Troy Position Previews: Safeties

TROY, Ala. – Troy's safety room for the 2024 season is deep, with 14 players listed on the roster at the position. The Trojans might not lack depth in the position room; however, they lack experience with only five upperclassmen.

Defensive coordinator and safeties coach Dontae Wright has to replace a pair of All-Sun Belt performers at the position from a season ago in Dell Pettus and Irshaad Davis, who were key pieces to Troy's dominant defense last season. Pettus, a long-time starter for the Trojans, finished with the second-most tackles on the team in 2023 with 74 total tackles and Davis finished in fourth place with 66 tackles of his own in his only season in Cardinal.

Hitting the Portal
Cecil Powell, a sixth-year senior, was a key addition for the new coaching staff this past offseason. Powell transferred from NC State, where he saw most of his action on special teams after having to miss the previous two seasons with injury. The 6-foot-tall, 215-pound safety used to play on both sides of the ball in his first two seasons with the Wolfpack and saw 497 snaps as a redshirt freshman in 2020.

Kypto Norwood, a junior from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is a product of Pearl River Community College. Norwood earned All-MACCC honorable mention honors in both of his seasons and was ranked as the No. 13 JUCO safety in the country by On3. Norwood finished his JUCO career with 63 total tackles, three tackles-for-loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks.

Davion Nelson and Ian Conerly-Goodly also transferred to Troy this past offseason. Nelson, a junior from Hutchinson Community College, finished his JUCO career with a KJCC conference title and played corner, nickel and safety. Conerly-Goodly, a junior from Southeastern Louisiana, was one of the best safeties at the FCS level in 2023. Conerly-Goodly recorded 109 tackles last season and received first-team All-Southland honors as well as first-team All-Louisiana.

Fresh Faces
The Trojans added six freshmen to their safety room this past offseason, with four of the new additions being three-star recruits.

Keion Dunlap headlines this recruiting class as a freshman from Enterprise, Alabama. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound safety was a consensus three-star by On3, 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals and ESPN ranked Dunlap as the No. 42 player in the state of Alabama and the No. 77 safety in the country.

Rondell Carter is a freshman from Charlotte, North Carolina, and was listed as a three-star by ESPN, On3 and 247Sports. On3 ranked Carter as the No. 55 player in the state of North Carolina and the No. 174 safety in the country. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back lined up at both safety and cornerback for Julius Chambers High School and finished with 90 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, an interception and 15 pass breakups as a senior in 2023. Carter earned all-state and all-conference honors after helping lead the Cougars to a North Carolina 4A State Championship.

Joe Lott is a freshman from Mobile, Alabama and On3 ranked him as the No. 81 player in Alabama and the No. 70 athlete in the country. Lott is a multi-sport, multi-position athlete who finished his high school career at USM-Wright Prep School with over 2,000 all-purpose yards and over 20 touchdowns as a quarterback/running back/receiver. On defense, Lott finished with over 200 tackles and 10 interceptions and earned first-team all-state honors in his junior and senior seasons. Lott brings in a bunch of versatility and is listed at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds.

Kevin Beckham, OJ Vaughan Jr. and Tyrek Thompson round out Troy's 2024 freshmen safety class. Beckham is a three-star recruit from Mobile, Alabama, where he played on both sides of the ball for Baker High School. Beckham was ranked as a top 100 recruit in the state of Alabama as a defensive back. Vaughan Jr. is from Brooklyn, New York, but he played football at Wakulla High School in Wakulla County, Florida, where he played on both sides of the ball as a running back and safety. Thompson is from Fairmont, North Carolina, where he played as a safety for Fairmont High School. Thompson earned three all-conference and two all-county honors throughout high school career.

Familiar Faces
Troy has only four returning safeties from the 2023 season. John Butler, a junior from Sebastian River, Florida, has spent his entire collegiate career at Troy and has played primarily on special teams for the Trojans. Justin Powe, a redshirt sophomore from Mobile, Alabama, played in 10 games for Troy last season. Most of Powe's game action has been on special teams; however, he saw defensive snaps against Stephen F. Austin, Kansas State and Arkansas State.

KC Bradford, a sophomore from Troy, Alabama, is entering his second season of his collegiate career. As a true freshman, Bradford appeared in 10 games for the Trojans, where he played 69 snaps on special teams. LaBarryon Moore, a redshirt freshman, rounds out Troy's safety room and has not made an appearance yet for the Trojans.

Troy University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Kevin Beckham

KC Bradford

John Butler

Rondell Carter

Ian Conerly-Goodly

Irshaad Davis

Keion Dunlap

Joe Lott

LaBarryon Moore

Dell Pettus

Justin Powe

Cecil Powell

Tyrek Thompson

OJ Vaughan Jr.

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