks in 2023 … Averaged 3.58 yards after contact … Led the country with 47 rushes of 10-plus yards … Finished second nationally with 82 rushes for a first down … Among running backs with at least 143 carries, led the nation (per PFF) with a 79.3 pass blocking grade … Among running backs with at least 20 targets, one of just eight players nationally to not be charged with a dropped pass
Players Mentioned
PODCAST - Kaleb Canales
Saturday, September 13
Troy vs Mercer (Full Highlights)
Thursday, September 11
Amiah Butler Postgame Press Conference - Mercer
Thursday, September 11
Josh Lauer Postgame Press Conference - Mercer
Thursday, September 11