Troy University Athletics
Troy Position Previews - Defense Line
8/21/2024 10:27:00 AM | Football
TROY, Ala. – The Trojans' defensive line unit had to be reconstructed this past offseason after losing 10 players to the NFL, graduation and the transfer portal. Troy had to part ways with some key defensive pieces from the past few seasons, including Javon Solomon, Buddha Jones and AJ Pierce.
Solomon was drafted to the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft after he finished last season as the nation's sack leader with 16, the fourth-most in a single season in program history, 18 tackles for loss, 56 total tackles, five quarterback hits and three forced fumbles.
Although you won't see Pierce put the shoulder pads back on for the Trojans, you will see him on the sideline coaching up the new defensive line unit as a graduate assistant to defensive line coach Justin Manning.
Key Returners
One of Troy's biggest returners this season is Luis Medina, who was named Wednesday to the Senior Bowl Watch List. The junior defensive lineman wreaks havoc on the interior offensive line and has 84 career tackles and five career sacks. Medina started all 14 games for the Trojans last season after missing the majority of the 2022 season after suffering an injury against App State.
Another key piece to this year's defensive line will be returner Raymond Cutts. The senior from Orlando, Florida, played in 12 games last season and recorded 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks. Before coming to Troy, Cutts spent a year with UCF and a year with Garden City Community College, where he was named a NJCAA First Team All-American after recording 58 tackles, 11 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
Julian Peterson is another key returner this season. Although Peterson only appeared in eight games defensively last season due to a crowded depth chart, he still managed to record five tackles and 1.5 sacks. Peterson, a redshirt junior, is listed at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds.
Hitting the Portal
Kam Curry, a junior from Midland, Texas, is coming to Troy after two seasons at Tyler JC. Curry, a 6-foot-2, 302-pound defensive tackle, recorded 23 tackles, one sack and four tackles for loss and earned honorable mention all-conference honors.
Jabril McNeill, a junior from Raleigh, North Carolina, is returning to Division I football after a season at Louisburg Community College. The 6-foot-4 defensive end was a four-star recruit in high school and played two seasons at Oregon. However, McNeill played primarily on special teams and transferred to Louisburg after redshirting his sophomore season, where he recorded 12 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss and 7.5 sacks in just eight games played.
Cheick Kaba, a junior from Minneapolis, Minnesota, transfers to Troy after an impressive season with Iowa Western Community College. Kaba played in nine games and finished the season with 18 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles-for-loss to earn himself Third Team All-America honors.
Jamel Fils-Aime, a junior from Enterprise, Alabama, is a three-star transfer recruit from Coffeyville Community College. Fils-Aime only appeared in two games, but he was ranked as the No. 19 JUCO defensive lineman in the transfer portal and is listed at 6-foot-3 and 336 pounds.
Rounding out the Room
Ty'Quarius Perry and Kenny Reedy are the only other two returning players from the 2023 season. Perry was redshirted last season after not seeing any playing time but was a three-star recruit and ranked as a top 75 player in Alabama out of high school by On3. Reedy is a redshirt sophomore who has yet to see game action in his first two seasons of his collegiate career. Reedy transferred to Troy before the 2023 season after he was redshirted at Army in his first year.
Trashun Griffin is a true freshman from Centreville, Alabama. Griffin entered his collegiate career as a three-star recruit and was ranked as a top 55 player in the state by ESPN, On3, Rivals and 247Sports. The 6-foot-4, 263-pound defensive end finished his career at Bibb County High School with 241 tackles, 30 forced fumbles, first team all-state and all-region honors.
Jermaine Paramore is a true freshman from Saraland, Alabama. Paramore is a 6-foot-2, 257-pound defensive tackle from Saraland High School and was ranked as the No. 76 player in the state of Alabama and a three-star recruit by On3 and 247Sports. Paramore finished his high school career with 119 tackles, 10 sacks and eight forced fumbles.
ShuMond Johnson is a three-star recruit from Fairburn, Georgia. The 6-foot-2 defensive end attended four separate high schools but finished his high school career at Creekside High School. Johnson recorded 51 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and nine sacks as a senior.
Kevin Norwood and Cam'Ron Underwood round out the defensive line unit. Norwood is a 6-foot-2, 322-pound defensive tackle from Theodore, Alabama, where he played football at Theodore High School. Underwood is a 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive tackle from Prattville, Alabama and played football at Prattville High School.
Solomon was drafted to the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft after he finished last season as the nation's sack leader with 16, the fourth-most in a single season in program history, 18 tackles for loss, 56 total tackles, five quarterback hits and three forced fumbles.
Although you won't see Pierce put the shoulder pads back on for the Trojans, you will see him on the sideline coaching up the new defensive line unit as a graduate assistant to defensive line coach Justin Manning.
Key Returners
One of Troy's biggest returners this season is Luis Medina, who was named Wednesday to the Senior Bowl Watch List. The junior defensive lineman wreaks havoc on the interior offensive line and has 84 career tackles and five career sacks. Medina started all 14 games for the Trojans last season after missing the majority of the 2022 season after suffering an injury against App State.
Another key piece to this year's defensive line will be returner Raymond Cutts. The senior from Orlando, Florida, played in 12 games last season and recorded 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks. Before coming to Troy, Cutts spent a year with UCF and a year with Garden City Community College, where he was named a NJCAA First Team All-American after recording 58 tackles, 11 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
Julian Peterson is another key returner this season. Although Peterson only appeared in eight games defensively last season due to a crowded depth chart, he still managed to record five tackles and 1.5 sacks. Peterson, a redshirt junior, is listed at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds.
Hitting the Portal
Kam Curry, a junior from Midland, Texas, is coming to Troy after two seasons at Tyler JC. Curry, a 6-foot-2, 302-pound defensive tackle, recorded 23 tackles, one sack and four tackles for loss and earned honorable mention all-conference honors.
Jabril McNeill, a junior from Raleigh, North Carolina, is returning to Division I football after a season at Louisburg Community College. The 6-foot-4 defensive end was a four-star recruit in high school and played two seasons at Oregon. However, McNeill played primarily on special teams and transferred to Louisburg after redshirting his sophomore season, where he recorded 12 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss and 7.5 sacks in just eight games played.
Cheick Kaba, a junior from Minneapolis, Minnesota, transfers to Troy after an impressive season with Iowa Western Community College. Kaba played in nine games and finished the season with 18 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles-for-loss to earn himself Third Team All-America honors.
Jamel Fils-Aime, a junior from Enterprise, Alabama, is a three-star transfer recruit from Coffeyville Community College. Fils-Aime only appeared in two games, but he was ranked as the No. 19 JUCO defensive lineman in the transfer portal and is listed at 6-foot-3 and 336 pounds.
Rounding out the Room
Ty'Quarius Perry and Kenny Reedy are the only other two returning players from the 2023 season. Perry was redshirted last season after not seeing any playing time but was a three-star recruit and ranked as a top 75 player in Alabama out of high school by On3. Reedy is a redshirt sophomore who has yet to see game action in his first two seasons of his collegiate career. Reedy transferred to Troy before the 2023 season after he was redshirted at Army in his first year.
Trashun Griffin is a true freshman from Centreville, Alabama. Griffin entered his collegiate career as a three-star recruit and was ranked as a top 55 player in the state by ESPN, On3, Rivals and 247Sports. The 6-foot-4, 263-pound defensive end finished his career at Bibb County High School with 241 tackles, 30 forced fumbles, first team all-state and all-region honors.
Jermaine Paramore is a true freshman from Saraland, Alabama. Paramore is a 6-foot-2, 257-pound defensive tackle from Saraland High School and was ranked as the No. 76 player in the state of Alabama and a three-star recruit by On3 and 247Sports. Paramore finished his high school career with 119 tackles, 10 sacks and eight forced fumbles.
ShuMond Johnson is a three-star recruit from Fairburn, Georgia. The 6-foot-2 defensive end attended four separate high schools but finished his high school career at Creekside High School. Johnson recorded 51 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and nine sacks as a senior.
Kevin Norwood and Cam'Ron Underwood round out the defensive line unit. Norwood is a 6-foot-2, 322-pound defensive tackle from Theodore, Alabama, where he played football at Theodore High School. Underwood is a 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive tackle from Prattville, Alabama and played football at Prattville High School.
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