South Alabama’s Everett returns, 23 Sun Belt alumni compete in NFL week 6

Published 12:46 pm Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Twenty-three Sun Belt alumni competed in Week 6 of the National Football League (NFL) season, with seven starting for their respective squads.

Seattle Seahawks tight end Gerald Everett out of South Alabama returned from the COVID-19 list and hauled in a pair of receptions for 40 yards. A pair of Georgia State alumni also registered catches this week—Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Penny Hart (1 Reception, 12 Yards) and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson (2 Receptions, 14 Yards).

Running backs J.D. McKissic of the Washington Football Team and Jerick McKinnon of the Kansas City Chiefs contributed on the ground and through the air. Arkansas State product McKissic had 45 rushing yards on eight carries and 65 receiving yards on eight receptions. Georgia Southern alumnus McKinnon tallied 10 rushing yards on three attempts and added a five-yard catch.

Six Sun Belt alumni combined for 15 tackles and two passes defended led by multi-tackles efforts from App State alum and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither; Georgia Southern product and Chicago Bears defensive back Kindle Vildor and Louisiana alumnus and Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker III.

Green Bay Packers defensive back Shemar Jean-Charles out of App State, Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Tarron Jackson out of Coastal Carolina and Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Mario Addison out of Troy also added tackles in Week 6.

On special teams, former Georgia Southern kicker Tyler Bass went 3-for-3 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points for the Buffalo Bills, connecting from 24, 28 and 52 yards out. Denver Broncos punter Sam Martin out of App State accumulated 164 yards on four punts.

Kendall Lamm (App State, Tennessee Titans), Anthony Chesley (Coastal Carolina, Indianapolis Colts), Raymond Johnson III (Georgia Southern, New York Giants), Chandon Sullivan (Georgia State, Green Bay Packers), Kevin Dotson (Louisiana, Pittsburgh Steelers), Robert Hunt (Louisiana, Miami Dolphins), Nick Ralston (Louisiana, Dallas Cowboys), David Mayo (Texas State, Washington Football Team), Ty Nsekhe (Texas State, Dallas Cowboys) and Steve McLendon (Troy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) also saw game action in Week 6.

Through six games, Louisiana alumnus offensive lineman Robert Hunt has appeared on 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 31 on active rosters, 13 on 16-man practice squads and three on injured reserve lists during Week 6. Five Sun Belt alumni had bye weeks during Week 6.

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, 5 Tackles, 1 Pass Defended)
^ Darrynton Evans – RB, Tennessee Titans
Colby Gossett – OL, Atlanta Falcons (Bye Week)
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, 4 Punts, 164 Yards)
* Ryan Neuzil – OL, Atlanta Falcons
* Josh Thomas – S, Buffalo Bills

Arkansas State
Demario Davis – LB, New Orleans Saints (Bye Week)
* Aaron Donkor – LB, Seattle Seahawks
J.D. McKissic – RB, Washington Football Team (1 G, 8 Rushes, 45 Yards, 8 Receptions, 65 Yards)
Forrest Merrill – DL, Los Angeles Chargers (N/A)
* 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 (Bye Week)

Georgia Southern
Tyler Bass – K, Buffalo Bills (1 G, 1 GS, 3-for-3 FG, 2-for-2 XP)
Matt Breida – RB, Buffalo Bills (N/A)
Raymond Johnson III – DL, New York Giants (1 G)
Younghoe Koo – K, Atlanta Falcons (Bye Week)
Jerick McKinnon – RB, Kansas City Chiefs (1 G, 3 Rushes, 10 Yards, 1 Reception, 5 Yards)
Kindle Vildor – DB, Chicago Bears (1 G, 1 GS, 4 Tackles)

Georgia State 
Penny Hart – WR, Seattle Seahawks (1 G, 1 Reception, 12 Yards)
^ Wil Lutz – K, New Orleans Saints
Chandon Sullivan – DB, Green Bay Packers (1 G)
Albert Wilson – WR, Miami Dolphins (1 G, 2 Receptions, 14 Yards)

Louisiana 
* Ja’Marcus Bradley – WR, Cleveland Browns
Kevin Dotson – OL, Pittsburgh Steelers (1 G, 1 GS)
Justin Hamilton – DL, Dallas Cowboys (N/A)
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 (Bye Week)
* Trey Ragas – RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Nick Ralston – FB, Dallas Cowboys (1 G)
Tracy Walker III – S, Detroit Lions (1 G, 1 GS, 4 Tackles, 1 Pass Defended)

ULM
* Josh Johnson – RB, Seattle Seahawks

South Alabama
* Kawaan Baker – WR, New Orleans Saints
Gerald Everett – TE, Seattle Seahawks (1 G, 1 GS, 2 Receptions, 40 Yards)
* Jeremy Reaves – DB, Washington Football Team

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

Troy
Mario Addison – DL, Buffalo Bills (1 G, 1 Tackle)
Steve McLendon – DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 G)
* Damion Willis – WR, Washington Football Team

* Practice Squad
^ Injured Reserve