05-13-2010, 07:40 AM
By: DREW CHAMPLIN
Published: May 12, 2010
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TROY – Four players off last year’s Troy defense won’t be returning next season and a fifth has been suspended for a violation of NCAA policy, head coach Larry Blakeney said.
R.J. Roberts, a rising junior defensive end from Enterprise, will have to miss the next season because of an unspecified NCAA rules violation, Blakeney said. Roberts came to Troy as a walk-on in 2007, missed 2008 because of academics and made 14 tackles last season. He was to challenge for a starting spot this year.
The four who are no longer with the program are rising sophomore defensive tackle James Searcy and a trio of redshirt freshmen – defensive end Antonio Harper, cornerback Sergio Perez and safety Mike Robinson.
“(Scholarships) are a one-year deal,” Blakeney said. “All of those guys were non-performers academically, attendance-wise and on the field and it all carried over.”
The defense lost rising senior Eugene Kinlaw before spring practice and the current depth chart lists 10 players who were not with the program last season.
One projected starter is defensive tackle Tony Davis, a redshirt sophomore who played in five games last season. His backups are redshirt freshman Aaron Williams and true freshman Tommy Stephens.
“Tony’s a smart guy with good technique,” Blakeney said. “He’s probably not big enough but he’ll work hard. Same with Aaron. He’s just a pup.”
Rising junior Sidell Corley, thought to be a starter, has slid to third on the depth chart behind seniors Emmanuel Dudley and Riley Flowers.
“There’s nothing wrong with him, he’s just got to work a little harder and play a little better,” Blakeney said. “He’s still a young kid and we’ve got high hopes for him.”
The two starters at defensive end are senior Mario Addison and sophomore Jonathan Massaqoui. The backups are little-used junior Brandon Boudreaux and three new kids in freshmen John Clark, J.R. Robertson and Adrian Mack.
At linebacker, sophomore Jacoby Thomas has moved from middle linebacker to the weakside, where he’ll challenge junior Donnell Golden and redshirt freshman Johnny Thompson to replace Bear Woods.
True freshmen Dionte Ponder, Joe Lofton, Chris Pickett and Cam Hudson are listed on the depth chart in the secondary.
Blakeney said coaches are still looking for help on the recruiting trail for guys who can come in and play next season.
Published: May 12, 2010
article here
TROY – Four players off last year’s Troy defense won’t be returning next season and a fifth has been suspended for a violation of NCAA policy, head coach Larry Blakeney said.
R.J. Roberts, a rising junior defensive end from Enterprise, will have to miss the next season because of an unspecified NCAA rules violation, Blakeney said. Roberts came to Troy as a walk-on in 2007, missed 2008 because of academics and made 14 tackles last season. He was to challenge for a starting spot this year.
The four who are no longer with the program are rising sophomore defensive tackle James Searcy and a trio of redshirt freshmen – defensive end Antonio Harper, cornerback Sergio Perez and safety Mike Robinson.
“(Scholarships) are a one-year deal,” Blakeney said. “All of those guys were non-performers academically, attendance-wise and on the field and it all carried over.”
The defense lost rising senior Eugene Kinlaw before spring practice and the current depth chart lists 10 players who were not with the program last season.
One projected starter is defensive tackle Tony Davis, a redshirt sophomore who played in five games last season. His backups are redshirt freshman Aaron Williams and true freshman Tommy Stephens.
“Tony’s a smart guy with good technique,” Blakeney said. “He’s probably not big enough but he’ll work hard. Same with Aaron. He’s just a pup.”
Rising junior Sidell Corley, thought to be a starter, has slid to third on the depth chart behind seniors Emmanuel Dudley and Riley Flowers.
“There’s nothing wrong with him, he’s just got to work a little harder and play a little better,” Blakeney said. “He’s still a young kid and we’ve got high hopes for him.”
The two starters at defensive end are senior Mario Addison and sophomore Jonathan Massaqoui. The backups are little-used junior Brandon Boudreaux and three new kids in freshmen John Clark, J.R. Robertson and Adrian Mack.
At linebacker, sophomore Jacoby Thomas has moved from middle linebacker to the weakside, where he’ll challenge junior Donnell Golden and redshirt freshman Johnny Thompson to replace Bear Woods.
True freshmen Dionte Ponder, Joe Lofton, Chris Pickett and Cam Hudson are listed on the depth chart in the secondary.
Blakeney said coaches are still looking for help on the recruiting trail for guys who can come in and play next season.