A day after formally introducing new head football coach Gerad Parker, Troy added 14 players on the first day of the early signing period for the Class of 2024.

The Trojans, who have won the Sun Belt Conference championship each of the last two seasons, added 10 high school players and four junior-college transfers. Troy is expected to add a few more signees in the coming days.

“What a testament to the tradition and strength of the Troy Football brand that we were able to sign 14 young men today to be part of this program,” Parker said. “Each of these guys believes in Troy and the foundation that our program is built upon.

“It’s been a whirlwind couple of days, but it was a priority for me to speak to all the young men who were committed to this program to share our vision for the future of Troy Football. I want to thank the coaches and staff who spent countless hours building strong relationships with each of these players and their families.”

The bulk of the signing class was compiled by former head coach Jon Sumrall, who left to take the Tulane job on Dec. 8. Parker, Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator, was hired as Sumrall’s replacement on Monday.

Troy added two players from the Wiregrass area — Charles Henderson wide receiver Jywon Bond and Enterprise “athlete” Keion Dunlap — and two from the Montgomery area — Catholic quarterback Caleb McCreary and Booker T. Washington safety Elijah Hall. From Coastal Alabama come five players: Baker wide receiver Kevin Beckham, UMS-Wright defensive back Joe Lott, Baldwin County wide receiver Ky McNulty, Theodore defensive tackle Kevin Norwood and McGill-Toolen defensive back Shemar Welch.

Out of the junior-college ranks, Troy signed Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College wide receiver Zeriah Beason, Mississippi Gulf Coast offensive lineman Zerian Hudson and the Iowa Western duo of offensive lineman Zak Bowden and tight end Trae Swartz. The other high school signee is defensive back Rondell Carter of Julius Chambers High School in Charlotte, N.C.

“I’m excited about the guys we added to the program today, and it is just the beginning,” Parker said. “We’re going to use every available resource we have to continue to reload our roster with high-quality young men both on and off the field.”

Troy football December signees for 2024 class

Zeriah Beason, WR, 6-0, 198, Dallas, Texas/Hutchinson CC

Kevin Beckham, WR, 5-11, 180, Mobile, Ala./Baker HS

Zak Bowden, OL, 6-4, 275, Orland Park, Ill./Iowa Western CC

Jywon Boyd, WR, 6-0, 180, Troy, Ala./Charles Henderson HS

Rondell Carter, DB, 6-1, 180, Charlotte, N.C./Julius Chambers HS

Keion Dunlap, ATH, 6-1, 205, Enterprise, Ala./Enterprise HS

Elijah Hall, SAF, 5-10, 175, Tuskegee, Ala./Booker T. Washington HS

Zerian Hudson, OL, 6-3, 315, Brookhaven, Miss./Mississippi Gulf Coast CC

Joe Lott, DB, 6-3, 180, Mobile, Ala./UMS-Wright Preparatory School

Caleb McCreary, QB, 5-11, 180, Wetumpka, Ala./Montgomery Catholic HS

Ky McNulty, WR, 6-4, 180, Bay Minette, Ala./Baldwin County HS

Kevin Norwood, DL, 6-2, 305, Theodore, Ala. /Theodore HS

Trae Swartz, TE, 6-5, 250, Ottumwa, Iowa/Iowa Western CC

Shemar Welch, DB, 6-1, 170, Mobile, Ala./McGill-Toolen HS