Davis-Gaither accumulated 28 tackles, three passes defended and a forced fumble in nine appearances this season, before being placed on the injured reserve with a foot injury on Nov. 9, 2021.

The App State alumnus owns 59 tackles, six passes defended, two quarterback hits, an interception, a forced fumble and 0.5 sacks in two NFL seasons, after being a fourth-round selection by the Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft.

While in Boone, he appeared in 55 games over five seasons, earning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and All-Sun Belt First Team honors as a senior in 2019 and Second Team recognition as a junior in 2018. Davis-Gaither totaled 258 tackles, 28.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 18 passes defended, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal.

During his tenure, App State went 54-12, including a 5-0 bowl record and four-straight conference championships.

Forty-nine Sun Belt alumni—representing all 10 football programs—earned NFL roster spots entering the 2021 season. Twenty advanced to the NFL playoffs.

Sun Belt football alumni dotted 24-of-32 NFL rosters during the 2021 season and were represented on 11-of-14 playoff clubs, 7-of-8 teams that advanced to the Divisional Round, 3-of-4 teams that competed on Conference Championship weekend and 1-of-2 Super Bowl participants.

App State
^ Akeem Davis-Gaither – LB, Cincinnati Bengals

* Practice Squad
^ Injured Reserve