While the top of college football seems to be consolidating into two Power conferences, there’s still plenty of talent around the country. At the NFL Combine, former Troy running back Kimani Vidal commented on the strength of his former football conference.
Once one of the conference’s best players, Kimani Vidal had strong feelings about the Sun Belt’s place in the current college football landscape.
Kimani Vidal: Sun Belt Is “One of the Best” College Football Conferences
Vidal has plenty of college football experience after playing four years at Troy, and he’s seen several iterations of the Sun Belt Conference. Accordingly, Vidal went to bat for his former conference when speaking with reporters at the NFL Combine.
“I think it was one of the best conferences there is,” Vidal told the media. “It’s almost like a blood bath every Saturday. It’s competitive, it’s physical, and it’s fast. I think it’s one of the best.”
With the new parameters surrounding the College Football Playoff, it’s extremely important for the non-Power conferences to be as competitive as possible.
The top-ranked Conference champion from outside the Power Four will earn an automatic College Football Playoff bid. This year, that distinction is wide open, and the Sun Belt Champion has an opportunity to make the playoffs for the first time ever.
Vidal was a bowling ball in college, and at 5’8″and 210 pounds, he forced an incredible 230 missed tackles across four seasons in the conference.
Vidal’s Troy team will have to rebuild next season after losing former head coach Jon Sumrall to Tulane. Notre Dame offensive coordinator Gerad Parker will lead the charge against a very difficult conference schedule this year, a “blood bath,” if you will.
KEEP READING: 2024 Sun Belt Power Rankings
Vidal is fighting for a spot on an NFL roster and could be an intriguing Day 3 pick for a team needing a powerful running back.
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