Buffalo Bills select Central Florida DT Troup with 41st pick in NFL draft

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Bills select UCF DT Troup with 41st pick

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Torell Troup didn’t start playing football until his first year of high school. Now the Central Florida defensive tackle has a chance to be part of a revamped Buffalo Bills defense.

The run-stuffing three-year starter was selected in the second round, 41st overall, by the Bills on Friday.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 314 pounds, Troup played a key role in a Golden Knights defense that finished first in Conference USA and fourth in the nation by allowing 82.77 yards rushing last season. He finished with 35 tackles and two sacks in 13 games as a senior last season.

The Bills had needs along their defensive line as the team is switching to a 3-4 scheme. With Marcus Stroud and Dwan Edwards expected to switch to defensive end, Kyle Williams was considered the team’s only tackle.

Though Troup played in a 4-3 system at Central Florida, he’s ready to make the switch in Buffalo.

“I have no problem with that at all,” Troup said. “I’m not a selfish player. I’m going to do all the things they ask me to do.”

Buddy Nix’s first draft as Bills GM is starting to fill a football truism about the importance of running and stopping the run.

Troup was selected a day after the Bills drafted dynamic Clemson running back C.J. Spiller ninth overall.

Barring a trade, the Bills have seven picks left in the draft, starting with ninth pick (72nd overall) in the third round.

Troup has proven to be a quick bloomer. He was a three-time letter-winner at Salem High School in Conyers, Ga., and earned All-State honors as a junior and senior.

As a true freshman, Troup had three starts in nine games, before taking over as a full-time starter in his sophomore season. He was credited with 24 tackles for a loss, six sacks and seven pressures in 50 games, including 39 starts.

Troup played under the last name Johnson through 2007 before changing his name to Troup for family reasons.