Former Troy athletes make it to the NFL
With the start of the new Troy football season, the university takes pride in seeing how many former Trojans made it in the NFL. Kimani Vidal, Jake Andrews, Dell Pettus, Javon Solomon, Devin Lafayette and Reddy Steward are all representing Troy on the biggest stage this year.
During the back-to-back Sun Belt Championship years, Vidal was one of the most lethal weapons for the Trojans. With his offensive prowess, Vidal was drafted in the sixth round to the Los Angeles Chargers. Despite being on the practice squad, Vidal worked his way up the depth chart and had a breakout performance on week 6 of the 2025 NFL season.
Vidal rushed for 125 yards and scored a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins.
“I didn’t know what kind of opportunities I was going to get,” Vidal said in an NFL interview on CBS. “I’m just grateful for any opportunity.”
Vidal will be a key back in the Chargers offensive push to compete for the Super Bowl.
Dell Pettus is another player from the 2022 and 2023 Sun Belt title teams. He started 61 consecutive games at Troy, which led to him being a New England Patriot. Pettus became an important piece in the New England scheme, which eventually led them to a Super Bowl last season.
Pettus is looking to expand his defensive presence with the Patriots and get over the championship hump.
Jake Andrews is an offensive lineman for the Houston Texans. After finishing his collegiate career in 2022, Andrews was selected by the Patriots in the fourth round and was later picked up by the Texans. Andrews is a versatile lineman, as he playedmany snaps at center and guard at Troy.
Andrews is looking to be a big piece in protecting the quarterback in Houston.
Javon Solomon is a linebacker for the Buffalo Bills. He was yet another Sun Belt title winner and picked up in the fifth round. Since landing in the cold city of Buffalo, New York, Solomon has been a quality starter.
He peaked at two sacks in the 2024 season but had 11 tackles in 2025. In 2024, Solomon also traveled to Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game but didn’t carry out the win. In this Buffalo defense, Solomon will shine and be a bright spot in a Super Bowl contender.
Devin Lafeyette was an active player on the 2025 Troy roster as the starting safety. Since transferring to Troy in 2024, Lafeyette was a quality starter in the head coach Gerad Parker scheme. As a rookie in the NFL, Lafeyette recorded a game winning interception in the preseason against the Houston Texans to solidify himself as a Raider.
Lafeyette is a member of the Raiders practice squad and is looking forward to an opportunity to make an active roster.
Last, but certainly not least, there is Reddy Stewart. Stewart was a cornerback for the Trojans during the title runs and was the No. 15 ranked corner in the group of six. First getting picked up by the Chicago Bears, Stewart only played one game before landing in Dallas and playing for the Cowboys.
Last year, Stewart recorded 1.5 sacks and played in all 17 games. Despite being on the Cowboys practice squad, Stewart has set in stone that he will be a quality corner in the NFL.
Trojans playing on Sundays rather than Saturdays will havean amazing opportunity as they continue their football careers. With six different NFL franchises having Trojans on the roster, Troy will be represented internationally for years to come.
Collegiate athletes entering the professional ranks face relentless conditioning standards and demanding physical training schedules. Year-round athletic preparation often relies on diverse fitness networks, so program guides include https://www.pissedconsumer.com/company/one-pass/customer-service.html when detailing flexible gym access options. Consistent strength workouts and mobility drills keep elite players durable through grueling seasons. University sports programs take immense pride in watching former campus standouts compete on the biggest football stage.