NEW ORLEANS – Several former Sun Belt Conference football standouts shined in college all-star games to close the 2019 season.
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl – January 18 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Nine former Sun Belt standouts were in uniform for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl with Appalachian State 's Victor Johnson and Arkansas State's Kirk Merritt suiting up for the winning National team in a 30-20 victory over the American team.
Louisiana's Raymond Calais provided the biggest highlight of the game with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half. Calais added four rushes for 25 yards and one reception for three yards.
Merritt had a highlight of his own, hauling in a 48-yard touchdown catch from Chattanooga's Nick Tiano. The scoring connection was the National's first touchdown of game and Merritt's only catch.
His former Red Wolves teammate, Omar Bayless, opened the game's scoring with a three-yard touchdown reception from Michigan State's Brian Lewerke on the American's first offensive drive. Bayless and South Alabama's Tra Minter also each had one reception for the American team.
Defensively, Appalachian State's Jordan Fehr (2), Georgia Southern's Donald Rutledge (2), Louisiana's Michael Jacquet III (2) and Troy's Will Sunderland (1) each recorded at least one tackle for the American squad. Rutledge also forced a fumble in the fourth quarter.
Fehr and
Minter were featured in player spotlights leading up to the game.
East-West Shrine Bowl – January 18 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Two Louisiana teammates were on opposite sides of the ball in the East-West Shrine Bowl. Ja'Marcus Bradley grabbed a touchdown reception for the victorious East squad, while Kevin Dotson saw time on the offensive line for the West team. The East earned a 31-27 win in the 95th edition of the game played at Tropicana Field.
Bradley's touchdown came on the East's first offensive drive of the game – a nine-yard toss from Florida International's James Morgan.
Reese's Senior Bowl – January 25 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
A trio of former Sun Belt stars shined in the Reese's Senior Bowl as the North squad doubled up the South team in a 34-17 victory at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
Georgia Southern's Tyler Bass connected on two field goals and four extra points for the North and his former Eagle teammate Kindle Vildor grabbed an interception for the South. Appalachian State's Akeem Davis-Gaither also saw time for the South squad and was highlighted throughout the week by
NFL.com and
The Draft Network.
Newsweek Hula Bowl – January 25 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawai'i
Two former Sun Belt standouts, Georgia Southern's Monquavion Brinson and Troy's Kirk Kelley played in the first edition of the Hula Bowl after a 12-year hiatus. Kelley's Team Kai (West) defeated Brinson's Team Aina (East) 23-7 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.