NFL.com Coverage | NFL Network Coverage
NEW ORLEANS – Sun Belt Conference football is slated to have a strong showing at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine scheduled Feb. 24-March 1 in Indianapolis with seven former standouts among the 337 prospects invited to attend the annual event.
NFL Network is providing exclusive and up-close coverage of the on-field workouts from Feb. 27-March 1.
Already looking forward to next season,
ESPN.com mentioned Louisiana rising senior running back Eliah Mitchell as among the list of players who could stand out at the 2021 NFL Combine.
Follow #SunBeltFB online at
SunBeltSports.org on social media via
Twitter,
Facebook and
Instagram.
SUN BELT FOOTBALL PARTICIPANTS AT THE 2020 NFL SCOUTING COMBINE
Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern (RSr., PK, Irmo, S.C.)
Georgia Southern redshirt senior Tyler Bass closed his career with a second-team All-Sun Belt selection after handling all the field goals, PATs and kickoffs in all 13 games for the Eagles. He connected on single-season school-record 20 field goals on 28 attempts and made all 36 of his PAT attempts. Bass led the team with 96 points, good for fourth in the Sun Belt among placekickers. He also had 55 touchbacks on 72 kickoffs. He knocked home two field goals and four extra points for the North team in the Reese's Senior Bowl. For his career, Bass' 54 field goals made rank fourth in Sun Belt history and his .794 field goal percentage (54 of 68) ranks seventh in conference history.
Omar Bayless, Arkansas State (RSr., WR, Laurel, Miss.)
Arkansas State redshirt senior wide receiver Omar Bayless received four All-America selections – second team by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Sporting News, third team by the Associated Press, fourth team by Phil Steele and honorable mention by Pro Football Focus – in addition to being named Sun Belt Player of the Year and first-team All-Sun Belt. He is the first player in school history to be named a Walter Camp All-America selection and the 25th player in school history and first since 1987 to be tabbed All-America by the Associated Press. Along with Florida International's T.Y. Hilton, he is the only other wide receiver to ever earn Sun Belt Player of the Year honors. Bayless finished ranked among the best receivers in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision – first in receiving yards per game (127.2), second in receiving yards (1,653), 100-yard receiving games (8) and receiving touchdowns (17), 12th in receptions per game (7.2) and 19th in all-purpose yards per game (127.15). In Arkansas State's Camellia Bowl win over Florida International, he caught nine passes for 180 yards and one touchdown. He also had a touchdown reception for the American team in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. For his career, Bayless' 27 touchdown receptions rank second in Sun Belt history. He has already
received praise for his skills on NFL.com.
Raymond Calais, Louisiana (Sr., RB, Breaux Bridge, La.)
Louisiana senior running back Raymond Calais was a key contributor in the Ragin' Cajuns' three-headed ground attack that shattered the school's single-season record with 42 rushing touchdowns. The third-team All-Sun Belt selection was responsible for six of those touchdowns, rushing for 886 yards on 117 carries. He also added 10 receptions for 67 yards and one receiving touchdown. On special teams, he was Louisiana's top kickoff returner averaging 28.5 yards per return. Calais showed off his speed in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl when he took the opening kickoff of the second half 100 yards for a touchdown. He also led the American team in rushing, toting the ball four times for 25 yards.
Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State (Sr., LB, Thomasville, N.C.)
Appalachian State senior linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither completed his career earning fourth-team All-America recognition from Phil Steele to go along with Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Sun Belt honors. Davis-Gaither compiled 104 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, eight pass breakups, six quarterback hurries in final season in Boone. In Appalachian State's upset at North Carolina, he grabbed an interception and got his hand on the game-ending block of the Tar Heels' field attempt that would have sent the game into overtime. His eight pass breakups rank fourth in the FBS among non-defensive backs. Davis-Gaither enjoyed a strong showing at the Reese's Senior Bowl, highlighted throughout the week by
NFL.com and
The Draft Network.
Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State (Jr., RB, Oak Hill, Fla.)
Appalachian State junior running back Darrynton Evans closed his decorated career with a numerous accolades, including Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Sun Belt honors. Evans led draft-eligible running backs in 2019 with four rushing touchdowns of at least 50 yards, was third with 43 runs of at least 10 yards and ranked second with a 136.8 passer rating when targeted by a throw. Evans amassed 2,884 career rushing yards, which ranks ninth in school history, despite being the Mountaineers' primary running back for just 23 games. The two-time Sun Belt Championship Game and 2019 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Most Valuable Player finished both the 2018 and 2019 seasons as the Sun Belt's rushing champion with single-year totals of 1,187 and 1,480 rushing yards, respectively. A dangerous kickoff returner with three returns for touchdowns among his 34 career touchdowns, he amassed 4,642 career all-purpose yards. Evans has
become the talk of the Combine, noted as the "best-kept secret" of this year's running back class.
Robert Hunt, Louisiana (RSr., OL, Burkeville, Texas)
Louisiana redshirt senior offensive lineman Robert Hunt capped his final season for the Ragin' Cajuns with a first-team All-Sun Belt selection after once again anchoring an offensive line that paved the way to one of the best offensive seasons in school history. Louisiana was among the FBS leaders ranking sixth in rushing offense (257.4) and 10th in scoring offense (37.9). Hunt was a stalwart for the Cajuns with three years of starting experience, including the last two seasons at right tackle. He played and started in all 14 games in 2019. Hunt received an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl but did not participate. He was recognized as a midseason second-team All-America selection by Pro Football Focus.
Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern (Sr., DB, College Park, Ga.)
Georgia Southern senior defensive back Kindle Vildor earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors to cap off his career in Statesboro. Vildor played and started in 11 games, seeing action on 667 plays (621 defensive snaps). He tallied 27 tackles, including 3.0 for loss, to go along with two interceptions and six pass breakups. The 2019 Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year had two tackles, two pass breakups and an interception against Liberty in the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl. He grabbed an interception for the South team in the Reese's Senior Bowl.