The Sun Belt has radically increased its NFL Combine invites from just six in 2022 to 12 in 2023, which doesn’t necessarily have bearing on the NFL Draft. However, those invited to pump iron and run cone drills in the Combine generally have an inside track to the Draft.

While the Sun Belt didn’t make seismic waves during the Combine (I recall a brief mention of Old Dominion’s enormous TE Zack Kuntz earning positive reviews), you can reasonably count on these players having a chance to hear their name Thursday or (more likely) Friday and Saturday.

Player	Pos.	School
Nick Hampton	DL	Appalachian St.
Cam Peoples	RB	Appalachian St.
Lance Boykin	DB	Coastal Carolina
Jerrod Clark	DL	Coastal Carolina
Michael Jefferson	WR	Louisiana
Andre Jones Jr	LB	Louisiana
Zack Kuntz	TE	Old Dominion
Nick Zaldiveri	OL	Old Dominion
Darell Luter Jr	DB	South Alabama
Jalen Wayne	WR	South Alabama
Jason Brownlee	WR	Southern Miss
Jake Andrews	OL	Troy

According to CBS, Old Dominion offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri is projected to be the first Sun Belter off the board. Following Saldiveri is South Alabama defensive back Darrell Luter Jr. and then the before mentioned Kuntz.

Others making the CBS list are DL Nick Hampton (Appalachian State), OL Jake Andrews (Troy), CB Tre Hawkins (Old Dominion), DB Lance Boykin (Coastal Carolina), DL Jarrod Clark (Coastal Carolina), WR Jalen Wayne (South Alabama), WR Jason Brownlee (Southern Miss), WR Michael Jefferson (Louisiana), LB Andre Jones (Louisiana), DT Shakel Brown (Troy), RB Chris Smith (Louisiana), RB Cameron Peoples (Appalachian State), and LB Carlton Martial (Troy).

CBS appears to have the same idea about the Combine, with only Martial, Brown and Smith not receiving Combine invites. The 2023 NFL Draft is held April 27, 28, and 29 in Kansas City, MO.