NEW ORLEANS — Sun Belt student-athletes showcased their talents at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis from Feb. 26-March 4, as they prepare for next month’s 2024 NFL Draft.
The conference’s seven-player group of invitees included two All-Sun Belt First Team selections, two All-Sun Belt Second Team picks, two All-Sun Belt Third Team honorees and one All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention.
Troy junior running back Kimani Vidal—the reigning Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year and an All-Sun Belt First Team selection—ranked fourth among running backs in this year’s draft class with a 4.15 second 20-yard shuttle, fifth with a 7.01 second 3-cone drill, sixth with a 4.46 second 40-yard dash, sixth with a 37.5” vertical, ninth with a 10’0” broad jump and ninth with 18 bench press reps.
Junior running back Frank Gore Jr.—an All-Sun Belt Second Team pick out of Southern Miss—posted 12 bench press reps, good for 11th among running backs.
Georgia State redshirt senior linebacker Jontrey Hunter, an All-Sun Belt Third Team honoree, posted a 32.0” vertical—13th among linebackers in this year’s draft class—and added a 9’3” broad jump—good for 15th at his position.
All-Sun Belt First Team selection Troy defensive end Javon Solomon recorded a 37.0” vertical and 23 bench press reps, both fifth among his position group. He also added a 9’11” broad jump—14th among his peers—and a 4.72 second 40-yard dash.
Louisiana redshirt junior offensive lineman Nathan Thomas, an All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention, registered an 8.01 second 3-cone drill, good for 25th among offensive linemen in attendance. He also added a 5.19 second 40-yard dash, an 8’11” broad jump and a 25.0” vertical.
All-Sun Belt Second Team pick junior running back Rasheen Ali and All-Sun Belt Third Team honoree redshirt senior offensive lineman Ethan Driskell out of Marshall also appeared at the NFL Combine.
The seven prospects—and several other Sun Belt standouts—look to hear their names called during the 2024 NFL Draft, which will take place from April 25-27 in Detroit, Michigan.
The Sun Belt has produced multiple NFL Draft selections in 20-of-22 drafts since it began sponsoring football in 2001, including a conference-record nine alumni selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. Three of the Sun Belt's five highest NFL Draft totals have come over the past four seasons with seven selections in 2020, six picks in 2022 and a conference-record nine draftees in 2023.
The Sun Belt has produced six-or-more draft picks on five occasions all-time (2010, 2012, 2020, 2022 & 2023). The conference's four-year total of 26 NFL Draft selections from 2020-23 is the largest four-year tally in conference history, surpassing the prior record of 22 from 2010-13.
Each of last year’s conference-record nine draft picks earned NFL roster spots, with eight seeing game action during the 2023-24 regular season. Six of those selections—offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri out of Old Dominion, offensive lineman Jake Andrews out of Troy, defensive back Darrell Luter Jr. out of South Alabama, edge Nick Hampton out of App State, tight end Zack Kuntz out of Old Dominion and edge Andre Jones Jr. out of Louisiana—showcased their talents at last year’s NFL Combine.
Jontrey Hunter, Georgia State (RS Sr., LB)
Vertical – 32.0”
Broad Jump – 9’3”
Nathan Thomas, Louisiana (RS Jr., OL)
40-Yard Dash – 5.19 Seconds
10-Yard Split – 1.76 Seconds
Vertical – 25.0”
Broad Jump – 8’11”
3-Cone Drill – 8.01 Seconds
Rasheen Ali, Marshall (Jr., RB)
DNP
Ethan Driskell, Marshall (RS Sr., OL)
DNP
Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (Jr., RB)
Bench Press – 12 Reps
Javon Solomon, Troy (Jr., DE)
40-Yard Dash – 4.72 Seconds
10-Yard Split – 1.66 Seconds
Vertical – 37.0”
Broad Jump – 9’11”
Bench Press – 23 Reps
Kimani Vidal, Troy (Jr., RB)
40-Yard Dash – 4.46 Seconds
10-Yard Split – 1.53 Seconds
Vertical – 37.5”
Broad Jump – 10’0
3-Cone Drill – 7.01 Seconds
20-Yard Shuttle – 4.15 Seconds
Bench Press – 18 Reps