South Alabama Alumni Make Their Mark in NFL Roster Season
Two South Alabama alumni cemented their places in the NFL this week, while a third landed on a new team via waivers — making it one of the more eventful stretches for Jaguars alumni at the professional level.
Waitman Sticks in San Francisco
Punter Corliss Waitman didn't survive San Francisco's initial 53-man cut, but he didn't stay unemployed long. The 49ers brought him back almost immediately after final cuts, re-signing him alongside safety Ashtyn Davis as a veteran who cleared waivers. For Waitman, it's a continuation of the quiet, steady career that mobile-built specialists tend to build — not flashy, but impossible to cut loose for long. San Francisco clearly values what he brings, and Waitman heads into the season with his roster spot secured.
Reaves Shapes Washington's Defensive Identity
If Waitman's week was about survival, Jeremy Reaves' was about stature. The Washington Commanders safety is being spotlighted as a central voice in defensive coordinator Daronte Jones' vision for the unit — a scheme Jones describes as fast, physical, and joyful. Reaves, who has quietly built one of the more underappreciated careers of any South Alabama product, is now a culture-setter in the nation's capital. That kind of trust from a coordinator doesn't come without earning it, and Reaves appears to be squarely inside Washington's plans as the season approaches.
Luter Lands in Las Vegas
Cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. had a rockier week. Cut by the 49ers — the team that drafted him — Luter hit the waiver wire and drew interest from multiple clubs, including the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee lost out, and Luter ultimately landed with the Las Vegas Raiders. Four teams reportedly put in claims, a sign the league hasn't given up on the young corner despite the roster cut. He'll get a fresh start in Las Vegas.
Sheriff Finds a Practice Squad Home
Meanwhile, linebacker Jamie Sheriff signed with the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad after the team moved on from seventh-round pick Tim Keenan III. Sheriff, who spent time with the Seahawks, gets another shot to make his case at the NFL level. Practice squad spots aren't glamorous, but they keep careers alive — and Sheriff is still very much in the picture.
The Broader Picture
Four South Alabama alumni moving through the NFL's most turbulent week of the calendar is no small thing for a program based in Mobile. The Jaguars have built real NFL pipeline credibility, and this week — Waitman re-signing, Reaves leading, Luter landing on his feet, Sheriff finding a spot — is evidence of that depth. The season kicks off with more South Alabama products on rosters than most fans outside the Gulf Coast probably realize.
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