#FromStatetoSundays: Week 7 Update

Photo by: Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

#FromStatetoSundays: Week 7 Update

October 22, 2019 | Football

by Brandon Langlois, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Former Mississippi State All-American defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons shined in his NFL debut last Sunday, helping the Tennessee Titans to a 23-20 win against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Simmons, the No. 19 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, was activated on Saturday after spending eight months working his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered in February.

He finished the game played 21 snaps on Sunday (33 percent of the defensive plays) and recorded four tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. The Macon, Mississippi, product recorded his first career sack in the third quarter to become the first Titans player with a sack in his first NFL game since defensive lineman Angelo Blackson at Tampa Bay on Sept. 13, 2015.

"The main thing was to get back on the field and help this team as much as I can," Simmons said. "Just the opportunity to get on the field and have the chance to play in my first game. I was like, 'It's here.' I was excited to be out there and get a win. I was just ready to play football again. It's as simple as that."

Houston Texans linebacker Benardrick McKinney had a big game against the Indianapolis Colts, finishing with a team-leading eight total tackles (eight solo) and two tackles for loss. McKinney recorded his third tackle for loss of the season and now owns 33 tackles for loss in his NFL career (2015-19). He leads the AFC in total tackles since 2016 with 382 total tackles.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox sacked Cowboys quarterback and fellow Bulldog Dak Prescott for an 11-yard loss while also forcing a fumble in the third quarter at Dallas on Sunday night. Cox's 45.5 career sacks are the most by an interior defensive lineman in Eagles history.

For the Cowboys, Prescott finished the 37-10 victory with a 100.5 passer rating and also ran the ball for 30 yards and a touchdown to break Roger Staubach's record of 20 rushing scores by a Cowboys quarterback.

Below is a list of former Mississippi State student-athletes who are currently with NFL teams. Please use the link to view season and career statistics from NFL.com.

NAME	AT MSU	TEAM	YEARS IN LEAGUE	POSITION	SEASON STATS	LAST WEEK
Johnathan Abram - IR	2017-18	Oakland Raiders	R	S	1 G, 1 GS, 1 TKL, 4 AST, 5 TT, 1 PD	Injured Reserve
Denico Autry	2012-13	Indianapolis Colts	6	DT/DE	5 G, 5 GS, 9 TKL, 4 AST, 13 TT, 2.5 SK, 2.0 TFL, 5 QBH, 1, PD, 1 FF	BYE
Hunter Bradley	2012-17	Green Bay Packers	2	LS	6 G	Primary long snapper in 42-24 victory versus Oakland
Fred Brown	2014-15	Denver Broncos	1	WR	4 G, 1 REC, 5 YDS	Saw action in the wide receiver position against Kansas City
Richie Brown - IR	2012-16	Atlanta Falcons	1	LB	---	Injured Reserve
Deion Calhoun	2014-18	Miami Dolphins	R	OG	4 G, 1 GS	Earned first career start at right guard against Buffalo
Taveze Calhoun – IR	2011-2015	Atlanta Falcons	1	CB	---	Injured Reserve
Logan Cooke	2014-17	Jacksonville Jaguars	2	P	7 G, 35 PUNTS, 1,599 YDS, 45.7 AVG, LONG 61, 13 IN20	Punted six times in 27-17 victory versus Cincinnati, with a long of 53. Totaled 253 yards, averaging 42.2 yards per punt.
Fletcher Cox*^	2009-11	Philadelphia Eagles	8	DT	7 G, 7 GS, 12 TKL, 5 AST, 17 TT, 4.0 TFL, 3 QBH, 2 PD, 1 SK, 1 FF	Started at Dallas and recorded a sack for a loss of 11 yards, resulting in a fumble.
J.T. Gray	2014-17	New Orleans Saints	2	DB	7 G, 4 TKL, 2 AST, 6 TT, 1 BL	Started at Chicago, recorded a punt blocked which resulted in a safety in the first quarter.
Gerri Green - #	2014-18	Indianapolis Colts	R	LB	---	Member of the Practice Squad
Braxton Hoyett - #	2014-18	Kansas City Chiefs	R	DT	---	Member of the Practice Squad
Gabe Jackson*	2009-13	Oakland Raiders	6	OG	1 G, 1 GS	Made first start of the season and saw action versus Green Bay
Elgton Jenkins	2014-18	Green Bay Packers	R	OG	7 G, 5 GS	Started in 42-24 victory versus Oakland
Justin Johnson – IR	2015-18	Seattle Seahawks	R	TE	---	Injured Reserve
Malcolm Johnson - IR	2010-14	Green Bay Packers	3	FB	---	Injured Reserve.
Chris Jones*	2013-15	Kansas City Chiefs	4	DT	5 G, 5 GS, 8 TKL, 3 AST, 11 TT, 2.0 SK, 2.0 TFL, 7 QBH, 1 PD, 1 FR	Inactive during Week 7.
Kyle Love	2006-09	Carolina Panthers	8	DT	6 G, 2 TKL, 2 TT, 2 QH, 1 PD	BYE
Benardrick McKinney*^	2011-14	Houston Texans	5	LB	7 G, 7 GS, 30 TKL, 23 AST, 53 TT, 0.5 SK, 3.0 TFL, 3 QBH, 1 PD, 1 FF, 2 FR	Recorded eight tackles including two tackles for loss at Indianapolis.
Mark McLaurin – IR	2015-18	New York Giants	R	LB	---	Injured Reserve
Pernell McPhee	2009-10	Baltimore Ravens	9	LB	7 G, 7 GS, 17 TKL, 2 AST, 19 TT, 3.0 SK, 7.0 TFL, 6 QBH, 1 PD	Collected a tackle for loss while adding a QB Hurry to the stat line in 30-16 victory versus Seattle.
Dak Prescott*^	2011-2015	Dallas Cowboys	4	QB	7 G, 7 GS, 168-238, 2,123 YDS, 12 TD, 7 INT, 102.9 QBR, 24 RUSH, 153 YDS, 3 TD	Completed 21-of-27 passes for 239 yards in 37-10 victory verses Philadelphia. Added 30 rushing yards with a rushing and throwing touchdown.
Martinas Rankin	2015-17	Kansas City Chiefs	2	OT	3 G, 2 GS	Started at left guard in 30-6 victory versus Denver.
Will Redmond	2012-15	Green Bay Packers	4	S	7 G, 2 GS, 19 TKL, 7 AST, 26 TT, 1.0 TFL, 1 PD	Collected seven tackles in 42-24 victory versus Oakland.
Jeffery Simmons	2016-18	Tennessee Titans	R	DL	1 G, 1 GS, 4 TKL, 4 TTL, 1.O SK, 2, TFL, 1 QH	Made season debut while recording four tackles (2.0 for loss) with one sack for three yards while adding a QB hurry in 23-20 victory versus Los Angeles Chargers
Darius Slay*^	2011-12	Detroit Lions	7	CB	5 G, 5 GS, 12 TKL, 4 AST, 16 TT, 1 INT, 3 PD, 1 FR	Recorded three tackles at Minnesota.
Preston Smith*	2011-14	Green Bay Packers	5	LB	7 G, 7 GS, 14 TKL, 10 AST, 24 TT, 7.0 SK, 6.0 TFL, 12 QBH, 1 INT, 3 PD, 1 FF	Collected one tackle in 42-24 victory versus Oakland.
Montez Sweat	2017-18	Washington Redskins	R	DE	7 G, 7 GS, 14 TKL, 12 AST, 26 TT, 1.5 SK, 3.0 TFL, 4 QBH, 1 PD	Collected four tackles, including a half a sack, with one QB hurry versus San Francisco.
Jordan Thomas - IR	2016-17	Houston Texans	2	TE	---	Injured Reserve
K.J. Wright*	2007-2010	Seattle Seahawks	8	LB	7 G, 7 GS, 30 TKL, 28 AST, 58 TT, 1.0 TFL, 1 INT, 5 PD	Collected eight tackles while recording two pass deflects against Baltimore.

* - 2018 Regular Starter
^ - 2018 Pro Bowl Selection
# - Practice Squad
IR - Injured Reserve

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