The Troy Trojans football team has won two straight Sun Belt Conference championships, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed by NFL scouts.
Javon Solomon and Kimani Vidal were selected in the fifth and sixth rounds, respectively, of the 2024 NFL Draft. Additionally, former Trojans Reddy Steward and Dell Pettus shined in the preseason after signing as undrafted free agents. All except Steward were named to active rosters on Tuesday.
Steward, in particular, has made a splash in preseason play. The Chicago Bears cornerback had two interceptions in a preseason tilt against the Kansas City Chiefs, one of which was returned for a pick-six.
“Reddy did a very good job,” said Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus in a postgame press conference posted to the Bears website. “Reddy is a really good, young player.”
Steward jumped in front of two passes from Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun and took one of them nearly 50 yards to the end zone. Despite the impressive preseason contest, Steward was waived by the Bears and is on the hunt for his next oppurtunity.
Solomon, a defensive end for the Buffalo Bills, has made seven tackles in the preseason. The fifth-rounder looks to make an immediate impact in Buffalo this season, providing depth in the trenches.
Although Vidal hasn’t gotten the chance to get carries for the Los Angeles Chargers in the preseason, he has made the most of it. The former Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year has rushed for 49 yards on 11 carries.
“We were all happy to see [Vidal] go out and execute the way he did,” said Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman in a press conference posted to social media. “He’s a humble, hard-working guy, and he’s gonna take it in stride and work to constantly improve.”
Pettus has also impressed during the preseason, garnering significant playing time. The New England Patriots safety has made 10 total tackles in just two preseason contests to secure a spot on the active roster.
These NFL standouts come one year after Jake Andrews was selected by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Trojan was picked to provide protection as part of the New England offensive line.
The current Trojans roster looks to make an impression on NFL scouts starting Saturday, at Veterans Memorial Stadium, when the 2024 season kicks off against Nevada.
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