BOONE, N.C. — App State finished the regular season with a Sun Belt-leading 14 alums on NFL rosters, as Colby Gossett joined the New Orleans Saints in the final week, and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks is also an App State alum.
In addition to Wilks, six alums are on the rosters of playoff teams: OT Kendall Lamm (Miami Dolphins), RB Darrynton Evans (Dolphins), P Sam Martin (Buffalo Bills), OLB Nick Hampton (Los Angeles Rams), CB Shaun Jolly (Rams) and FB Henry Pearson (Green Bay Packers).
Here's a recap of how #AppStateNFL alums fared during the regular season:
Kendall Lamm – OL, Miami Dolphins
Lamm played in all 17 regular season games for the Dolphins and made eight starts at left tackle, otherwise contributing as a reserve lineman or on special teams.
Lamm has played 104 career games over nine seasons, with regular season appearances for the Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans and Dolphins.
Ryan Neuzil – OL, Atlanta Falcons
Neuzil appeared in all 17 games and made four starts, beginning with one as an extra offensive tackle who lined up as an H-back and went in motion before providing extra blocking. He then played every offensive snap as the starting center in late-season NFC South games against Tampa Bay, Carolina and New Orleans.
Neuzil has played in 26 games over his first three NFL seasons.
Sam Martin – P, Buffalo Bills
Martin averaged 45.8 yards per punt in 17 games, with 24 punts inside the 20 and a long kick of 70 yards.
In 11 NFL seasons (with the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos and Bills), Martin has averaged 46.2 yards over 172 games and punted for 32,363 yards.
D'Marco Jackson – LB, New Orleans Saints
Jackson, who spent his entire 2022 rookie season on injured reserve, played in all 17 games for New Orleans in 2023.
He scored his first NFL touchdown with an 8-yard return of a fumbled punt attempt by the Carolina Panthers and totaled 12 tackles on the season while playing primarily on special teams – he did appear on defense in the season finale.
Akeem Davis-Gaither – LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Davis-Gaither appeared in 13 of 17 games for the Bengals, including the final 10 games, and totaled 17 tackles (with one tackle for loss). He had three tackles while playing on a season-high 43 percent of the defensive snaps in the season finale and finished the year with one start.
In 54 career games (with four starts) over four NFL seasons, Davis-Gaither has 122 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and half a sack.
Darrynton Evans – RB, Miami Dolphins
Evans played in seven games after starting the regular season on the Dolphins' practice squad, being signed off that to join the Chicago Bears' active roster and then rejoining the Dolphins.
He played in five games with the Bears, rushing 32 times for 121 yards with one touchdown (on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers) and catching seven passes for 49 yards. He appeared in two games after rejoining Miami's roster in late November.
In 19 career games over four seasons, he has rushed 62 times for 246 yards with one score and caught 12 passes for 120 yards with one score.
Shemar Jean-Charles – CB, New Orleans Saints
Jean-Charles was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster prior to the Saints' finale and played on defense in addition to special teams. He played in eight games in 2023 (five for the San Francisco 49ers, three for New Orleans) and totaled four tackles.
Nick Hampton — OLB, Los Angeles Rams
Hampton played in 10 games as a rookie, including the final five games of the regular season, and totaled four tackles. He also broke up one pass and played double-digit defensive snaps in four of those final five games.
Henry Pearson – FB, Green Bay Packers
As an undrafted rookie, Pearson spent most of the regular season on the Packers' practice squad and appeared in two games for Green Bay: wins against Detroit and Kansas City.
Pearson totaled 11 snaps in those wins, including nine against Kansas City, while also appearing on special teams.
Colby Gossett – OL, New Orleans Saints
Gossett, who spent the 2023 preseason with the Cleveland Browns, was signed to the Saints' practice squad before their regular season finale.
Shaun Jolly – CB, Los Angeles Rams
A member of the Rams' practice squad starting in late October, Jolly appeared in four games (special teams only) before going on injured reserve in early January.
Tae Hayes – CB, New York Jets
Hayes spent most of the season on the Jets' practice squad and played in one game, making two tackles while appearing on the field for 13 defensive snaps in a mid-October win against the Philadelphia Eagles.
On Reserve/Injured List (No game appearances)
Cooper Hodges – OL, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jalen Virgil – WR, Denver Broncos
