Conference-record e former Sun Belt standouts selected in 2023 NFL Draft

NEW ORLEANS — Following a banner 2022 campaign in which it defeated four autonomy five programs, hosted ESPN’s College GameDay for the second time in conference history and produced a conference-record seven Bowl Season participants—tied for the most among non-autonomy conferences and trailing only the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and Big 12—the Sun Belt had a conference-record nine alumni selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, surpassing the prior high-water mark of seven set in 2010 & 2020.

The conference has produced multiple NFL Draft selections in 20-of-22 drafts since it began sponsoring football in 2001, including this year. 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.

NICK SALDIVERI – OL, OLD DOMINION

Old Dominion offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round with the 103rd overall pick. Saldiveri was an All-Sun Belt Second Team honoree in 2022 and was the third-ever Monarch—and first of the Sun Belt era—to hear his name called in the NFL Draft.

JAKE ANDREWS – OL, TROY

Troy offensive lineman Jake Andrews was taken by the New England Patriots in the fourth round with the 107th overall pick. Andrews was an All-Sun Belt First Team selection in 2022 and was the Trojans first NFL Draft pick since 2017.

DARRELL LUTER JR. – DB, SOUTH ALABAMA

South Alabama defensive back Darrell Luter Jr., was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round with the 155th overall pick. Luter Jr. was an All-Sun Belt Third Team honoree in 2022 and made it three-straight drafts with a Jaguars selection.

NICK HAMPTON – EDGE, APP STATE

App State edge Nick Hampton was taken by the Los Angeles Rams in the fifth round with the 161st overall pick. Hampton was an All-Sun Belt First Team selection in 2022 and made it four-straight drafts with a Mountaineer selection.

ERIC SCOTT JR. – DB, SOUTHERN MISS

Southern Miss defensive back Eric Scott Jr., was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round with the 178th overall pick. Scott Jr. was the first draft pick of the Sun Belt era for Southern Miss.

TRE HAWKINS III – DB, OLD DOMINION

Old Dominion defensive back Tre Hawkins III was taken by the New York Giants in the sixth round with the 209th overall pick. Hawkins gave the Monarchs multiple NFL Draft selections for the second time in program history (2019).

ZACK KUNTZ – TE, OLD DOMINION

Old Dominion tight end Zack Kuntz was selected by the New York Jets in the seventh round with the 220th overall pick. Kuntz made 2023 the first three-man draft class in Monarch program history. More Monarchs were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft (3) than all prior NFL Drafts combined (2).

COOPER HODGES – OL, APP STATE

App State offensive lineman Cooper Hodges was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round with the 226th overall pick. Hodges—an All-Sun Belt First Team honoree in 2022—gave the Mountaineers multiple NFL Draft selections for the second time over the past four seasons.

ANDRE JONES – EDGE, LOUISIANA

Louisiana edge Andre Jones was selected by the Washington Commanders in the seventh round with the 233rd overall pick. Jones made it four-straight drafts with a Ragin’ Cajuns selection.

Jones becomes the 18th Ragin’ Cajun to be selected in the draft since joining the Sun Belt Conference, which leads the league. Since 2016, Louisiana has had a league-leading 10 draft selections.

Jones, a native of Varnado, Louisiana, was a two-time All-SBC selection and was a member of the second team in 2022 at linebacker after earning conference honors as a defensive lineman in 2021.

He registered a team-high 7.5 sacks last season, playing in all 12 regular season contests. Jones accumulated 51 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two QB hurries, a forced fumble and an interception.

For his career, he racked up 209 tackles, 30 TFL and 17.5 sacks to go along with four forced fumbles, eight pass breakups and an interception.