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NEW ORLEANS – A pair of former All-Pro selections - Arkansas State alum and New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis and South Alabama product and Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves – filled the stat sheets to headline Sun Belt Conference alumni performances during Week 9 of the 2025 National Football League (NFL) season.
Sun Belt football alumni held 78 roster spots on 29-of-32 NFL rosters with 43 on active rosters, 21 on practice squads and 14 on injured or other reserve lists. In Week 9 contests, 37 saw game action with 14 earning the start for their respective teams. Five Sun Belt alums on active rosters were on a bye week as members of the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Davis, a five-time All-Pro, registered a season-high 13 tackles in the Saints’ 34-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. It marked his third straight game with at least 10 tackles and the sixth time he’s accomplished the feat this year. Through nine weeks, Davis ranks fourth in the NFL with 84 tackles this season.
Reaves, a First Team All-Pro choice in 2022, earned his fifth start of the season and tallied a team-leading and season-high nine tackles – including one tackle for loss – in the Commanders’ 38-14 setback to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football.
Three Sun Belt alums were credited with sacks in Week 9 action, as Southern Miss product and New York Giants defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches tallied six tackles and one sack for a nine-yard loss in a 34-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Troy alum and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Reddy Steward posted two tackles and a fourth-quarter sack for a loss of seven yards in a 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football. The sack was the first of Steward’s NFL career.
The 2024 Sun Belt Player of the Year out of Marshall, Baltimore Ravens rookie edge rusher Mike Green tallied a pair of tackles and a half sack against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, marking the second consecutive week he has accounted for a sack.
Additional defensive spotlights for Sun Belt alums included App State alum and Cardinals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither registering seven tackles and one fumble recovery against the Cowboys, while Georgia Southern product and Tennessee Titans cornerback Darrell Baker Jr., earned his second-straight start while notching four tackles and one pass defended in a 27-20 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
On offense, Coastal Carolina alumnus and Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely had his best game of the season with three receptions for 60 yards against the Dolphins. Additionally, Southern Miss product and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Tim Jones caught a 15-yard pass for his first reception of the season in a 30-29 overtime win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
On the ground, Troy alum and Chargers running back Kimani Vidal earned his fourth-consecutive start while taking 12 carries for 30 yards against the Titans.
Fresh off being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in October, Georgia State alum and Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz scored four points with a 34-yard field goal and one extra point in an 18-15 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Additionally, Texas State alumnus and Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates racked up six points after he made a 41-yard field goal and three extra points in a 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Arkansas State product and Saints kicker Blake Grupe chipped in four points on a 39-yard field goal with one extra point against the Rams.
App State
Akeem Davis-Gaither – LB, Arizona Cardinals (1 G, 7 Tackles, 1 Fumble Recovered)
* 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, 3 Tackles)
* Shemar Jean-Charles, DB, Seattle Seahawks
Kendall Lamm – OL, Miami Dolphins (1 G)
Sam Martin – P, Carolina Panthers (1 G, 1 GS, 3 Punts, 134 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, 13 Tackles)
Blake Grupe – K, New Orleans Saints (1 G, 1 GS, 1-for-1 FG, 1-for-1 XP)
* Courtney Jackson – WR, Seattle Seahawks
* Trevian Thomas – S, Carolina Panthers
Coastal Carolina
C.J. Brewer – DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Bye Week)
^ Tarron Jackson – DL, San Francisco 49ers
Isaiah Likely – TE, Baltimore Ravens (1 G, 3 Receptions, 60 Yards)
Georgia Southern
Darrell Baker Jr. – CB, Tennessee Titans (1 G, 1 GS, 4 Tackles, 1 Pass Defended)
*Shemar Bartholomew – CB, Carolina Panthers
^ Tyler Bass – K, Buffalo Bills
* Younghoe Koo – K, New York Giants
Kindle Vildor – CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Bye Week)
Georgia State
Benjamin Chukwuma – OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Bye Week)
^ Travis Glover – OL, Green Bay Packers
Wil Lutz – K, Denver Broncos (1 G, 1 GS, 1-for-2 FG, 1-for-1 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)
* 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 (1 G)
Elijah Mitchell – RB, Kansas City Chiefs (DNP)
Max Mitchell – OL, New York Jets (Bye Week)
^ John Stephens – TE, Dallas Cowboys
Nate Thomas – OL, Dallas Cowboys (1 G)
ULM
* Car’lin Vigers – CB, Washington Commanders
Marshall
Rasheen Ali – RB, Baltimore Ravens (1 G, 2 Kickoff Returns, 53 Yards)
^ Ethan Driskell – OL, Kansas City Chiefs
Mike Green – LB, Baltimore Ravens (1 G, 2 Tackles, 0.5 Sacks, 1 Quarterback Hit)
Neville Hewitt – LB, New York Giants (1 G)
^ 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
Rick Lovato – LS, Los Angeles Chargers (1 G)
^ Nick Saldiveri – OL, New Orleans Saints
Stone Smartt – TE, New York Jets (Bye Week)
^ Blake Watson – RB, Tennessee Titans
Keion White – DL San Francisco 49ers (1 G)
South Alabama
* Carter Bradley – QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Darrell Luter Jr. – CB, San Francisco 49ers (1 G, 1 Tackle)
* Jamaal Pritchett – WR, New York Jets
Jeremy Reaves – S, Washington Commanders (1 G, 1 GS, 9 Tackles, 1 Tackle For Loss)
* Jamie Sheriff – LB, Seattle Seahawks
Jalen Tolbert – WR, Dallas Cowboys (1 G)
Corliss Waitman – P, Pittsburgh Steelers (1 G, 1 GS, 5 Punts, 252 Yards)
* Jeremiah Webb – WR, New England Patriots
Southern Miss
^ Cornell Armstrong – CB, Miami Dolphins
* Swayze Bozeman – LB, New York Giants
Natrone Brooks – CB, Atlanta Falcons (1 G, 2 Kickoff Returns, 51 Yards)
* Jason Brownlee – WR, Kansas City Chiefs
* Frank Gore Jr. – RB, Buffalo Bills
Tim Jones – WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (1 G, 1 Reception, 15 Yards)
Nick Mullens – QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (DNP)
Rakeem Nunez-Roches – DL, New York Giants (1 G, 1 GS, 6 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Tackle For Loss)
* 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, 1 Pass Defended)
Javon Solomon – EDGE, Buffalo Bills (1 G, 1 Tackle)
Reddy Steward – CB, Dallas Cowboys (1 G, 2 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Tackle For Loss)
Kimani Vidal – RB, Los Angeles Chargers (1 G, 1 GS, 12 Rushes, 30 Yards)
*Practice Squad
^Injured & Other Reserve