Arkansas State’s McKissic scores game winner, 26 Sun Belt Alumni compete in NFL week 4

Published 1:24 pm Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Arkansas State alum J.D. McKissic dove for the pylon with 33 seconds remaining to find his way into the end zone for the second time on the young season and secure the Washington Football Team victory. The running back had seven carries for 15 yards and five receptions for 44 yards, including the 30-yard touchdown. Former Georgia State wide receiver Albert Wilson of the Miami Dolphins also added a an 11-yard reception.

App State alumnus Sam Martin was called into duty early and often for the Denver Broncos this weekend, tallying 10 punts for a combined 491 yards. His 68-yard punt that pinned the Ravens at the 2-yard line was a season-long.

The Georgia Southern alumni pairing of Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass and Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo made it back-to-back perfect weeks, going a combined 5-for-5 on field goals and 7-for-7 on extra points. Bass converted from 33, 26, 21 and 28 yards out, while Koo connected on a 26-yarder. Koo also registered a pair of punts for 70 yards in emergency duty.

On the defensive side of the ball, 10 Sun Belt alumni combined for 21 tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass defended. Arkansas State product Demario Davis—a linebacker for the New Orleans Saints—contributed a Sun Belt-high seven tackles. In his second appearance of the 2021 campaign, Louisiana alumnus Justin Hamilton, a Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman, had two tackles, including one tackle for loss. App State alum and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither carded two tackles and a pass defended.

Shemar Jean-Charles (App State, Green Bay Packers), Forrest Merrill (Arkansas State, San Diego Chargers), Tarron Jackson (Coastal Carolina, Philadelphia Eagles), Kindle Vildor (Georgia Southern, Chicago Bears), Chandon Sullivan (Georgia State, Green Bay Packers), Tracy Walker III (Louisiana, Detroit Lions) and David Mayo (Texas State, Washington Football Team) contributed to the Sun Belt tackle total. Jean-Charles and Merrill each recorded the first tackles of their NFL careers.

Former Georgia Southern running back Jerick McKinnon recovered a fumble on special teams for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kendall Lamm (App State, Tennessee Titans), Anthony Chesley (Coastal Carolina, Indianapolis Colts), Penny Hart (Georgia State, Seattle Seahawks), Kevin Dotson (Louisiana, Pittsburgh Steelers), Robert Hunt (Louisiana, Miami Dolphins), Nick Ralston (Louisiana, Dallas Cowboys), Christian Ringo (Louisiana, New Orleans Saints), Aaron Brewer (Texas State, Tennessee Titans), Mario Addison (Troy, Buffalo Bills) and Steve McLendon (Troy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) also saw game action in Week 4.

Through four games, Louisiana alumnus offensive lineman Robert Hunt has played every offensive snap for the Miami Dolphins.

Forty-nine Sun Belt alumni—representing all 10 football programs—earned NFL roster spots entering the 2021 season, with 32 on active rosters, 11 on 16-man practice squads and four on injured reserve lists during Week 4.

Sun Belt football alumni dot 24-of-32 NFL rosters.

App State
* Ronald Blair – DL, New York Jets
Akeem Davis-Gaither – LB, Cincinnati Bengals (1 G, 2 Tackles, 1 Pass Defended)
^ Darrynton Evans – RB, Tennessee Titans
Colby Gossett – OL, Atlanta Falcons (N/A)
Shemar Jean-Charles – DB, Green Bay Packers (1 G, 1 Tackle)
Kendall Lamm – OL, Tennessee Titans (1 G)
Sam Martin – P, Denver Broncos (1 G, 1 GS, 10 Punts, 491 Yards)
* Ryan Neuzil – OL, Atlanta Falcons
* Josh Thomas – S, Buffalo Bills

Arkansas State
Demario Davis – LB, New Orleans Saints (1 G, 1 GS, 7 Tackles)
* Aaron Donkor – LB, Seattle Seahawks
J.D. McKissic – RB, Washington Football Team (1 G, 7 Rushes, 15 Yards, 5 Receptions, 44 Yards, 1 Touchdown)
Forrest Merrill – DL, Los Angeles Chargers (1 G, 1 Tackle)
* Kirk Merritt – WR, Miami Dolphins

Coastal Carolina 
Anthony Chesley – DB, Indianapolis Colts (1 G)
Tarron Jackson – DL, Philadelphia Eagles (1 G, 1 Tackle)
Josh Norman – DB, San Francisco 49ers (N/A)

Georgia Southern
Tyler Bass – K, Buffalo Bills (1 G, 1 GS, 4-for-4 FG, 4-for-4 XP)
Matt Breida – RB, Buffalo Bills (N/A)
Raymond Johnson III – DL, New York Giants (N/A)
Younghoe Koo – K, Atlanta Falcons (1 G, 1 GS, 1-for-1 FG, 3-for-3 XP, 2 Punts, 70 Yards)
Jerick McKinnon – RB, Kansas City Chiefs (1 G, 1 Fumble Recovery)
Kindle Vildor – DB, Chicago Bears (1 G, 1 GS, 1 Tackle)

Georgia State 
Penny Hart – WR, Seattle Seahawks (1 G)
^ Wil Lutz – K, New Orleans Saints
Chandon Sullivan – DB, Green Bay Packers (1 G, 1 GS, 3 Tackles)
Albert Wilson – WR, Miami Dolphins (1 G, 1 Reception, 11 Yards)

Louisiana 
* Ja’Marcus Bradley – WR, Cleveland Browns
Kevin Dotson – OL, Pittsburgh Steelers (1 G, 1 GS)
Justin Hamilton – DL, Dallas Cowboys (1 G, 2 Tackles, 1 TFL)
Robert Hunt – OL, Miami Dolphins (1 G, 1 GS)
* Michael Jacquet – DB, Philadelphia Eagles
^ Elijah McGuire – RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Elijah Mitchell – RB, San Francisco 49ers (N/A)
* Trey Ragas – RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Nick Ralston – FB, Dallas Cowboys (1 G)
Christian Ringo – DL, New Orleans Saints (1 G, 1 GS)
Tracy Walker III – S, Detroit Lions (1 G, 1 GS, 2 Tackles)

ULM
* Josh Johnson – RB, Seattle Seahawks

South Alabama
* Kawaan Baker – WR, New Orleans Saints
^ Gerald Everett – TE, Seattle Seahawks
* Jeremy Reaves – DB, Washington Football Team

Texas State
Aaron Brewer – OL, Tennessee Titans (1 G)
David Mayo – LB, Washington Football Team (1 G, 1 Tackle)
Ty Nsekhe – OL, Dallas Cowboys (N/A)

Troy
Mario Addison – DL, Buffalo Bills (1 G)
Steve McLendon – DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 G)

* Practice Squad
^ Injured Reserve