Recruiting: Troy expecting big day

Troy is expected to sign at least 20 players today, and picked up some big commitments over the past few days.

Xavier Melton, a defensive tackle from Butler County (Kan.) Community College, committed on Monday after taking an official visit to Troy last weekend.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Melton was a second-team all-conference selection at Butler, which went 11-1. He played two years at Purdue before transferring to junior college after Purdue wanted him to move to offensive line.

Melton said that immediate playing time wasn’t the only reason he chose Troy.

“I knew I could come in and play right away, but I had no idea how close the coaching staff was with each other and how the players were,” Melton said. “I hung out with Chris (Pickett), the defensive back, and he’s a real cool guy. The food’s great, and I'm from (Lakeland) Florida, so the southern food was great.

“Just the atmosphere, and the fact a lot of guys have come out from there and gone on to the NFL, like DeMarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora, Troy has a great tradition for that.”

Melton isn’t the only Butler County player who is expected to sign with Troy, as he said his teammate, cornerback Zach Miller, has committed.

Miller was a junior college All-American, had 52 tackles and seven interceptions for the Grizzlies. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Miller is from Byrnes, S.C., which is annually a nationally-ranked high school team.

Troy signed 11 junior college players during the mid-year signing period, and will add to that list tomorrow. Along with Melton and Miller, defensive end Braylon Williams (Kilgore, Texas) and defensive lineman Derrek Upshaw (Jones County, Miss.) are expected to sign.

Several high school players have committed. One of the most recent is Tyler Lassiter, a 6-foot-7, 295-pound offensive tackle from Hazel Green. He committed to UAB for a day, but backed off and chose Troy.

Lassiter was originally committed to Middle Tennessee, but the Blue Raiders pulled their scholarship offer.

“I loved everything about Troy,” Lassiter said last week. “They were my first offer and they offered me when I was a junior and stuck with me through everything, even when I had been committed to Middle Tennessee, but they called at the end of the season and said they couldn't accept my commitment because they were signing three JUCOs to fill the spots.

“I really like Coach (John) Schlarman, Coach (Larry) Blakeney and all the coaches and players. Terrence (Jones) was my host and I like him a lot. He’s a cool guy.”

It should be an eventful day for the Trojans, as some uncommitted prospects could sign with Troy. Troy reportedly lost a commitment in Auburn High receiver Cody Core, as Auburn coach Tim Carter told the Opelika-Auburn News that Core would go to Ole Miss.

However, despite Ole Miss’ scout.com and 247sports.com listing Core as an Ole Miss commitment, no quotes have been attributed from Core yet about committing to Ole Miss. Core committed to Troy last fall, but saw his stock soar with a strong senior season and good work in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game.

Two locals – Michael Lindsey of Elba and Brandon Burks of Daleville – have also committed to Troy.

Other offensive commitments so far are quarterback Brandon Silvers (Gulf Shores), running back Andre Allen (Panama City), receivers Brandon Brooks (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Bobby Walker (Fruit Cove, Fla.) and offensive linemen Luke Lawrence (Tuscaloosa) and Antonio Garcia (Riverdale, Ga.).

Other defensive commitments include linemen Garrett Peek (Millbrook), James Mathis (Valdosta, Ga.) and Jamal Stadom (Melbourne, Fla.), linebackers Terris Lewis (Linden) and Mitchell Roland (Auburn High) and defensive backs Jaquadrian Lewis (Fitzgerald, Ga.), John Knight (Thomasville), Rishad Goode (Madison) and Montres Kitchens (Augusta, Ga.).