Sun Belt standouts sign NFL undrafted free agent deals

NEW ORLEANS – A bevy of former Sun Belt Conference football standouts signed undrafted free agent deals with NFL teams on the heels of the 2020 NFL Draft.

At present, 18 former players have inked contracts to join NFL teams for rookie camps:

Jordan Fehr, LB, Appalachian State – Minnesota Vikings
Josh Thomas, DB, Appalachian State – Buffalo Bills
Omar Bayless, WR, Arkansas State – Carolina Panthers
Darreon Jackson, DB, Arkansas State – Los Angeles Rams
Kirk Merritt, WR, Arkansas State – Miami Dolphins
Sterling Johnson, DL, Coastal Carolina – New York Jets
Donald Rutledge Jr., DB, Georgia Southern – Indianapolis Colts
Hunter Atkinson, OL, Georgia State – Atlanta Falcons
Brandon Wright, P, Georgia State – Jacksonville Jaguars
Ja’Marcus Bradley, WR, Louisiana – Cleveland Browns
Michael Jacquet III, DB, Louisiana – Philadelphia Eagles
Travis Reed, DB, South Alabama – Indianapolis Colts
Jeffery Whatley, DL, South Alabama – Cleveland Browns
Aaron Brewer, OL, Texas State – Tennessee Titans
Frankie Griffin, DB, Texas State – Green Bay Packers
Bryan London, LB, Texas State – Los Angeles Rams
Will Sunderland, DB, Troy – Green Bay Packers
Marcus Webb, DL, Troy – Seattle Seahawks

SUN BELT FOOTBALL IN THE 2020 NFL DRAFT
The Sun Belt enjoyed a historic NFL Draft with seven former standouts selected over the three-day Player Selection Meeting held virtually across the league.

The seven NFL Draft selections tied for the most in Sun Belt history with the seven picks in 2010. This year’s draft selections marked the 13th-straight year the Sun Belt had at least one player selected and the 12th time in 13 years the conference boasted multiple picks in the same draft.

Louisiana’s three draftees in a single draft tied the conference record with Troy’s three picks in 2010. Appalachian State and Georgia Southern joined the Ragin’ Cajuns with multiple picks in the same daft, the most teams with multiple picks in a single draft in conference history. Prior to this year, the Sun Belt had teams boast multiple picks in the same draft four times – Troy with three in 2010, Louisiana with two in 2003 and 2012 and FIU with two in 2007.

Louisiana leads the Sun Belt in all-time NFL Draft selections (14), followed by Troy (10) and Arkansas State (9).

2020 Sun Belt NFL Draft Selections
Round Pick Player, School, NFL Team
2. 39 Robert Hunt, OL, Louisiana, Miami Dolphins
3. 93 Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State, Tennessee Titans
4. 107 Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State, Cincinnati Bengals
4. 135 Kevin Dotson, OL, Louisiana, Pittsburgh Steelers
5. 163 Kindle Vildor, DB, Georgia Southern, Chicago Bears
6. 188 Tyler Bass, PK, Georgia Southern, Buffalo Bills
7. 245 Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Follow the Sun Belt on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.