Appalachian State Professional Athletes

Appalachian State linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither is stepping into one of the most demanding communication roles in the NFL — and he's doing it after just one week of the 2026 season.

The Indianapolis Colts are moving the defensive helmet transmitter, known as the "green dot," from safety Cam Bynum to Davis-Gaither following a costly communication breakdown in their Week 1 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. With the green dot comes full responsibility for relaying defensive play calls from the coaching staff to teammates on the field — a role often described as being the quarterback of the defense.

The switch signals both an urgent course correction and a significant vote of confidence in the former App State standout. Communication issues against Baltimore contributed to the 41-23 defeat, and the Colts are betting that Davis-Gaither's instincts and on-field command can stabilize the unit heading into Week 2. It's a high-stakes assignment for any linebacker, let alone one being handed the reins mid-stream in the early weeks of a new season.

Davis-Gaither has steadily built a reputation as a reliable and instinctive defender since entering the league, and this elevation reflects how much the Colts' coaching staff trusts his football IQ and leadership presence in the huddle. The green dot designation isn't just ceremonial — every defensive rep now runs through him.

Elsewhere Around the League

Ryan Neuzil, another App State product, logged a full 60 snaps at center for the Atlanta Falcons in their Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Neuzil played every offensive snap, cementing his role as the starting center in Atlanta's rebuilt offensive line.

On the NFC South front, punter Sam Martin suited up for the Carolina Panthers in their Week 1 loss to the Chicago Bears, 59-37, while linebacker D'Marco Jackson was on the other side of that blowout, playing for Chicago in the win. Two Mountaineers, one ugly scoreline — depending on which jersey you were rooting for.

The week underscored the depth of App State's NFL pipeline, with alumni scattered across rosters from Indianapolis to Atlanta to Chicago. Davis-Gaither's green dot moment, though, is the headline — a former mid-major standout now trusted to be the defensive voice of an AFC franchise. Mountaineer fans in Boone should have that one circled.

For Appalachian State fans keeping tabs on their NFL alumni, the Carolina Panthers just became the place to watch — and a familiar face just joined the party.

Marshall Finds a Home in the Carolinas

Running back Ahmani Marshall signed with the Carolina Panthers this week, giving the App State product a legitimate NFL roster spot after two preseason runs with the Cleveland Browns that never quite turned into a permanent gig. Marshall's roots in North Carolina made the Panthers a natural landing spot, and Carolina was clearly in the market for backfield depth when they came calling.

The signing marks a meaningful step for Marshall, who has been knocking on the NFL's door long enough to know how slim the margins are. Two preseasons in Cleveland demonstrated he could hold his own at the professional level — now he gets a chance to prove it on a 53-man roster.

App State's Panthers Contingent

Marshall isn't walking into an empty locker room as far as Mountaineer alumni are concerned. He joins cornerback Tyrek Funderburk, linebacker Nick Hampton, and punter Sam Martin already on Carolina's roster — making the Panthers something of an unofficial App State outpost in the NFL. Four alumni on a single 53-man roster is a remarkable concentration of talent from a program that has made a habit of sending players to the league.

The Broader Alumni Map

The App State footprint across the NFL remains impressively wide heading into the 2026 season. Darrynton Evans is in Buffalo with the Bills alongside wide receiver Jalen Virgil. Akeem Davis-Gaither is holding down a linebacker spot in Indianapolis. Shemar Jean-Charles is with the Seahawks, Anderson Hardy is anchoring a line spot in Pittsburgh, and Ryan Neuzil is in Atlanta. The Mountaineers have representatives on rosters from Jacksonville to Los Angeles, a testament to how consistently the program develops NFL-caliber talent.

For Marshall, though, the story right now is simpler than the league-wide alumni census: he has a roster spot, he's home in North Carolina, and the regular season is right around the corner.