Troy secondary looking forward to a new year

The 2019 Troy football team saw its secondary scraped so thin it could barely fill a two-deep depth chart and consequently gave up more passing yards than any other Sun Belt team.

Added depth and a much more experienced unit has the group’s stock rising as the early stages of a new year and new spring arrive for the Trojans.

Led by the return of veteran corner Terence Dunlap and the spring debut of former JUCO transfer Monte’ McGary, Troy is benefiting from having options in the defensive backfield for the first time in the Chip Lindsey era.

The returning experience combined with the defensive backs from this year’s record-setting signing class who have yet to arrive has defensive coordinator Brandon Hall excited about the outlook of the secondary.

“We actually have four guys who aren’t even here yet who are going to be here in May,” Hall said after Thursday’s practice. “We’ve Monte’ McGary back and we’ve got Dunlap back. Obviously those guys have a lot of snaps in their careers.

“Plus, we’ve got the young guys who played last year. You kind of stack those on top of each other and we’ve actually got some options. I’m excited to see what happens this spring.”

Dunlap was the most experienced corner on the team before having to sit out most of the 2019 season but is still the veteran of the group. After watching his unit struggle through last year’s 5-7 season, the junior sees big improvements coming for several of his teammates.

“I feel like O’Shai Fletcher is going to have a big season, Reddy Steward is going to have a big season and Monte’ McGary is going to have a big season,” Dunlap said. “A lot of guys are going to step up because that’s what we’re doing everyday. Pushing each other to be the best we can be where we can be the best we can be.”

Not only is the secondary competing with each other for reps, but the group must also go up against one of the most talented groups of wide receivers across the Group of Five every day.

Troy is returning six receivers who amassed at least 300 receiving yards last season, including volume pass-catcher Kaylon Geiger (77 receptions) and downfield threat Reggie Todd (17.5 yards per catch).

“Hopefully we won’t see another group that’s taller,” Hall said, referencing the multiple receivers who stand well over six feet tall. “It’s kind of like taking a high school basketball team and playing probably a college basketball team. It’s forcing us to have good ball skills. It’s definitely good for us.”

The receivers were the bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for the Trojans, who are in a limbo between leaving the losses in the past and not looking to far into the future.

“We just want to try to get that feeling of the last game out,” Hall said.

Dunlap admitted the first game lingers on his mind at times but stressed the importance of staying on task.

“Coach tells us to go play-by-play and day-by-day,” Dunlap said. “I’ll worry about the first game when it gets here, but right now me and (Carlton) Martial are trying to make sure this defense is the best defense that has come through Troy.”

Troy’s losing record could have easily ended multiple games above .500 had just a small handful of plays gone differently. Dunlap says the focus has been making sure they correct the details and get the ball bouncing back their way.

“We weren’t quite where we wanted to be and we didn’t finish the season how we wanted to,” Dunlap said. “This year we’re teaching finish, finish, finish. Every little thing matters because we feel that’s what got us beat last year.”

On a team with plenty of star power on the other side of the ball, it’s Dunlap’s group that he believes will stand out in a big way this year.

“The secondary is going to be the most improved group on this team,” According to Dunlap .