Four-time All-Pro linebcker Demario Davis headlines Sun Belt alumni output in NFL Week 2

NEW ORLEANS – Four-time All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis out of Arkansas State continued to make his presence felt on the defensive side of the ball in Week 2 of the 2023 National Football League (NFL) season.

The New Orleans Saint tallied seven tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit to pace all Sun Belt alumni. Georgia State product Chandon Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Steelers (4 Tackles, 1 Pass Defended) and Georgia Southern alumnus Darrell Baker Jr. of the Indianapolis Colts (3 Tackles, 1 Pass Defended) also registered three-or-more tackles on the week.

Offensively, Gerald Everett of the Los Angeles Chargers via South Alabama led the way with three receptions for 47 yards. Georgia Southern alumnus Jerick McKinnon of the Kansas City Chiefs (3 Receptions, 24 Yards) and Old Dominion alum Stone Smartt of the Los Angeles Chargers (1 Reception, 24 Yards) also tacked on 20-or-more yards in Week 2.

The Sun Belt’s kicking quartet combined to go 9-for-9 on field goal attempts and 11-for-12 on extra point tries in Week 2. Blake Grupe of the New Orleans Saints via Arkansas State and Tyler Bass of the Buffalo Bills via Georgia Southern remained perfect on the year.

The Sun Belt’s lone punter on an active roster—Sam Martin of the Buffalo Bills via App State—had one punt for 54 yards.

Eighty-seven Sun Belt alumni earned NFL roster spots entering the 2023 season, with 51 on active rosters, 22 on practice squads and 13 on injured or other reserve lists in Week 2. Thirty-eight saw game action with 15 earning a start.

Three players—Dean Marlowe (James Madison, Los Angeles Chargers), Eric Garror (Louisiana, Tennessee Titans) and Oshane Ximines (Old Dominion, New York Giants) were elevated from their respective team’s practice squad and saw game action in Week 2.

Sun Belt football alumni dot 29-of-32 NFL rosters.

App State  
Akeem Davis-Gaither – LB, Cincinnati Bengals (1 G, 2 Tackles, 1 TFL)
* Darrynton Evans – RB, Miami Dolphins
Nick Hampton – LB, Los Angeles Rams (1 G)
* Tae Hayes – CB, Baltimore Ravens
^ Cooper Hodges – OL, Jacksonville Jaguars
D’Marco Jackson – LB, New Orleans Saints (1 G)
* Shemar Jean-Charles – CB, San Francisco 49ers
^ Shaun Jolly – DB, Los Angeles Rams
Kendall Lamm – OL, Miami Dolphins (1 G, 1 GS)
Sam Martin – P, Buffalo Bills (1 G, 1 GS, 1 Punt, 54 Yards)
Ryan Neuzil – OL, Atlanta Falcons (1 G)
* Henry Pearson – FB, Green Bay Packers
^ Jalen Virgil – WR, Denver Broncos

Arkansas State
Demario Davis – LB, New Orleans Saints (1 G, 1 GS, 7 Tackles, 1.0 Sack, 1 TFL, 1 QB Hit)
Blake Grupe – K, New Orleans Saints (1 G, 1 GS, 2-for-2 FG, 2-for-2 XP)
^ Forrest Merrill – DL, Denver Broncos
Kirk Merritt – WR, New Orleans Saints (DNP)

Coastal Carolina 
* Lance Boykin – CB, Seattle Seahawks
* C.J. Brewer – DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
* Jerrod Clark – DL, Los Angeles Chargers
* Jeff Gunter – DL, Cincinnati Bengals
* Tarron Jackson – DL, Philadelphia Eagles
Isaiah Likely – TE, Baltimore Ravens (1 G, 1 GS, 1 Reception, 8 Yards)

Georgia Southern 
Darrell Baker Jr. – CB, Indianapolis Colts (1 G, 3 Tackles, 1 Pass Defended)
Tyler Bass – K, Buffalo Bills (1 G, 1 GS, 1-for-1 FG, 5-for-5 XP)
Matt Breida – RB, New York Giants (1 G, 1 Rush, 5 Yards)
* Raymond Johnson III – DL, Detroit Lions
Younghoe Koo – K, Atlanta Falcons (1 G, 1 GS, 4-for-4 FG, 1-for-2 XP)
Jerick McKinnon – RB, Kansas City Chiefs (1 G, 3 Receptions, 24 Yards, 1 Rush)
NaJee Thompson – CB, Minnesota Vikings (1 G)
Kindle Vildor – CB, Tennessee Titans (DNP)

Georgia State  
^ Penny Hart – WR, Atlanta Falcons
Wil Lutz – K, Denver Broncos (1 G, 1 GS, 2-for-2 FG, 3-for-3 XP)
Chandon Sullivan – CB, Pittsburgh Steelers (1 G, 4 Tackles, 1 Pass Defended)
* Quavian White – CB, Arizona Cardinals

James Madison 
* Ben DiNucci – QB, Denver Broncos
Mike Greene – DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 G, 1 GS, 1 Tackle)
Dean Marlowe – S, Los Angeles Chargers (1 G)
^ Jimmy Moreland – CB, New York Jets
Aaron Stinnie – OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (DNP)
^ Josh Wells – OL, Jacksonville Jaguars

Louisiana 
Percy Butler – S, Washington Commanders (1 G, 1 Tackle)
Kevin Dotson – OL, Los Angeles Rams (DNP)
Eric Garror – DB, Tennessee Titans (1 G)
Robert Hunt – OL, Miami Dolphins (1 G, 1 GS)
Andre Jones Jr. – DL, Washington Commanders (1 G)
Elijah Mitchell – RB, San Francisco 49ers (DNP)
Max Mitchell – OL, New York Jets (DNP)
^ John Stephens Jr. – WR, Dallas Cowboys
Tracy Walker III – S, Detroit Lions (1 G, 1 Tackle)

ULM
* Derrick Gore – RB, Washington Commanders
* Josh Pederson – TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
* Ty Shelby – DL, Los Angeles Chargers

Marshall
^ Josh Ball – OL, Dallas Cowboys
^ Abraham Beauplan – LB, Minnesota Vikings
Steven Gilmore – CB, Detroit Lions (DNP)
Neville Hewitt – LB, Houston Texans (DNP)
^ Nazeeh Johnson – S, Kansas City Chiefs

Old Dominion 
Tre Hawkins III – CB, New York Giants (1 G, 1 Tackle)
* Marcus Haynes – LB, Denver Broncos
Taylor Heinicke – QB, Atlanta Falcons (DNP)
* Zack Kuntz – TE, New York Jets
Rick Lovato – LS, Philadelphia Eagles (1 G, 1 GS)
Zach Pascal – WR, Arizona Cardinals (1 G, 1 Reception, 9 Yards, 1 Tackle)
Nick Saldiveri – OL, New Orleans Saints (DNP)
Stone Smartt – TE, Los Angeles Chargers (1 G, 1 Reception, 24 Yards)
Oshane Ximines – LB, New York Giants (1 G)

South Alabama 
Gerald Everett – TE, Los Angeles Chargers (1 G, 1 GS, 3 Receptions, 47 Yards)
^ Darrell Luter Jr. – CB, San Francisco 49ers
Jeremy Reaves – S, Washington Commanders (1 G)
Jalen Tolbert – WR, Dallas Cowboys (1 G, 1 GS, 3 Receptions, 18 Yards)
* Corliss Waitman – P, New England Patriots

Southern Miss 
* Natrone Brooks – CB, Atlanta Falcons
Jason Brownlee – WR, New York Jets (DNP)
* TyKeem Doss – OL, Baltimore Ravens
Tim Jones – WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (1 G, 1 Fumble Recovered)
Nick Mullens – QB, Minnesota Vikings (DNP)
Rakeem Nunez-Roches – DL, New York Giants (1 G, 1 GS)
Eric Scott Jr. – CB, Dallas Cowboys (DNP)
Quez Watkins – WR, Philadelphia Eagles (1 G)

Texas State 
* Levi Bell – DL, Seattle Seahawks
Aaron Brewer – OL, Tennessee Titans (1 G, 1 GS)
David Mayo – LB, Washington Commanders (1 G)
* Ty Nsekhe – OL, Cleveland Browns

Troy
Jake Andrews – OL, New England Patriots (1 G)
^ Shakel Brown – DL, Tennessee Titans

* Practice Squad
^ Injured & Other Reserve

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