NEW ORLEANS – After placing alumni on all 14 playoff rosters for the third year in a row following the 2025-26 National Football League (NFL) regular season, the Sun Belt Conference had seven alumni advance to Super Bowl LIX.
The Sun Belt will be represented on the game’s biggest stage for the eighth-straight season when the New England Patriots meet the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT, and the game will be televised on NBC.
Representing the Patriots - who defeated the Denver Broncos, 10-7, on Sunday - will be Troy alumnus and safety Dell Pettus, who has played in every game this season. Additionally, former Arkansas State offensive lineman Mehki Butler and former South Alabama wide receiver Jeremiah Webb are members of the Patriots’ practice squad.
Four members of the Seahawks’ practice squad are Sun Belt products, including former App State cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles, Arkansas State wide receiver Courtney Jackson and a pair of South Alabama products: linebacker Jamie Sheriff and defensive lineman Bubba Thomas.
Eighty-three Sun Belt football alumni held roster spots on 31-of-32 NFL rosters at the conclusion of the 2025-26 regular season with 38 advancing to the NFL playoffs. During the conference championships, 12 Sun Belt alums were rostered on the four competing franchises including five listed on active rosters.
App State
Nick Hampton – LB, Los Angeles Rams (1 G, 1 Tackle)
* Shemar Jean-Charles, DB, Seattle Seahawks
Arkansas State
* Mehki Butler – OL, New England Patriots
* Courtney Jackson – WR, Seattle Seahawks
Georgia State
Wil Lutz – K, Denver Broncos (1 G, 1 GS, 0-for-2 FG, 1-for-1 XP)
James Madison
* Ben DiNucci – QB, Denver Broncos
Louisiana
Kevin Dotson – OL, Los Angeles Rams (1 G, 1 GS, 1 Fumble Recovered)
Marshall
Elias Neal – LB, Los Angeles Rams (1 G)
South Alabama
* Jamie Sheriff – LB, Seattle Seahawks
* Wy’Kevious “Bubba” Thomas – DL, Seattle Seahawks
* Jeremiah Webb – WR, New England Patriots
Troy
Dell Pettus – S, New England Patriots (1 G, 1 Tackle)
*Practice Squad
^Injured & Other Reserve