BRYNDEN TRAWICK The Trojans’ safety with strong Troy ties is making an impact on the school he loves, but it hasn’t been an easy road. - by Ed Bailey -
Safeties are usually the last line of defense, but in the case of Trojan star Brynden Trawick, he’s at the forefront of a revitalized, aggressive and more effective defense. The Marietta, Ga. native makes stonewalling the opposition look easy, but his journey to Troy has been anything but. Despite going through what some would term as challenges, Trawick sees these experiences as a part of life, and he carries this battle-hardened mindset onto the gridiron with him. This, along with what he termed as a nose for making the play, is what helps him be successful. “I’m a gamer,” he said. “I have that knack for the ball. I have a certain instinct that just puts me around the ball to make the tackle.” And he seems to do it better than most, leading the Sun Belt conference in total tackles last year with 123. Trawick, despite finding himself in the thick of it more often than not, says that his effectiveness is fueled by a relaxed mindset centered on one thing. “The mindset I have every snap is, they’re not going to score. But when I’m on the field, I really have a clear head,” Trawick said. This doesn’t stop him from invading the minds of opponents. Originally committing to play for Michigan State, the 6-foot-2, 221 pound, softspoken Trawick is built like a Spartan. Hits like one, too, making a lot of noise every Saturday as he punishes ball-carriers and serves as an experienced, intimidating rover who ransacks the plans of opposing offenses. Still, he knows he can be more than just the last guy you want to see coming across the middle.
Northeast Mississippi Community College for a year before coming to Troy. That year ended up being a culture shock for Trawick, and he learned how he was in a different league from his peers. He also gained a new outlook on life, as the experience not only helped on the field but it made him a better, stronger man. “At JUCO you have people coming from various surroundings, just like you do at Troy, but the people on my JUCO team had different mindsets and different focuses,” he said. “JUCO is not for everybody. It was something I had to go through to learn, so I could grow as a person. I had to prove to myself that I could go through this and make it. I think I’ve benefitted from it.” From there, his journey took him to Troy. It was a decision that, in a way, was already in his blood. His father, George, has ties to the university beyond being an alumnus. He coached DeVry University when Troy set the NCAA record for most points in a college basketball game in 1992. Ultimately, Trawick’s decision came down to Troy’s tradition and wanting to be closer to his comfort zone. Additionally, he looked for a place that would let him remain focused during the transition from, in college football terms, top of the mountain, to bottom of the barrel and back to the summit.
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Brynden Trawick Sr. • DB • Marietta, Ga.
“A lot of great defensive players came out of Troy and that’s what opened my eyes to Troy when I was being recruited. Coming from Michigan, I wanted to be closer to home so my parents could come to the game,” he said.
The enforcer of the Cardinal Coalition wants to be an all-around defender, having made a personal goal this year of 10 interceptions. Trawick says that it should come with repetition and understanding that a lot of it is being in the right place at the right time. “I’m pretty much just working at it everyday in practice and trying to get better at it,” he said. “Coach Rowell does a good job coaching us up, showing us the proper technique to play when we’re in different coverages.” While a lot of what Trawick does every weekend involves being in the right place at the right time, there was a point in time where he was out of sorts. East Lansing turned out not to be the best choice for Trawick, who transferred to 8
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Brynden Trawick (10) grabs his first career interception in Troy’s most recent game, a 31-10 win at South Alabama.