This is a series of 10 Troy players to watch in 2013. Their successes/failures will play a big impact on the Trojans’ season.

10. Camren Hudson

9. Bryan Holmes

8. Antonio Gillespie

Troy’s offense and defense will both look to replace key parts from 2012, but Wayne Bolt’s defense is going through a major overhaul. It is safe to say that the defensive front needs to show improvement this season. One of the major players in making sure that happens is defensive tackle Antonio Gillespie.

Gillespie (6-1, 295) enters his senior year after being a highly touted signee in 2011 out of Coffeeville Community College. He missed last season but had a great spring this year and looks to figure into Troy’s defensive scheme in a major way.

It looks as though the defense will go with the 4-2-5 philosophy so providing some protection for the linebackers will be key. Gillespie showed in spring scrimmages that he could get to the quarterback but we’ll have to wait and see how that translates when he’s playing someone with a different colored jersey.

Gillespie played in nine games for Troy in 2011 and enters this year on Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team.

___________________________________

7. ??? – 7/4

6. ??? – 7/5              5. ??? – 7/5

4. ??? – 7/6              3. ??? – 7/6

2. ??? – 7/7              1. ??? – 7/7