Troy signs 15 players on National Signing Day

Troy Football

by WAKA Action 8 News

Troy Football head coach Gerad Parker announced the signing of 15 student-athletes on Wednesday to join the program beginning with the 2025 season. The Trojans added 13 high school players and two from the junior college ranks; five will enroll early in January.

The Trojans addressed needs along the offensive line and the defensive backfield, where Parker and staff signed three linemen and three safeties. Troy signed a pair of defensive linemen, two running backs, two receivers and a pair of bandits.

Troy’s lone quarterback in the class, Jack James, is Kentucky’s career leader in touchdown passes and passing attempts; he enters this weekend’s 5A state title game one reception and five yards shy of those career records. Former Troy quarterback Corey Robinson serves as the offensive coordinator for James, the Kentucky 5A Player of the Year.

Additionally, the Trojans signed On3’s top junior college linebacker in East Central Community College’s Donnie Smith, plus top 100 players in their position in AC Walters (RB), Make Green (Edge) and LaDarus Jemes (Edge), while Gavin Bowlin is rated as the number three offensive tackle in Alabama.

Paul Bowling (OL), Dariyonne Bryant (WR), Makek Green (BAN), Jack James (QB) and Donnie Smith (BAN) are all expected to enroll in school in January and go through spring practice with the Trojans.

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

Position

Offensive Line – 3

Safety – 3

Defensive Line – 2

Running Back – 2

Wide Receiver – 2

Bandit – 2

Quarterback – 1

State / Country

Alabama – 9

Georgia – 2

Florida – 1

Kentucky – 1

Ohio – 1

Mississippi – 1

High School / JUCO

High School – 13

JUCO – 2

 

JT Alvis, S, 6-1, 200, Helena, Ala. / Helena HS

 

High School: Helped lead Helena High School to back-to-back runner-up finishes in the region and berth in the Alabama 6A Playoffs … Recorded 59 tackles, four interceptions, a fumble recovery and 10 pass break ups his junior and senior season … Consensus three-star recruit by On3, 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … Ranked as the No. 43 player in Alabama by 247 Sports and No. 92 safety nationally by ESPN … Also plays basketball and baseball for the Huskies

 

Jatorian Blackmon, OL, 6-5, 330, LaGrange, Ga. / Troup County HS

 

High School: Three-star prospect by On3 and ESPN … Rated as the No. 63 interior lineman in the country by ESPN and top 140 player in Georgia … Named the MaxPreps Offensive Player of the Game in the Tigers’ victory over Spalding … Anchored an offensive line that earned Georgia High School Football Daily’s Offensive Line of the Week honors in September of 2023 after Troup County had three 100-yard rushers in a 56-7 victory over Whitewater … Georgia AAAA All-State Honorable Mention as a junior

Jon Bocchino, S, 6-0, 190, Niceville, Fla. / Niceville HS

 

High School: Led Niceville High School to Florida 5A Semifinals (play Friday following Signing Day) … Enters semifinals with 68 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and an interception … Also rushed for 207 yards and 14 touchdowns on 44 carries … Eagles currently sitting 12-1 on the season … Recorded 69 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, four sacks and six pass break ups as a junior; Eagles finished 9-3 and advanced to second round of the playoffs … Rated as a three-star by both On3 and 247 Sports … Also competes in track & field for Niceville – 100m, 200m, 400m, long jump, triple jump and javelin

 

Gavin Bowlin, OL, 6-6, 315, Leeds, Ala. / Leeds HS

 

High School: Helped lead Leeds to an 11-3 record and berth in the Alabama 5A semifinals as a senior … Key blocker for rushing attack that averaged 268.5 yards per game and rushed for 56 touchdowns; blocked for a 1,811-yard rusher and an 894-yard rusher … Rated as a three-star by On3, 247 Sports and Rivals … Top 50 player in the state by On3 and 247 and top 100 offensive tackles nationally by both … As a junior, Leeds finished 9-3 overall and advanced to the third round of the playoffs … Invited to the All-American Showcase prior to senior season … Earned Offensive Line MVP honors at You Are Athlete Birmingham Football Camp in summer of 2024 … Also plays basketball for the Green Wave

Paul Bowling, OL, 6-4, 300, Marietta, Ga. / McEachern HS

 

High School: Three-star prospect by On3 and 247 Sports … Rated as a top 120 player in Georgia and top 170 interior offensive lineman by 247 Sports … Helped lead McEachern to the Georgia AAAAAA State Playoffs as a junior and senior … Won a district title as a junior with the Indians

 

Dariyonne Bryant, WR, 6-2, 175, Portsmouth, Ohio / Highland CC / Portsmouth HS

 

Highland CC: Rated as the top JUCO receiver and No. 9 JUCO player overall by On3 … Caught 43 passes for 871 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore; 20.3 yards per catch and 79.2 yards per game … As a freshman, caught 19 passes for 284 yards and five touchdowns … Began his career at the University of Charleston, where he redshirted in 2022

 

Makel Green, BAN, 6-2, 255, Phenix City, Ala. / Central HS

 

High School: Helped lead Central High School to a 10-2 record and berth in the Alabama 7A State Championship Game as a senior (game played on Signing Day) … Consensus three-star (On3, 247, ESPN, Rivals) … Rated as the No. 31 player in the state by On3 and the No. 79 Edge rusher in the country by ESPN … Injured in week two of his senior season and returned for the championship game

 

Jah’Marren Jackson, WR, 6-5, 195, McKenzie, Ala. / McKenzie HS

 

High School: Rated as a three-star and No. 42 player in the state (No. 209 WR nationally) per On3 … As a senior, caught 41 passes for 789 yards and 10 touchdowns … Finished senior season with four 100-yard games, including a 4-catch, 3-touchdown, 126-yard performance against Kinston … Led the Tigers to a region title trip to the second round of the Alabama 1A Playoffs … Caught 50 passes for 782 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior in 2023 and rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns … Three-sport athlete at McKenzie, averaged 15 points and 14 rebounds as a junior in basketball and state finals qualifier in the long jump (finished seventh)

Jack James, QB, 6-0, 215, Paducah, Ky. / Paducah Tilghman HS

 

High School: Led Paducah Tilghman to the Kentucky 4A State Championship Game (game is Friday following Signing Day) … Named the Kentucky Football Coaches Association Player of the Year … The  Blue Tornados enter the title bout with a perfect 14-0 record … Threw five touchdown passes in the 2024 Kentucky 4A semifinals; the third set a new career record for touchdown passes in KHSAA history … Enters championship game with 13,642 yards, 180 passing touchdowns (state record), 1,543 attempts (state record) and 942 completions; needs one yard and five completions to set those state records … for 4,019 yards and 56 touchdowns in addition to rushing for six scores as a junior … Completed 68 percent of his passes, leading Paducah Tilgham to the state semifinals … As a sophomore, led Tigers to a state runner-up finish  … Shared QB duties in a COVID-shortened seven-game season in 2020, throwing for 807 yards and 10 TDs … Former Troy quarterback Corey Robinson (2009-13) was his offensive coordinator … Kentucky Prep Gridiron Big School Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 … Won the Kentucky 215-pound state wrestling championship in the spring of 2024 and finished third in 2023 behind two wrestlers who went on to compete collegiately … Consensus three-star (On3, 247, ESPN, Rivals) … Rated as the No. 15 player in Kentucky and the No. 84 quarterback nationally by the On3 Industry Ranking … ESPN’s No. 65 QB nationally and No. 6 player in Kentucky per Rivals

 

LaDarius Jemes, DE, 6-4, 225, Huntsville, Ala. / Huntsville HS

 

High School: Finished senior season with 40 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks at Huntsville High School … As a junior, recorded 66 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, 16 hurries, four pass break ups and three fumble recoveries … Three-star prospect by On3 and 247 Sports … Rated as a top 30 player in Alabama and top 100 edge rusher in the country by On3 … Also plays basketball for Huntsville

 

RJ Shamberger, DT, 6-4, 290, Monroeville, Ala. / Excel HS

 

High School: Helped lead the Panthers to the Alabama 3A Playoffs … Consensus three-star recruit by On3, 247 Sports and Rivals … Ranked as the No. 44 player in Alabama by the On3 Industry Ranking and top 140 defensive lineman in the country … Also plays basketball

Dakarai Shanks, RB, 5-10, 205, Hoover, Ala. / Spain Park HS

 

High School: Helped lead Spain Park to first undefeated regular season in school history in 2024 … As a senior, rushed for 1,248 yards and 11 touchdowns … Topped the 100-yard mark five times over the 12-game season … Rushed for 186 yards and a touchdown against McGill-Toolen in opening round of 2024 6A Playoffs; Jaguars’ first playoff victory since 2015 … Caught seven passes for 133 yards and two scores … Three-star per On3 and 247 … Rated as the No. 58 player in the state and top 135 running back nationally per On3

 

Donnie Smith, BAN, 6-4, 225, Greenville, Miss. / East Central CC / St. Joseph HS

 

East Central CC: Ranted as the No. 1 junior college linebacker in the country by On3 and the No. 17 JUCO player overall … Finished his sophomore season with 95 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five pass break ups … As a freshman, added 25 tackles, four sacks, seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a pass break up … Named to the All-MACCC First Team following his sophomore season … Helped lead the Warriors to an 8-3 record and berth in the MACCC Championship Game

 

High School: Recorded 46 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior at St. Joseph High School … Helped lead the Fighting Irish to a MAIS 4A State Championship, an 11-1 record and district title as a senior … Finished his career with 120 total tackles, 12 sacks and 19 tackles for loss … Also rushed for 366 yards and six touchdowns in his career … St. Joseph’s finished 9-2 and reached the state semifinals his junior year … Played basketball for the Fighting Irish

 

Antonious Steele, S, 6-1, 190, Centreville, Ala. / Bibb County HS

 

High School: Selected to play in the AHSAA All-Star Game … Recorded 32 receptions for 666 yards and 10 touchdowns, while rushing for a score … Defensively, recorded 110 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and five interceptions … Named first team all-region and all-area … Rated as a three-star by On3 and 247 Sports … As a junior, helped lead Choctaws to a region title and 10-2 season … Ranked as a top 120 safety nationally by On3 and 247 Sports and a top 40 player in Alabama by both … Also played basketball and baseball for Bibb County

 

AC Walters, 5-10, 200, RB, Montgomery, Ala. / Alabama Christian Academy

 

High School: High School: Rushed for 601 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior at Alabama Christian Academy … Added 1,023 receiving yards and 11 touchdown receptions, while completing 14-of-23 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns … Dangerous in the return game, totaling 333 kickoff return yards … Rated as the No. 48 player in the state of Alabama by On3 and a top 90 running back in the country … Consensus three-star recruit (On3, 247, ESPN)

(Information from Troy University)