BOONE, N.C. — App State outside linebacker
Akeem Davis-Gaither has been selected to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl.
The prestigious all-star game held Jan. 25 in Mobile, Ala., will cap a week in which the top seniors in college football compete and work out in front of NFL personnel. Davis-Gaither already has been named a Top 100 draft prospect by The Athletic, and App State alum/NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah revealed the Senior Bowl invitation to Davis-Gaither this week at the end of one practice.
An App State player is receiving a Senior Bowl invitation for the third straight year, as running back
Jalin Moore went to Mobile in 2018 and offensive guard Colby Gossett represented the Mountaineers in 2017. Wide receivers Brian Quick (2011) and Dexter Jackson (2007) also participated.
An All-America and Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year candidate, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Davis-Gaither's versatility has been on display during a senior year in which he's made 76 tackles (No. 4 among Sun Belt players on teams with winning records), 11.5 tackles for loss (No. 2 overall in the Sun Belt), 3.5 sacks, six PBUs (No. 7 nationally among non-DBs), a second-half interception at North Carolina and a blocked field goal on the final play of the 34-31 win against the Tar Heels.
Davis-Gaither's most prolific performances have come in App State's biggest games, as he's totaled 44 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, three PBUs, one interception and one FG block in the Mountaineers' four games decided by 10 points or less:
34-31 W at UNC: 10 tackles, second-half INT, blocked FG on final play
20-15 W at South Carolina: 7 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 PBUs, drew holding flag on final play
17-7 W at Louisiana: 11 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, contributed to a sack
24-21 L vs. Georgia Southern: 16 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, one PBU to force late punt
Davis-Gaither has totaled 181 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 13 PBUs and 5.0 sacks over the last two seasons. Last year, he had a team-best 105 tackles for a defense that ranked fourth nationally in points allowed per game, and the Mountaineers are No. 21 in scoring defense this year.
