Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Troy University has itself a new offensive lineman courtesy of Troup County High School. Jatorian Blackmon made it official on the opening day of the early signing period on Wednesday in front of friends and family.

“It means a lot to see everybody here and I feel really good about my decision,” Blackmon said. “I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Blackmon has been a dominant force in the trenches for Troup. He helped lead the team to the semifinals as a sophomore and only continues to progress and get better from there.

“I loved every minute of it, getting to play in the semifinals, getting to win the region, I loved it,” Blackmon said, beaming with excitement.

“When you ask Jarorian these questions about Troup and you can see his face light up and that just does my heart well,” Troup coach Tanner Glisson said. “It makes you think you are doing something right.”

Blackmon helped pave the way for All-State players like Taeo Todd (Georgia Southern) and Noah Dixon (Clemson) and their success would have been impossible without guys like Blackmon opening up rushing lanes for them. 

The Troup senior had his options coming out of high school, but Troy made an instant impact on him in the recruiting process.

“The way the coaches came at me it made me feel like it was an easy decision,” Blackmon said. “On my first official visit, I felt a family vibe there and I knew it was what I was looking for.”

Blackmon will not have to travel far to find his college home. One of the most appealing aspects of joining the Troy football program was its proximity to Troup County, allowing his friends and family to come to see him play on Saturdays starting next fall.

“It means a lot to me, my mom has been to every single game she could make it to and now she will get to come to some down there,” Blackmon said.

The Trojans are coming off a 4-8 season under first-year head coach Gerard Parker, but don’t expect the program to be down for long. Troy went 23-5 in the two years prior, including being ranked no. 24 in the final CFB Poll in 2022. The team has played in a bowl game in five of the last nine seasons.