Shake ups abound for Troy’s roster

Published 10:25 pm Tuesday, July 9, 2013

As fall camp creeps ever closer, some new faces are popping up on Troy’s roster while some others are getting a profile makeover.

Most all of Troy newest recruiting class has been added to the expected fall roster including highly-touted newcomers linebacker Sam Lebbie and running back Josh Anderson.

Lebbie comes to Troy after spending 2012 at the Atlanta Sports Academy. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound linebacker from Hyattsville, Md., was rated the No. 6 middle linebacker in the country out of high school in 2011 when he played for DeMatha Catholic High School.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Lebbie originally signed with West Virginia but opted to spend the year in Atlanta.

Anderson is 5-11, 230-pound back from South Paulding High School in Douglasville, Ga.

As a senior, Anderson led South Paulding in rushing touchdowns with 12 as he rushed for 623 yards. He was ranked the No. 3 fullback in the country by ESPN. He will likely be looked upon to fill the shoes of D.J. Taylor, Troy’s bruising back who graduated last year.

Also new to the fall roster is Tulane transfer Wilson Van Hooser. The Montgomery native led the Green Wave in receiving yards and touchdown catches as a sophomore and was second on the TD list last season.

Van Hooser is known for his speed and athleticism and should make an immediate impact on the Trojans offense as he plays out his senior season.

Lonnie has been on campus for a while but after sitting out last year due to transfer rules the former Arkansas Razorback will get to show what he can do.

The 6-foot-2, 257-pound defensive end played in four games as a freshman at Arkansas. As a senior in high school, ESPN rated him as the No. 31 recruit in the state of Florida.

Several Troy players will be wearing new numbers or playing new positions in 2013.

Wide receiver Bryan Holmes will wear No. 1 after wearing No. 18 last season. B.J. Chitty made the change from No. 17 to No. 10.

Tim Longmire signed with Troy as a running back but will play wide receiver for the Trojans in 2013. Quarterback Kinderick Dent will also make the transition to receiver, he was listed as a quarterback last season.

Shaq Beverly and Jeremy Spikner were both corners last year but are listed as safeties for the upcoming season while Brach Bessant and Tyler Roberts both move from linebacker to defensive end.