Washington Football Team defensive back and South Alabama alumnus Jeremy Reaves, who had never tallied more than six tackles in an NFL game, erupted for a career-high 12 tackles in Week 15 of the National Football League (NFL) season. In his 10th start of the season, Seattle Seahawks tight end Gerald Everett, also out of South Alabama, caught four passes for 60 yards—just three yards off of his season-high.

Reaves’ performance was part of a 41-tackle week for Sun Belt alumni on the defensive side of the ball—with New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis out of Arkansas State pacing all other Sun Belt products with seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass defended.

Defensive lineman Ronald Blair (App State, New York Jets), defensive back Shemar Jean-Charles (App State, Green Bay Packers), defensive lineman Tarron Jackson (Coastal Carolina, Philadelphia Eagles), defensive back Josh Norman (Coastal Carolina, San Francisco 49ers), defensive back Kindle Vildor (Georgia Southern, Chicago Bears), defensive back Chandon Sullivan (Georgia State, Green Bay Packers), defensive lineman Christian Ringo (Louisiana, New Orleans Saints), defensive lineman Mario Addison (Troy, Buffalo Bills) and defensive lineman Steve McLendon (Troy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) also contributed defensively.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson out of Georgia State accumulated 10 yards of total offense on one reception and one rushing attempt, while Buffalo Bills running back Matt Breida out of Georgia Southern managed a yard on his lone carry.

Aaron Brewer, an offensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans by way of Texas State, posted the first fumble recovery of his professional career.

On special teams, former App State punter Sam Martin tallied 309 yards on six punts for the Denver Broncos. Former Georgia Southern kickers Tyler Bass of the Buffalo Bill and Younghoe Koo of the Atlanta Falcons went a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts and 5-for-5 on extra points.

Colby Gossett (App State, Atlanta Falcons), Kendall Lamm (App State, Tennessee Titans), Raymond Johnson III (Georgia Southern, New York Giants), Penny Hart (Georgia State, Seattle Seahawks), Ja’Marcus Bradley (Louisiana, Cleveland Browns), Justin Hamilton (Louisiana, Dallas Cowboys), Robert Hunt (Louisiana, Miami Dolphins), Derrick Gore (ULM, Kansas City Chiefs) and Ty Nsekhe (Texas State, Dallas Cowboys) also appeared in Week 15.

Forty-nine Sun Belt alumni—representing all 10 football programs—earned NFL roster spots entering the 2021 season, with 29 on active rosters, 11 on 16-man practice squads and seven on injured reserve lists during Week 15. Twenty-seven Sun Belt alumni saw game action in Week 15.

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

App State
Ronald Blair – DL, New York Jets (1 G, 2 Tackles, 1 QB Hit)
^ Akeem Davis-Gaither – LB, Cincinnati Bengals
^ Darrynton Evans – RB, Tennessee Titans
Colby Gossett – OL, Atlanta Falcons (1 G)
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, 6 Punts, 309 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, 1 TFL, 1 Pass Defended)
* Aaron Donkor – LB, Seattle Seahawks
^ J.D. McKissic – RB, Washington Football Team
* Forrest Merrill – DL, Los Angeles Chargers
* Kirk Merritt – WR, Miami Dolphins

Coastal Carolina 
* Anthony Chesley – DB, Indianapolis Colts
Tarron Jackson – DL, Philadelphia Eagles (1 G, 3 Tackles, 1 TFL)
Josh Norman – DB, San Francisco 49ers (1 G, 1 GS, 4 Tackles)

Georgia Southern
Tyler Bass – K, Buffalo Bills (1 G, 1 GS, 1-for-1 FG, 4-for-4 XP)
Matt Breida – RB, Buffalo Bills (1 G, 1 Rush, 1 Yard)
Raymond Johnson III – DL, New York Giants (1 G)
Younghoe Koo – K, Atlanta Falcons (1 G, 1 GS, 2-for-2 FG, 1-for-1 XP)
^ Jerick McKinnon – RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Kindle Vildor – DB, Chicago Bears (1 G, 1 GS, 4 Tackles)

Georgia State 
Penny Hart – WR, Seattle Seahawks (1 G)
^ Wil Lutz – K, New Orleans Saints
Chandon Sullivan – DB, Green Bay Packers (1 G, 2 Tackles)
Albert Wilson – WR, Miami Dolphins (1 G, 1 GS, 1 Reception, 9 Yards, 1 Rush, 1 Yard)

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

ULM
Derrick Gore – RB, Kansas City Chiefs (1 G)
* Josh Johnson – RB, Seattle Seahawks

South Alabama
* Kawaan Baker – WR, New Orleans Saints
Gerald Everett – TE, Seattle Seahawks (1 G, 1 GS, 4 Receptions, 60 Yards)
Jeremy Reaves – DB, Washington Football Team (1 G, 1 GS, 12 Tackles)

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

Troy
Mario Addison – DL, Buffalo Bills (1 G, 3 Tackles, 2 TFL)
Steve McLendon – DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 G, 2 Tackles)

* Practice Squad
^ Injured Reserve