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The Natchez, Miss., native was a football and baseball star at Natchez High School and then Adams County Christian School. He earned All-Metro in baseball and football during his high school career and signed with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC).

In his freshman season, McGruder played in nine games and tallied 11 tackles, one tackle-for-loss and six pass breakups. As a junior this season, McGruder earned 12 tackles, one tackle-for-loss and two pass breakups in 10 games.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 178-pound cornerback committed to Troy over offers from other schools like Western Kentucky, Arkansas State and Alcorn.

Troy’s 2024 Recruiting Class now includes Mobile (McGill-Toolen) cornerback Shemar Welch, Charles Henderson (Troy) athlete Jywon Boyd, UMS-Wright (Mobile) athlete Joe Lott, Baker athlete Kevin Beckham Jr., McAdory linebacker J’Quan Mason, Westlake (Ga.) offensive lineman Dominic Steward, Booker T. Washington (Tuskegee) athlete Elijah Hall Jr., Montgomery-Catholic quarterback Caleb McCreary, Jacksonville quarterback Jim Ogle, Jefferson (Ga.) offensive lineman Brian Senter and West Jefferson (La.) receiver Shaun Nicholas. The recruiting class also includes junior college (JUCO) commitments from receiver Zeriah Beason, offensive lineman Zerian Hudson and defensive backs McGruder, Samson Israel, EJ Fisk, Navarion Benson, Kris Robinson and Cary Grant.

Troy 2024 Commitments (Updated 11/29/23)

Jywon Boyd, ATH, Charles Henderson High School (Troy, Ala.)

Shemar Welch, CB, McGill-Toolen Catholic School (Mobile, Ala.)

Joe Lott, ATH, UMS-Wright High School (Mobile, Ala.)

Kevin Beckham Jr., ATH, Baker High School (Mobile, Ala.)

J’Quan Mason, LB, McAdory High School (McCalla, Ala.)

Dominic Steward, OL, Westlake High School (Atlanta, Ga.)

Elijah Hall, ATH, Booker T. Washington High School (Tuskegee, Ala.)

Caleb McCreary, QB, Montgomery-Catholic School (Montgomery, Ala.)

Jim Ogle, QB, Jacksonville High School (Jacksonville, Ala.)

Brian Senter, OL, Jefferson High School (Jefferson, Ga.)

Shaun Nicholas, WR, West Jefferson High School (West Jefferson, La.)

DK McGruder, DB, Gulf Coast Mississippi Community College (Natchez, Miss.)

Zeriah Beason, WR, Hutchinson Community College (Duncanville, Texas)

EJ Fisk, CB, East Central Community College (Saltillo, Miss.)

Navarion Benson, DB, Co-Lin Community College (Crystal Springs, Miss.)

Kris Robinson, DB, East Central Community College (Jackson, Miss.)

Cary Grant, DB, Highland Community College (New Orleans, La.)

Samson Israel, DB, Coahoma Community College (Douglasville, Ga.)

Zerian Hudson, OL, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Brookhaven, Miss.)