Northview’s B.J. Chitty among Troy signees

TROY – Northview standout B.J. Chitty finally felt at ease on Wednesday.

The former Cougar quarterback, who will play wide receiver for Troy, finally got to make official his desire to sign with the Trojans, who offered him a scholarship last summer and took his verbal commitment in November. Chitty was one of 25 players to sign with Troy on Wednesday.

“I’m just relieved,” the 6-foot-3 Chitty said. “The people around me really took me in on my official visit and showed me everything I needed to know and we just kicked it from there.”

Chitty played quarterback for most of his time at Northview, but will be asked to make the switch to receiver for the Trojans, a spread offense that normally lines up four receivers on every down.

“I haven’t played there but three games my whole life, but I think it wouldn’t be a hard transfer,” Chitty said. “I think it’s going to be a lot easier than quarterback.”

Head coach Larry Blakeney and offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield both feel that Chitty can play early.

“He’s a gifted guy,” Blakeney said. “I wouldn’t classify him as a Jerrel Jernigan, but he can do a lot of things. He can catch the ball, throw the ball and line up and take a direct snap. It’s big to sign a kid from Dothan because we have a lot of fans there. BJ is certainly a guy we’re excited about.”

Troy coaches hit the Wiregrass hard this year, taking Chitty from Dothan and three players from Marianna – offensive lineman Dalton Bennett, defensive end Tommy Stephens and defensive back Fidel Montgomery.

“They’re all sharp kids and happy kids and all excited to be at Troy,” Blakeney said. “Fidel Montgomery’s a quality player and they’re all quality players. They had more fun on their official visits than anybody along with the linebacker (Brach) Bessant from Lake City.”

The 25 who signed Wednesday join four midyear signees – quarterback Greg Jenkins, wideout Brett Moncrief, offensive lineman Jarred Fleming and cornerback Jimmie Anderson as well as three grayshirts – wideouts Sam Haskins and Jamel Johnson and defensive back Bradley Wallace.

Edenfield, who was officially named Troy’s offensive coordinator Tuesday, was thrilled with the additions of skill players Chitty, Khary Franklin (Valdosta, Ga.) and Corey Shelton (Prattville).

Franklin (5-foot-7) and Shelton (5-foot-5) are the short, speedy guys who can thrive at the H-receiver spot.

“That’s a spot we needed some guys to come in that we could train,” Edenfield said. “We’re good at that position with Jerrel and Jason Bruce as a couple of seniors, but we wanted someone young at that position and that was a key to our signing class.”

Troy also signed quarterback Luke Barnes of Fort Walton Beach, who broke school passing yardage (5,801) and touchdown (51) records set by former Florida great Danny Wuerffel. Junior college offensive linemen DeMarkus Underwood and Stoney Jackson are expected to contend for playing time.

The Trojans signed eight defensive backs, hoping to shore up depth in the secondary after the Trojans lost two starters from a position that wasn’t deep to begin with. Three-star recruit Dionte Ponder was the biggest get on Signing Day, as the Ocala, Fla., native picked Troy over BCS programs Cincinnati and Rutgers.

Camren Hudson is another 3-star defensive back recruit from Tallahassee, Fla. Troy went into the Florida panhandle to sign several defensive backs, including Hudson, Montgomery, Terrance Evans of Bristol, Joe Lofton of Fort Walton Beach, Ethan Daivs of Panama City and Chris Pickett of Crestview.

LaDarrius Madden, a junior college defensive back, signed Wednesday as well. J.R. Robertson of Cullman and Adrian Mack of Waycross, Ga., are two defensive ends who were highly regarded.

The only linebacker signed was Lake City’s Brach Bessant.

Madden, a safety, and Anderson, a cornerback who signed in January, both have chances to play right away. Anderson can compete in spring practice.

“(Anderson is) going to be a guy that will have to help us next year but I think he can and he’ll be ready,” defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell said. “He reminds me physically a lot of Elbert Mack from a couple of years ago – frail frame, but very explosive and a very heady football player. I’m thinking some big things for him.”