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Much in the way an offense begins upfront, everything starts with the defensive line for a defense. The Troy Trojans are headed into 2024 with little returning experience there.

Troy must replace All-American defensive end Javon Solomon – now in the NFL – along with transfers Zach Edwards, TJ Jackson, Deshaun Batiste and graduates Jamarcus Chatman, Buddha Jones and AJ Pierce across the line.

The only returning veterans with extended playing time include junior Luis Medina (6-1, 283 lbs.), junior Julian Peterson (6-3, 303 lbs.) and senior Raymond Cutts (6-3, 243 lbs.). After missing much of the 2022 season, Medina played in 14 games in 2023 with 23 tackles, two tackles-for-loss and a sack and comes into 2024 as a Preseason All-Sun Belt selection. Cutts – a former JUCO All-American – played in 12 games in 2023 and recorded 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks, while Peterson played in 14 games with five tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks.

“When you see (Cutts) get off the football, when the ball is snapped, you see how elite he is in his movements and how he runs,” Troy Coach Gerad Parker said of Cutts. “He’s a guy that runs 21 miles-per-hour. That kid can really run and we’re excited for him and to help him become the best version of himself.”

Parker also pointed to freshman Jabril McNeil (6-4, 240 lbs.), junior Kam Curry (6-0, 300 lbs.), freshman Dylan Mann (6-1, 315 lbs.) and Enterprise junior Jamel Fils-Aime (6-4, 320 lbs.) as players he expects to see the field in 2024.

“The good thing is when you run off those names it isn’t just Medina, Cuts and (Peterson) anymore,” Parker said. “The standard of our defense is high and the level we need to play at to win championships is high and we’ll see how close we can get to that (on the defensive line) but I would say it’s absolutely in better shape than what it was when I got here.”

Parker is most excited about Fils-Aime. The huge junior college transfer was a star defensive tackle at Enterprise High School before starting his college career at Coffeyville Community College. He recorded 26 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack in 2023.

“I would be shocked if he is not a newcomer that sees the field,” Parker said of Fils-Aime. “He will be really good for us.”