THE BOARD: Troy Football

The number

86 — That's the 247 rating on Ricardo Parker, a 3.5-star defensive tackle from Prattville with 20 offers including Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Arkansas and Stanford. Parker and D'ante Seals (Edge, Hewitt-Trussville, 19 offers including Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, Ole Miss and South Carolina) give Troy two headliners with Power 4 interest who chose the Trojans.

The fit

June changed everything. The Trojans entered the month with three commits and added nine more. Parker and Seals anchor the defensive front. Cord Pigg (IOL, 6-3, 280, Mars Hill Bible, Florence, Ala., 20 offers), Logan Murray (IOL, 6-4, 305, Davidson Academy, Tenn., 11 offers) and Christian Rozier (IOL, 6-4, 315, West Laurens, Ga.) address the offensive line. Makyree Cross (QB, 6-2, 165, Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga., 85 rating, 9 offers including Auburn) gives the class its quarterback.

The Alabama pipeline is the foundation. Parker (Prattville), Seals (Hewitt-Trussville), Pigg (Florence), Conner Williams (Thompson), Kaydence Houston (Muscle Shoals) and Ty Mabrey (UMS-Wright, Mobile) are all in-state. Troy is recruiting its geography.

The long-range offers are notable: Donovan Stevenson (WR, 6-1, 190, Madison Academy) is a 2030 prospect. Troy is identifying talent early and planting flags.

The commits

Jamarion Shephard — LB, 6-2, 225, Miller County HS, Colquitt, Ga. Committed May 27.

Elijah Oden — LB, 6-4, 210, Opelika HS, Opelika, Ala. Committed May 28.

Kayin Martin — SKL, 5-11, 160, Blountstown HS, Blountstown, Fla. Committed June 10.

Ty Mabrey — TE, 6-6, 205, UMS-Wright, Mobile, Ala. Committed June 18. Also held offers from Georgia State, South Alabama, MTSU, West Florida, UNC.

Makyree Cross — QB, 6-2, 165, Collins Hill HS, Suwanee, Ga. Committed June 18. 247 rating: 85. Offers: 9 including Auburn. Elite 11 New Orleans camp participant.

Cord Pigg — IOL, 6-3, 280, Mars Hill Bible, Florence, Ala. Committed June 19. Offers: 20.

Conner Williams — CB, 6-3, 185, Thompson HS, Ala. Committed June 19.

D'ante Seals — DE, 6-3, 260, Hewitt-Trussville HS, Trussville, Ala. Committed June 21. Offers: 19 including Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, Ole Miss, South Carolina. Previously committed to Georgia Southern.

Dallas Williams — SAF, 6-1, 165, Center Hill HS, Olive Branch, Miss. Committed June 19. Offers: 13.

Ricardo Parker — DT, 6-3, 280, Prattville HS, Prattville, Ala. Committed June 22. 247 rating: 86. Offers: 20 including Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Arkansas, Stanford, UNC. Highest-rated commit in the class.

Logan Murray — IOL, 6-4, 305, Davidson Academy, Tenn. Offers: 11.

Christian Rozier — IOL, 6-4, 315, West Laurens HS, Ga. Offers: 3.

Kaydence Houston — DT, 6-4, 305, Muscle Shoals HS, Ala. Offers: 8.

The visits

The targets

2027: Ty Mabrey (WR/TE, 6-6, 208, UMS-Wright — also offered by South Alabama), Jakob Madden (PK, Lowndes HS — 5-star, No. 5 nationally per Kohl's — committed to Air Force)

2028: DJ White (WR, 5-6, 155, Thomas County Central HS), Langston Jones (CB, 5-11, 162, Kell HS, Ga.), Braylon Peacock (S, 5-10, 160, Dillard HS), Steven "Bean" Wright (DB, 5-11, 165, Carver HS, Columbus, Ga.), Treiy Crenshaw (WR/DB, 6-3, 187, South Walton HS)

2029: Jdeion Jackson (TE/DT, 6-2, 329), Xzavier Boone (WR/ATH, 5-11, 150, Calera HS), Dotarius Washington (ATH, BTW, Tuskegee, Ala.), Mo Stephens (WR/DB, 5-10, 165, Boyd Buchanan School, Chattanooga, Tenn. — 4.56 laser 40)

2030: Donovan Stevenson (WR/NB, 6-1, 190, Madison Academy)

JUCO: Jalyas "JDUB" Winters (DB, 6-1, 200, East Central CC, Miss. — also offered by South Alabama)

The class addressed its biggest needs in June. Parker and Seals anchor the defensive front. Cross gives the staff its quarterback. Three IOL commits (Pigg, Murray, Rozier) and two DTs (Parker, Houston) build the trenches. Mabrey adds a 6-6 receiving target.