The Troy football team reports for camp at the end of July, first practice is set for Aug. 1. In this series, we’ll touch on every position and look at the starters, the backups and the future.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

The Starters:

The defense is going to be a little tricky to predict right now as Wayne Bolt could make wholesale changes if he can find the bodies to play how he wants them to play. I will, however, give my best effort in looking at the guys that should start.

Camren Hudson (5-10, 191) and Chris Pickett (5-11, 192) are returning starters at safety for the Trojans and should remain in that role heading into camp. Hudson played in all 12 games for the Trojans and recorded 50 tackles. Pickett was just ahead of him with 61 total tackles. Both sat out the contact portions of fall camp with shoulder injuries but should be ready on Aug. 1.

Chris Davis and Keion Payne should get the first crack at starting roles at corner. Davis, a true sophomore, played in all 12 games last season recording 18 tackles . Payne, a Miami transfer, is penciled in as the starter at right corner.

The Backups:

While Hudson and Pickett should see the majority of the snaps at safety in 2013 (assuming they stay healthy), Montres Kitchens (5-11, 178) is a very athletic alternative. Shaq Beverly (5-9, 207) came to Troy as a corner but was moved to safety after spring camp. Beverly looks like he could play in short-yardage situations as a fourth or fifth linebacker. Jeremy Spikner (5-10, 181) had a great fall camp last year and could develop into a contributor this season.

Troy has a options at corner, the question is can they get the job done? Jaquez Young (5-9, 174) and Ethan Davis (5-10, 180) are both juniors who have experience at the college level though not as starters. Davis is a guy that was projected to be a starter by now. He played in 10 games and made two starts his freshman season. After missing the first half of 2012, he returned to play in six games.

The Future:

Troy has plenty of bodies in the secondary, they need a few to develop into contributors.

Cardell Lue, Julius McCall, Rishad Goode, Jevius Terry and Dondrell Harris were all solid recruits for Troy and at least give the program some competition moving forward. Harris (5-11, 180), a multi-position athlete from Rutherford HS in Panama City, has the size needed to compete while Goode (6-0, 190) comes from a good bloodline of football players and also has the frame for a good D-I player.