NEW ORLEANS – App State alumnus and Arizona Cardinals starting linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither delivered one of multiple impactful performances on defense for Sun Belt Conference alumni during the second week of the 2025 National Football League (NFL) season.
Seventy-six Sun Belt football alumni held roster spots on 30-of-32 NFL rosters with 45 on active rosters, 20 on practice squads and 11 on injured or other reserve lists. In Week 2 contests, 37 saw game action with 13 earning the start for their respective teams.
Making his second start with the Cardinals after signing a free-agent contract with the franchise during the offseason, Davis-Gaither added to his seven-tackle performance in week one with six tackles in the 27-22 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon. Among his half dozen tackles was a third-quarter stop on a Panthers two-point conversion attempt.
Arkansas State alum and New Orleans Saints starting linebacker Demario Davis racked up double-digit tackles for the first time this season with 11 and added a fumble recovery in the team’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Louisiana product and Baltimore Ravens rookie cornerback Keyon Martin tallied a new personal best with five tackles in the team’s 41-17 win over the Cleveland Browns. Martin went undrafted following his senior season in 2024 before making the Ravens’ 53-man roster to begin the 2025 campaign.
Early in his second NFL season, Troy alum and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Reddy Steward earned the first start of his career while racking up a career-high four tackles and breaking up one pass attempt in a 40-37 overtime win over the New York Giants.
On offense, South Alabama alum and Dallas Cowboys starting wide receiver Jalen Tolbert hauled in two receptions for 16 yards and returned four kickoffs for 85 yards in the winning effort.
Texas State alum and Detroit Lions placekicker Jake Bates scored 10 points by making a 34-yard field goal in addition to seven extra points in a 52-21 rout of the Chicago Bears.
App State
Akeem Davis-Gaither – LB, Arizona Cardinals (1 G, 1 GS, 6 Tackles)
* Tyrek Funderburk – CB, Minnesota Vikings
Nick Hampton – LB, Los Angeles Rams (1 G)
^ Cooper Hodges – OL, Jacksonville Jaguars
D’Marco Jackson – LB, Chicago Bears (1 G)
* Shemar Jean-Charles, DB, Seattle Seahawks
Kendall Lamm – OL, Miami Dolphins (1 G)
* Ahmani Marshall – RB, Cleveland Browns
Sam Martin – P, Carolina Panthers (1 G, 1 GS, 2 Punts, 95 Yards)
^ Jalen McLeod – LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ryan Neuzil – OL, Atlanta Falcons (1 G, 1 GS)
Arkansas State
Demario Davis – LB, New Orleans Saints (1 G, 1 GS, 11 Tackles, 1 Fumble Recovered)
Blake Grupe – K, New Orleans Saints (1 G, 1 GS, 0-for-1 FG, 3-for-3 XP)
* Courtney Jackson – WR, Seattle Seahawks
* Trevian Thomas – S, Carolina Panthers
Coastal Carolina
* C.J. Brewer – DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
^ Tarron Jackson – DL, San Francisco 49ers
Isaiah Likely – TE, Baltimore Ravens (DNP)
Georgia Southern
Darrell Baker Jr. – CB, Tennessee Titans (1 G, 3 Tackles)
* Shemar Bartholomew – CB, Carolina Panthers
^ Tyler Bass – K, Buffalo Bills
Younghoe Koo – K, Atlanta Falcons (DNP)
Kindle Vildor – CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 G)
Georgia State
Benjamin Chukwuma – OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 G)
^ Travis Glover – OL, Green Bay Packers
Wil Lutz – K, Denver Broncos (1 G, 1 GS, 0-for-1 FG, 4-for-4 XP)
James Madison
* Liam Fornadel, OL, New York Jets
* Jamree Kromah, DE, Chicago Bears
Aaron Stinnie – OL, New York Giants (1 G)
Louisiana
Percy Butler – S, Washington Commanders (1 G, 2 Tackles)
* Dalen Cambre – WR, New York Giants
Kevin Dotson – OL, Los Angeles Rams (1 G, 1 GS)
Robert Hunt – OL, Carolina Panthers (1 G, 1 GS)
* Andre Jones Jr. – DE, Buffalo Bills
Keyon Martin – CB, Baltimore Ravens (1 G, 5 Tackles)
Elijah Mitchell – RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Max Mitchell – OL, New York Jets (1 G)
^ John Stephens – TE, Dallas Cowboys
Nate Thomas – OL, Dallas Cowboys (1 G)
ULM
* Myles Cole – DE, Cincinnati Bengals
* Car’lin Vigers – CB, Washington Commanders
Marshall
Rasheen Ali – RB, Baltimore Ravens (1 G, 1 Tackle)
^ Ethan Driskell – OL, Kansas City Chiefs
Mike Green – LB, Baltimore Ravens (1 G, 2 Tackles)
^ Nazeeh Johnson – S, Kansas City Chiefs
* Elias Neal – LB, Los Angeles Rams
^ J.J. Roberts – S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dalton Tucker – OL, Indianapolis Colts (1 G)
Old Dominion
* LaMareon James – CB, Cleveland Browns
Rick Lovato – LS, Los Angeles Chargers (1 G)
^ Nick Saldiveri – OL, New Orleans Saints
Stone Smartt – TE, New York Jets (1 G)
Keion White – DL New England Patriots (DNP)
South Alabama
Darrell Luter Jr. – CB, San Francisco 49ers (1 G, 2 Tackles)
* Jamaal Pritchett – WR, New York Jets
Jeremy Reaves – S, Washington Commanders (1 G, 4 Tackles)
* Jamie Sheriff – LB, Seattle Seahawks
Jalen Tolbert – WR, Dallas Cowboys (1 G, 1 GS, 2 Receptions, 16 Yards, 4 Kickoff Returns, 85 Yards)
Corliss Waitman – P, Pittsburgh Steelers (1 G, 1 GS, 4 Punts, 221 Yards)
* Jeremiah Webb – WR, New England Patriots
Southern Miss
Cornell Armstrong – CB, Miami Dolphins (DNP)
Swayze Bozeman – LB, New York Giants (1 G, 1 Tackle)
Natrone Brooks – CB, Atlanta Falcons (1 G)
Jason Brownlee – WR, Kansas City Chiefs (1 G)
* Frank Gore Jr. – RB, Buffalo Bills
Tim Jones – WR, Minnesota Vikings (1 G)
Nick Mullens – QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (DNP)
Rakeem Nunez-Roches – DL, New York Giants (DNP)
Texas State
Jake Bates – K, Detroit Lions (1 G, 1 GS, 1-for-2 FG, 7-for-7 XP)
Aaron Brewer – OL, Miami Dolphins (1 G, 1 GS, 1 Tackle)
^ Deion Hankins – RB, Chicago Bears
Troy
Jake Andrews – OL, Houston Texans (DNP)
Dell Pettus – S, New England Patriots (1 G, 2 Tackles)
Javon Solomon – EDGE, Buffalo Bills (1 G)
Reddy Steward – CB, Dallas Cowboys (1 G, 1 GS, 4 Tackles, 1 Pass Defended)
* Kimani Vidal – RB, Los Angeles Chargers
*Practice Squad
^Injured & Other Reserve