Troy signs 19 on the first day of the Early Signing Day with more signees to come soon

Troy’s Sun Belt Championship season paid off in recruiting. Jon Sumrall’s first full recruiting cycle began with 19 signees with more to come soon.

“We signed 23 guys, and we're announcing 19 because a few guys have asked for us to wait until they announce either later this week or in February," Sumrall said. "We had some really quality additions that match up with our character and the culture of our program. There will be more additions in the coming days and weeks; there will be a few more subtractions in the coming days and weeks. The roster management for our '23 roster is far from complete; this is just the starting point for now."

A highlight came with the restocking of the linebacker spot with a pair of All-American junior college linebackers. Garden City Community College’s Raymond Cutts, who is 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, will line up on the outside and Steven Cattledge of East Mississippi Community College is one of the top JUCO middle linebackers.

Overall, Troy had 13 high school signees, five from junior college and one highly-regarded transfer portal player. Chris Lewis, a former four-star recruit from Pleasant Grove, comes to Troy from the University of Kentucky. Lewis should immediately be one of the top receivers in the Sun Belt Conference.

TROY FOOTBALL SIGNEES

Deshaun Batiste, John F. Kennedy HS, New Orleans, 6-2, 250, DE

MarKendrick Beall, Tyler (Texas) JC, 6-4, 340, OL

Tyler Bell, Lausanne Collegiate HS, Memphis, 6-2, 305, OL

Keyshawn Campbell, Vero Beach (Florida) HS, 6-0, 200, LB

Steve Cattledge, East Mississippi CC, 6-3, 205, LB

Ethan Conner, East Mississippi CC, 6-4, 225, TE

Raymond Cutts, Garden City (Kansas) CC, 6-3, 270, LB

Billy Gilmore, Alma Bryant HS, 6-3, 285, OL

*Chris Lewis, University of Kentucky, 6-4, 202, WR

Jordan Lovett, Statesboro (Georgia) HS, 5-10, 195, RB

Malaki Pegues, Oxford (Mississippi) HS, 6-4, 225, LB