Troy University Athletics
Troy Position Preview - Bandits / Spears
8/25/2024 3:55:00 PM | Football
TROY, Ala. – Outside linebacker coach Chris Boone had to fill some massive holes this past offseason, including 2023 All-Sun Belt First Team nominee Richard Jibunor and 2023 All-Sun Belt honorable mention Caleb Ransaw.
Bandits
Troy is one of the few programs in the country that refer to their weakside outside linebackers as "bandits." This position requires a lot of versatility and is a hybrid of a linebacker and defensive end who excels at pass rushing.
Jibunor excelled in this role throughout his Trojan career. After transferring from Auburn in 2019, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound bandit received All-Sun Belt honors every season. Jibunor finished his career with 174 total tackles, 46 tackles for loss, 30 sacks and three interceptions.
Phillip Lee will be crucial to this year's defense in this role. Lee was one of Troy's defensive leaders last season before suffering a season-ending injury against Texas State. The 6-foot-4 junior has only appeared in 22 games so far for the Trojans and currently has 22 tackles, four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Jah-Mal Williams was a key addition from the transfer portal this offseason. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Williams is a junior transfer from Cincinnati, where he was a key member of the special teams' units.
Eric Shaw is a key returner from the past two conference championship-winning seasons. Shaw came to Troy before the 2022 season as a wide receiver from South Carolina; however, the 6-foot-5 junior converted to bandit. Shaw has struggled with injuries throughout his Trojan career but has seven total tackles, one tackle for loss and half of a sack.
Malaki Pegues, a redshirt freshman, is another important returner from last season. The Oxford, Mississippi, native only appeared in five games last season but showed flashes of his potential and excelled in Troy's game against Southern Miss. Pegues helped the Trojans clinch the Sun Belt West division with five tackles and 1.5 sacks against the Golden Eagles. He is recovering from an offseason injury that will keep him from action early in the season.
AZ Williams, a junior from Millbrook, Alabama, rounds out this position group. Williams was an inside linebacker last season and has been moved to a bandit after not seeing any game time.
Spears
Similarly to the bandits, the " spear " position is not often used. Spears are more commonly referred to as the strongside outside linebacker and is a hybrid between a defensive back and a linebacker.
This season, the Trojans only have three spears listed on their roster after losing two to the transfer portal and one to graduation last year.
Darrell Starling is the only returning player in this position group. The junior from Pelham, Georgia, has appeared in 11 games the past two seasons; however, Starling played in almost all of Troy's games in 2020 and 2021. Starling recorded 21 tackles in his first two seasons of his collegiate career.
Devin Lafayette is a junior transfer from Northern Illinois. In his four-year career as a Huskie, Lafayette recorded 123 total tackles, two interceptions, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. The former third team All-MAC selection was a key contributor on defense and special teams.
Jordan Perry is a redshirt sophomore from Kansas State. The Jefferson, Georgia, native struggled to find playing time as a Wildcat, appearing in two games. In 2022, 247Sports ranked Perry as the No. 81 athlete in the nation after an impressive career at Jefferson High School, where he recorded 86 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five interceptions and six pass break ups.
Bandits
Troy is one of the few programs in the country that refer to their weakside outside linebackers as "bandits." This position requires a lot of versatility and is a hybrid of a linebacker and defensive end who excels at pass rushing.
Jibunor excelled in this role throughout his Trojan career. After transferring from Auburn in 2019, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound bandit received All-Sun Belt honors every season. Jibunor finished his career with 174 total tackles, 46 tackles for loss, 30 sacks and three interceptions.
Phillip Lee will be crucial to this year's defense in this role. Lee was one of Troy's defensive leaders last season before suffering a season-ending injury against Texas State. The 6-foot-4 junior has only appeared in 22 games so far for the Trojans and currently has 22 tackles, four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Jah-Mal Williams was a key addition from the transfer portal this offseason. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Williams is a junior transfer from Cincinnati, where he was a key member of the special teams' units.
Eric Shaw is a key returner from the past two conference championship-winning seasons. Shaw came to Troy before the 2022 season as a wide receiver from South Carolina; however, the 6-foot-5 junior converted to bandit. Shaw has struggled with injuries throughout his Trojan career but has seven total tackles, one tackle for loss and half of a sack.
Malaki Pegues, a redshirt freshman, is another important returner from last season. The Oxford, Mississippi, native only appeared in five games last season but showed flashes of his potential and excelled in Troy's game against Southern Miss. Pegues helped the Trojans clinch the Sun Belt West division with five tackles and 1.5 sacks against the Golden Eagles. He is recovering from an offseason injury that will keep him from action early in the season.
AZ Williams, a junior from Millbrook, Alabama, rounds out this position group. Williams was an inside linebacker last season and has been moved to a bandit after not seeing any game time.
Spears
Similarly to the bandits, the " spear " position is not often used. Spears are more commonly referred to as the strongside outside linebacker and is a hybrid between a defensive back and a linebacker.
This season, the Trojans only have three spears listed on their roster after losing two to the transfer portal and one to graduation last year.
Darrell Starling is the only returning player in this position group. The junior from Pelham, Georgia, has appeared in 11 games the past two seasons; however, Starling played in almost all of Troy's games in 2020 and 2021. Starling recorded 21 tackles in his first two seasons of his collegiate career.
Devin Lafayette is a junior transfer from Northern Illinois. In his four-year career as a Huskie, Lafayette recorded 123 total tackles, two interceptions, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. The former third team All-MAC selection was a key contributor on defense and special teams.
Jordan Perry is a redshirt sophomore from Kansas State. The Jefferson, Georgia, native struggled to find playing time as a Wildcat, appearing in two games. In 2022, 247Sports ranked Perry as the No. 81 athlete in the nation after an impressive career at Jefferson High School, where he recorded 86 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five interceptions and six pass break ups.
Players Mentioned
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