NEW ORLEANS – Twenty-six Sun Belt alumni competed in Week 2 of the 2021 National Football League (NFL) season, with 12 earning starts for their respective teams.
The Arkansas State alumni duo of New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis and Washington Football Team running back J.D. McKissic headlined the Sun Belt performances in Week 2 play. Davis registered 12 tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass defended, while McKissic found the end zone for the third touchdown of his professional career. The running back had 10 yards on four rushing attempts and 83 yards on five catches.
Louisiana product Elijah Mitchell followed up his standout debut with 42 yards on 17 rushes and 11 yards on two receptions for the San Francisco 49ers.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon out of Georgia Southern (1 Reception, 14 Yards), Miami Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson out of Georgia State (4 Receptions, 20 Yards) and Seattle Seahawks tight end Gerald Everett out of South Alabama (1 Reception, 3 Yards) also contributed offensively.
On the defensive side of the ball, 10 Sun Belt alumni combined for 30 tackles, two passes defended, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry. Georgia Southern alum Kindle Vildor—a defensive back for the Chicago Bears—and Louisiana product Tracy Walker III—a safety for the Detroit Lions—turned in four tackle efforts.
Akeem Davis-Gaither (App State, Cincinnati Bengals), Josh Norman (Coastal Carolina, San Francisco 49ers), Chandon Sullivan (Georgia State, Green Bay Packers), Christian Ringo (Louisiana, New Orleans Saints), David Mayo (Texas State, Washington Football Team), Mario Addison (Troy, Buffalo Bills) and Steve McLendon (Troy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) added to the Sun Belt tackle total.
App State alumnus punter Sam Martin accumulated 180 yards on four punts for the Denver Broncos. Former Georgia Southern kickers Tyler Bass and Younghoe Koe were 7-for-7 on extra points and 1-for-2 on field goals. Bass missed a 53-yard attempt for the Buffalo Bills, while Koe converted on a 36-yard field goal for the Atlanta Falcons.
Kendall Lamm (App State, Tennessee Titans), Tarron Jackson (Coastal Carolina, Philadelphia Eagles), Matt Breida (Georgia Southern, Buffalo Bills), Raymond Johnson III (Georgia Southern, New York Giants), Penny Hart (Georgia State, Seattle Seahawks), Kevin Dotson (Louisiana, Pittsburgh Steelers), Robert Hunt (Louisiana, Miami Dolphins) and Aaron Brewer (Texas State, Tennessee Titans) also saw game action in Week 2.
Forty-nine Sun Belt alumni—representing all 10 football programs—earned NFL roster spots entering the 2021 season, with 30 on active rosters, 14 on 16-man practice squads and three on injured reserve lists during Week 2.
Sun Belt football alumni dot 24-of-32 NFL rosters.
App State
* Ronald Blair – DL, New York Jets
Akeem Davis-Gaither – LB, Cincinnati Bengals (1 G, 2 Tackles)
^ Darrynton Evans – RB, Tennessee Titans
Colby Gossett – OL, Atlanta Falcons (N/A)
Shemar Jean-Charles – DB, Green Bay Packers (N/A)
Kendall Lamm – OL, Tennessee Titans (1 G)
Sam Martin – P, Denver Broncos (1 G, 1 GS, 4 Punts, 180 Yards)
* Ryan Neuzil – OL, Atlanta Falcons
* Josh Thomas – S, Buffalo Bills
Arkansas State
Demario Davis – LB, New Orleans Saints (1 G, 1 GS, 12 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Pass Defended)
* Aaron Donkor – LB, Seattle Seahawks
J.D. McKissic – RB, Washington Football Team (1 G, 4 Rushes, 10 Yards, 1 TD, 5 Receptions, 83 Yards)
* Forrest Merrill – DL, Los Angeles Chargers
* Kirk Merritt – WR, Miami Dolphins
Coastal Carolina
* Anthony Chesley – DB, Indianapolis Colts
Tarron Jackson – DL, Philadelphia Eagles (1 G)
Josh Norman – DB, San Francisco 49ers (1 G, 1 GS, 2 Tackles)
Georgia Southern
Tyler Bass – K, Buffalo Bills (1 G, 1 GS, 0-for-1 FG, 5-for-5 XP)
Matt Breida – RB, Buffalo Bills (1 G)
Raymond Johnson III – DL, New York Giants (1 G)
Younghoe Koo – K, Atlanta Falcons (1 G, 1 GS, 1-for-1 FG, 2-for-2 XP)
Jerick McKinnon – RB, Kansas City Chiefs (1 G, 1 Reception, 14 Yards)
Kindle Vildor – DB, Chicago Bears (1 G, 1 GS, 4 Tackles, 1 Pass Defended)
Georgia State
Penny Hart – WR, Seattle Seahawks (1 G)
^ Wil Lutz – K, New Orleans Saints
Chandon Sullivan – DB, Green Bay Packers (1 G, 1 Tackle)
Albert Wilson – WR, Miami Dolphins (1 G, 4 Receptions, 20 Yards)
Louisiana
* Ja’Marcus Bradley – WR, Cleveland Browns
Kevin Dotson – OL, Pittsburgh Steelers (1 G, 1 GS)
* Justin Hamilton – DL, Dallas Cowboys
Robert Hunt – OL, Miami Dolphins (1 G, 1 GS)
* Michael Jacquet – DB, Philadelphia Eagles
^ Elijah McGuire – RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Elijah Mitchell – RB, San Francisco 49ers (1 G, 1 GS, 17 Rushes, 42 Yards, 2 Receptions, 11 Yards)
Trey Ragas – RB, Las Vegas Raiders (N/A)
* Nick Ralston – FB, Dallas Cowboys
Christian Ringo – DL, New Orleans Saints (1 G, 1 GS, 2 Tackles)
Tracy Walker III – S, Detroit Lions (1 G, 1 GS, 4 Tackles)
ULM
* Josh Johnson – RB, Seattle Seahawks
South Alabama
* Kawaan Baker – WR, New Orleans Saints
Gerald Everett – TE, Seattle Seahawks (1 G, 1 GS, 1 Reception, 3 Yards)
* Jeremy Reaves – DB, Washington Football Team
Texas State
Aaron Brewer – OL, Tennessee Titans (1 G)
David Mayo – LB, Washington Football Team (1 G, 1 Tackle)
Ty Nsekhe – OL, Dallas Cowboys (N/A)
Troy
Mario Addison – DL, Buffalo Bills (1 G, 1 Tackle, 1 QB Hurry)
Steve McLendon – DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 G, 1 Tackle)
* Practice Squad
^ Injured Reserve