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NEW ORLEANS – Georgia State alumnus and Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz connected on a game-winning field goal as time expired to seize the spotlight among notable Sun Belt Conference alumni performances during Week 7 of the 2025 National Football League (NFL) season.
Lutz scored five points with one field goal and two extra points in the Broncos’ 33-32 home win over the New York Giants on Sunday. His lone field goal attempt in the game came from 39 yards out with the game on the line, as his successful kick marked the third lead change inside the final two minutes of the game to close out the victory.
Now in his ninth NFL season, Lutz is 9-for-10 on field goals with a long of 57 yards this season and 16-for-16 on extra points for a Broncos team that improved to 5-2 on the year.
Also in the kicking game, Texas State alum and Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates racked up six points with one field goal and three extra points as part of a 24-9 home victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. Bates’ field goal was made from 58 yards out in the fourth quarter, matching his career long.
Offensively, Troy alum and Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal made his second start in as many weeks and took nine carries for 20 yards while adding four catches for 15 yards in a 38-24 home loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. South Alabama alum and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert reeled in one catch for 16 yards in a 44-22 home win over the Washington Commanders.
Defensively, five-time All-Pro and starting linebacker for the New Orleans Saints Demario Davis – an Arkansas State product – racked up a game-high 10 tackles in a 26-14 road loss to the Chicago Bears. Davis has now recorded double-digit tackles four times in the team’s first seven games this season.
App State alum and Arizona Cardinals starting linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither totaled eight tackles, a forced fumble and one pass defended in a 27-23 home loss to the Green Bay Packers. On Sunday Night Football, South Alabama alum and San Francisco 49ers cornerback Darrell Luter Jr., matched his season high with five tackles – including four solo stops – in a 20-10 home win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Sun Belt football alumni held 81 roster spots on 31-of-32 NFL rosters with 44 on active rosters, 24 on practice squads and 13 on injured or other reserve lists. In Week 7 contests, 33 saw game action with 13 earning the start for their respective teams. Five Sun Belt alums on active rosters were on a bye week as members of the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills.
App State
Akeem Davis-Gaither – LB, Arizona Cardinals (1 G, 1 GS, 8 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Pass Defended)
* 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, 1 Tackle, 1 Pass Defended)
* 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, 6 Punts, 276 Yards)
^ Jalen McLeod – LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ryan Neuzil – OL, Atlanta Falcons (1 G, 1 GS)
Arkansas State
* William Bradley-King – LB, San Francisco 49ers
Demario Davis – LB, New Orleans Saints (1 G, 1 GS, 10 Tackles, 1 Quarterback Hit)
Blake Grupe – K, New Orleans Saints (1 G, 1 GS, 0-for-1 FG, 2-for-2 XP)
* Courtney Jackson – WR, Seattle Seahawks
* Trevian Thomas – S, Carolina Panthers
Coastal Carolina
C.J. Brewer – DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (DNP)
^ Tarron Jackson – DL, San Francisco 49ers
Isaiah Likely – TE, Baltimore Ravens (Bye Week)
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, New York Giants
Kindle Vildor – CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (DNP)
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, 1-for-1 FG, 2-for-2 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, 1 Tackle)
* Dalen Cambre – WR, New York Giants
Kevin Dotson – OL, Los Angeles Rams (1 G, 1 GS)
^ Robert Hunt – OL, Carolina Panthers
* Andre Jones Jr. – DE, Buffalo Bills
Keyon Martin – CB, Baltimore Ravens (Bye Week)
Elijah Mitchell – RB, Kansas City Chiefs (DNP)
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 (Bye Week)
^ Ethan Driskell – OL, Kansas City Chiefs
Mike Green – LB, Baltimore Ravens (Bye Week)
Neville Hewitt – LB, New York Giants (1 G, 1 Tackle)
^ 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, New York Giants
Rick Lovato – LS, Los Angeles Chargers (1 G)
^ Nick Saldiveri – OL, New Orleans Saints
Stone Smartt – TE, New York Jets (1 G)
^ Blake Watson – RB, Tennessee Titans
Keion White – DL New England Patriots (1 G, 1 Tackle)
South Alabama
* Carter Bradley – QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Darrell Luter Jr. – CB, San Francisco 49ers (1 G, 5 Tackles)
* Jamaal Pritchett – WR, New York Jets
Jeremy Reaves – S, Washington Commanders (1 G, 1 GS, 4 Tackles)
* Jamie Sheriff – LB, Seattle Seahawks
Jalen Tolbert – WR, Dallas Cowboys (1 G, 1 Reception, 16 Yards)
Corliss Waitman – P, Pittsburgh Steelers (1 G, 1 GS, 2 Punts, 84 Yards)
* Jeremiah Webb – WR, New England Patriots
Southern Miss
^ Cornell Armstrong – CB, Miami Dolphins
Swayze Bozeman – LB, New York Giants (DNP)
Natrone Brooks – CB, Atlanta Falcons (1 G, 1 Kickoff Return, 16 Yards)
* Jason Brownlee – WR, Kansas City Chiefs
* Frank Gore Jr. – RB, Buffalo Bills
* Tim Jones – WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Nick Mullens – QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (DNP)
Rakeem Nunez-Roches – DL, New York Giants (1 G, 1 Pass Defended)
* Quez Watkins – WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Texas State
Jake Bates – K, Detroit Lions (1 G, 1 GS, 1-for-2 FG, 3-for-3 XP)
Aaron Brewer – OL, Miami Dolphins (1 G, 1 GS)
^ Deion Hankins – RB, Chicago Bears
Troy
Jake Andrews – OL, Houston Texans (1 G, 1 GS)
Dell Pettus – S, New England Patriots (1 G)
Javon Solomon – EDGE, Buffalo Bills (Bye Week)
Reddy Steward – CB, Dallas Cowboys (1 G, 1 Tackle)
Kimani Vidal – RB, Los Angeles Chargers (1 G, 1 GS, 9 Rushes, 20 Yards, 4 Receptions, 15 Yards)
*Practice Squad
^Injured & Other Reserve