Sun Belt Media Days: Troy University
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NEW ORLEANS – Troy defensive back Montres Kitchens was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team, while defensive end Tyler Roberts and offensive lineman Dalton Bennett were named to the second team, the Sun Belt announced Monday.
The release of the All-Sun Belt teams, which was voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches and 11 media members, comes after the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll that tabbed the Trojans to finish eighth in the league.
Kitchens, Jim Thorpe Award Watch List nominee and a 2014 first team All-Sun Belt selection, finished the 2014 season seventh in the country with 0.5 interceptions per game and ninth with six total interceptions. The Waynesboro, Ga., native became just the eighth player in Sun Belt Conference history and the first Troy player to earn Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors. Kitchens intercepted three passes – on successive possessions – and returned one for a touchdown in Troy’s victory at Idaho to warrant Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week recognition. Kitchens finished the year with a team-high 88 tackles and led the Sun Belt with his six interceptions. His interception total was the most by a Trojan since 2006 and he was one of just eight players in the country to intercept three passes in a game last season.
Roberts and Bennett, who were both named to the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, were named to the second team defense and offense teams, respectively.
Roberts, a defensive end from Hoover, Ala., was named to the All-Sun Belt team honorable mention last season. He finished ninth in the Sun Belt with five sacks, and 12th with 9.5 tackles for loss. A veteran on the defense, Roberts led the Trojans with four quarterback hurries and two pass break ups. In the Trojans’ victory over New Mexico State, he finished with six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. As a sophomore, Roberts was named to the All-Sun Belt second team after finishing the 2013 season sixth in the league in sacks, and 13th in tackles for loss.
Bennett, an All-Sun Belt Team honorable mention selection last season and a Rimington Trophy Fall Watch List player this year, has started 24 straight games on the offensive line entering his senior season. As a junior, the Marianna, Fla., native recorded 30 knockdown blocks and graded out at 86.5 percent. Bennett was instrumental on an offensive line that allowed just one sack after the second game of the season, which protected NCAA record-setting quarterback Brand Silvers, who set the NCAA FBS freshman completion percentage record, hitting 191 of 271 pass attempts (70.5 percent). As a sophomore, Bennett graded out at over 82 percent with 32 knockdown blocks, allowing just half a sack all season.
The release of the All-Sun Belt teams, which was voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches and 11 media members, comes after the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll that tabbed the Trojans to finish eighth in the league.
Kitchens, Jim Thorpe Award Watch List nominee and a 2014 first team All-Sun Belt selection, finished the 2014 season seventh in the country with 0.5 interceptions per game and ninth with six total interceptions. The Waynesboro, Ga., native became just the eighth player in Sun Belt Conference history and the first Troy player to earn Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors. Kitchens intercepted three passes – on successive possessions – and returned one for a touchdown in Troy’s victory at Idaho to warrant Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week recognition. Kitchens finished the year with a team-high 88 tackles and led the Sun Belt with his six interceptions. His interception total was the most by a Trojan since 2006 and he was one of just eight players in the country to intercept three passes in a game last season.
Roberts and Bennett, who were both named to the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, were named to the second team defense and offense teams, respectively.
Roberts, a defensive end from Hoover, Ala., was named to the All-Sun Belt team honorable mention last season. He finished ninth in the Sun Belt with five sacks, and 12th with 9.5 tackles for loss. A veteran on the defense, Roberts led the Trojans with four quarterback hurries and two pass break ups. In the Trojans’ victory over New Mexico State, he finished with six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. As a sophomore, Roberts was named to the All-Sun Belt second team after finishing the 2013 season sixth in the league in sacks, and 13th in tackles for loss.
Bennett, an All-Sun Belt Team honorable mention selection last season and a Rimington Trophy Fall Watch List player this year, has started 24 straight games on the offensive line entering his senior season. As a junior, the Marianna, Fla., native recorded 30 knockdown blocks and graded out at 86.5 percent. Bennett was instrumental on an offensive line that allowed just one sack after the second game of the season, which protected NCAA record-setting quarterback Brand Silvers, who set the NCAA FBS freshman completion percentage record, hitting 191 of 271 pass attempts (70.5 percent). As a sophomore, Bennett graded out at over 82 percent with 32 knockdown blocks, allowing just half a sack all season.
