Nine out of 15 signees for Troy football are from the state of Alabama
With Season 1 now in the books, Troy head football coach Gerad Parker is looking to bolster his roster for the 2025 season. On Wednesday, Parker announced the signing of 15 student-athletes—13 high school players and two from the junior college ranks—to join the Trojans’ program.
Parker addressed needs at offensive line and the defensive backfield, adding three linemen and three safeties to the class. Also signing were a pair of defensive linemen, two running backs, two receivers, and a pair of bandits.
Perhaps the marquee name of the group is Kentucky’s 5A Player of the Year, Jack James of Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky. James is poised to set career passing records in the state of Kentucky and is coached by former Troy quarterback Corey Robinson, who serves as his offensive coordinator.
Additionally, the Trojans signed East Central Community College’s Donnie Smith, who is rated by On3 as the top junior college linebacker, as well as top 100 players in their position in AC Walters (RB), Make Green (Edge) and LaDarus Jemes (Edge). Gavin Bowlin, the 6’6” 315 lb. space maker and pass protector for Leeds High School, is rated as the number three offensive tackle in Alabama.
Five players, Paul Bowling (OL), Dariyonne Bryant (WR), Makek Green (BAN), Jack James (QB) and Donnie Smith (BAN), are all expected to enroll in January and go through spring practice with the Trojans.
Here is a list of the 15 signees:
2025 Troy Football Signing Day
JT Alvis, S, 6-1, 200, Helena, Ala. / Helena HS
Jatorian Blackmon, OL, 6-5, 330, LaGrange, Ga. / Troup County HS
Jon Bocchino, S, 6-0, 190, Niceville, Fla. / Niceville HS
Gavin Bowlin, OL, 6-6, 315, Leeds, Ala. / Leeds HS
* Paul Bowling, OL, 6-4, 300, Marietta, Ga. / McEachern HS
* Dariyonne Bryant, WR, 6-2, 175, Portsmouth, Ohio / Highland CC / Portsmouth HS
* Makel Green, BAN, 6-2, 255, Phenix City, Ala. / Central HS
Jah’Marren Jackson, WR, 6-5, 195, McKenzie, Ala. / McKenzie HS
* Jack James, QB, 6-0, 215, Paducah, Ky. / Paducah Tilghman HS
LaDarius Jemes, DE, 6-4, 225, Huntsville, Ala. / Huntsville HS
RJ Shamberger, DT, 6-4, 290, Monroeville, Ala. / Excel HS
Dakarai Shanks, RB, 5-10, 205, Hoover, Ala. / Spain Park HS
* Donnie Smith, BAN, 6-4, 225, Greenville, Miss. / East Central CC / St. Joseph HS
Antonious Steele, S, 6-1, 190, Centreville, Ala. / Bibb County HS
AC Walters, 5-10, 200, RB, Montgomery, Ala. / Alabama Christian Academy
* January Enrollee
Parker became the head coach at Troy on December 18, 2023, having previously served as the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame and West Virginia. He played wide receiver at Kentucky from 2000-04.
Troy finished the 2024 football campaign at 4-8, with a 3-5 record in the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans compete in the conference’s Western Division along with Louisiana, Texas State, Arkansas State, South Alabama, UL-Monroe, and Southern Miss.
With 8 conference championships, including back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, Troy holds the record for the most Sun Belt championships in league history. TG
Pictured: Troy’s Gerad Parker. Courtesy Troy Athletics.
