#FromStateToSundays: Week 14 Update

STARKVILLE – For the second week in a row, a former Bulldog in his rookie NFL season was among the top newcomers in the league.

Willie Gay Jr. was Kansas City's highest-graded overall defender (89.1) according to Pro Football Focus, which was also the No. 5 grade among rookies in Week 14. Gay also had the Chiefs' top coverage grade.

His teammate, Chris Jones, picked up a sack for his first career safety in the game and posted the highest pass rush grade in the game (81.2). Jones now ranks sixth in the NFL with 22 quarterback hits and has the No. 2 pass rush grade in the league this season among players with a minimum of 50 percent of their team's snaps. He leads Kansas City with 6.5 sacks on the year.

Two Bulldogs in their second season continued the strong defensive showing this week. Montez Sweat made five tackles, including his team-leading seventh sack of the year. He is the fourth player in Washington Football Team history to record 14.0 or more sacks in his first two seasons, and his 18 career tackles for loss are second in franchise history through a player's first 29 games.

Sweat ranks eighth in the NFL in sack yardage (63.0) this season and is tied for 10th in the league with 10.0 tackles for loss. His run defense grade of 86.1 this year ranks 10^th among players who have played 50 percent of snaps.

Las Vegas' Johnathan Abram finished with a game-high 12 tackles and added two more on special teams. He posted the Raiders' highest run defense grade this week at 82.9.

Offensively, Gabe Jackson led the Raiders with an 88.5 pass block grade, which ranked sixth in the league this week. Meanwhile, Elgton Jenkins continues to prove he's one of the league's best linemen. Jenkins started at center for the second straight week and his offensive line did not allow a sack. He ranked 11^th among linemen with an overall grade of 82.6 in Week 14.

JOHNATHAN ABRAM | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – S | AT MSU: 2017-18
Season: 11 G, 11 GS, 55 TKL, 22 AST, 77 TT, 2 INT, 2.0 TFL, 4 QBH, 5 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 7 TKL, 7 AST, 14 TT vs. Indianapolis Colts (L, 27-44)

Finished with a team-leading and game-high 12 tackles with an additional two on special teams
Posted Las Vegas' highest run defense grade (82.9) according to PFF

DENICO AUTRY | INDIANAPOLIS COLTS – DT/DE | AT MSU: 2012-13
Season: 11 G, 10 GS, 16 TKL, 9 AST, 25 TT, 6.0 SK, 8.0 TFL, 7 QBH
Last Week: 1 GS at Las Vegas Raiders (W, 44-27)

HUNTER BRADLEY | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LS | AT MSU: 2012-17
Season: 13 G, 1 AST
Last Week: 1 G vs. at Detroit Lions (W, 31-24)

FRED BROWN (PS) | DENVER BRONCOS – WR | AT MSU 2010-15
Season: 1G
Last Week: DNP at Carolina Panthers (W, 32-27)

DEION CALHOUN (PS) | CINCINNATI BENGALS – OG | AT MSU: 2014-18
Season: 1 GS, 1 G, 1 Pressure Allowed
Last Week: DNP vs. Dallas Cowboys (L, 7-30)

TOMMY CHAMPION (PS) | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – OT | AT MSU: 2017-19
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. New York Jets (W, 40-3)

BRIAN COLE II (PS) | MIAMI DOLPHINS – S | AT MSU: 2017-19
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. Kansas City Chiefs (L, 27-33)

LOGAN COOKE | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – P | AT MSU: 2014-17
Season: 13 G, 49 Punts, 2,334 Yds, 47.6 AVG, LONG 67, 18 In-20, 46 KO, 2,782 Yds, 25 TB
Last Week: 1 G, 4 Punts, 199 Yds, 49.8 AVG, LONG 62, 0 In-20 vs. Tennessee Titans (L, 10-31)

Fifth in the NFL in net punting average (43.4 yards)

FLETCHER COX | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – DT | AT MSU: 2009-11
Season: 13 G, 13 GS, 25 TKL, 11 AST, 36 TT, 6.5 SK, 9.0 TFL, 9 QBH, 1 PD, 1 FF
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 1 AST, 3 TT, 1.0 SK, 1.0 TFL, 1 QBH vs. New Orleans Saints (W, 24-21)

Picked up a sack on third down to force a punt with 1:07 left until halftime
Has now recorded a sack in five of his last six games

CAMERON DANTZLER | MINNESOTA VIKINGS – CB | AT MSU: 2016-19
Season: 9 G, 8 GS, 30 TKL, 10 AST, 40 TT, 1 INT, 3.0 TFL, 2 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 2 TT at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 14-26)

WILLIE GAY JR. | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – LB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Season: 13 G, 6 GS, 20 TKL, 8 AST, 28 TT, 1.0 SK, 2.0 TFL, 1 QBH, 2 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 1 AST, 3 TT at Miami Dolphins (W, 33-27)

Kansas City's highest graded overall defender (89.1) and the No. 5 rookie in the league in Week 14 per PFF
Also posted the Chiefs' top coverage grade

J.T. GRAY | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – DB | AT MSU: 2014-17
Season: 13 G, 5 TKL, 2 FR
Last Week: 1 G at Philadelphia Eagles (L, 21-24)

Played 21 special teams snaps

FARROD GREEN (PS) | INDIANAPOLIS COLTS – TE | AT MSU: 2015-19
Season: 1 G
Last Week: DNP at Las Vegas Raiders (W, 44-27)

GERRI GREEN (PS) | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – LB | AT MSU: 2014-18
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. Indianapolis Colts (L, 27-44)

STEPHEN GUIDRY (IR) | DALLAS COWBOYS – WR | AT MSU: 2018-19
Season: Opted Out
Last Week: DNP at Cincinnati Bengals (W, 30-7)

BRAXTON HOYETT (PS) | BALTIMORE RAVENS – DT | AT MSU: 2014-18
Season: 1 G
Last Week: DNP at Cleveland Browns (W, 47-42)

GABE JACKSON | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – OG | AT MSU 2009-13
Season: 13 G, 13 GS, 1 TKL, 23 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 0 Pressures Allowed vs. Indianapolis Colts (L, 27-44)

Posted the sixth-highest pass block grade (88.5) in the league this week per PFF

ELGTON JENKINS | GREEN BAY PACKERS – OG | AT MSU: 2014-18
Season: 12 G, 12 GS, 75.7 Pass Block Grade, 10 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 Pressure Allowed at Detroit Lions (W, 31-24)

Started at center for the second straight game and appeared on all 67 snaps
Part of a line that did not allow a sack
Helped the offense convert on 8 of 11 third downs, a 72.7 percentage that was the best in a game by Green Bay since Nov. 23, 1997, vs. Dallas
Ranked 11^th among NFL linemen in Week 14 in overall offensive grade (82.6)
Posted Green Bay's third-highest run block grade (85.0)

CHRIS JONES | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – DT | AT MSU: 2013-15
Season: 11 G, 11 GS, 23 TKL, 12 AST, 35 TT, 6.5 SK, 2.0 TFL, 2 FF, 20 QBH, 2 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 4 TKL, 4 TT, 1.0 SK, 1.0 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 PD at Miami Dolphins (W, 33-27)

Sacked Tua Tagovailoa in the end zone for his first career safety
Posted the game's highest pass rush grade (81.2) per PFF
Also batted a pass in the fourth quarter
Ranks sixth in the NFL with 22 quarterback hits
Ranks second in pass rush grade (92.7) and No. 6 in the NFL in overall defensive grade (90.1) among players who have played a minimum of 50 percent of their team's snaps this season

JAQUARIUS LANDREWS (IR) | NEW YORK GIANTS – S | AT MSU: 2017-19
Season: Injured Reserve
Last Week: DNP vs. Arizona Cardinals (L, 7-26)

BENARDRICK MCKINNEY (IR) | HOUSTON TEXANS – LB | AT MSU: 2011-14
Season: 4 G, 4 GS, 21 TKL, 17 AST, 38 TT, 1.0 TFL, 1 PD
Last Week: DNP at Chicago Bears (L, 7-36)

PERNELL MCPHEE | BALTIMORE RAVENS – LB | AT MSU: 2009-10
Season: 12 G, 10 GS, 24 TKL, 7 AST, 31 TT, 2.0 SK, 2.0 TFL, 13 QBH, 1 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 AST, 1 TT, 2 QBH at Cleveland Browns (W, 47-42)

TYRE PHILLIPS | BALTIMORE RAVENS – OT | AT MSU: 2017-19
Season: 8 G, 8 GS, 14 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 4 Pressures Allowed at Cleveland Browns (W, 47-42)

DAK PRESCOTT (IR) | DALLAS COWBOYS – QB | AT MSU: 2011-2015
Season: 5 G, 5 GS, 151-222, 1,856 YDS, 9 TD, 99.6 QBR, 18 RUSH, 93 YDS, 3 TD
Last Week: DNP at Cincinnati Bengals (W, 30-7)

MARTINAS RANKIN | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – OT | AT MSU: 2015-17
Season: Injured Reserve
Last Week: DNP at Miami Dolphins (W, 33-27)

WILL REDMOND | GREEN BAY PACKERS – S | AT MSU: 2012-15
Season: 11 G, 1 GS, 19 TKL, 7 AST, 26 TT, 2 QBH, 1 PD
Last Week: 1 G, 2 TKL, 2 TT at Detroit Lions (W, 31-24)

Played 44 defensive snaps and 20 on special teams

CHAUNCEY RIVERS (PS) | BALTIMORE RAVENS – LB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at Cleveland Browns (W, 47-42)

JEFFERY SIMMONS | TENNESSEE TITANS – DL | AT MSU: 2016-18
Season: 12 G, 12 GS, 23 TKL, 22 AST, 45 TT, 3.0 SK, 3.0 TFL, 10 QBH, 1 FF, 2 FR, 5 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 TKL, 1 TT at Jacksonville Jaguars (W, 31-10)

DARIUS SLAY | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – CB | AT MSU: 2011-12
Season: 13 G, 12 GS, 50 TKL, 5 AST, 55 TT, 2.0 TFL, 5 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 5 TKL, 1 AST, 6 TT vs. New Orleans Saints (W, 24-21)

PRESTON SMITH | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LB | AT MSU: 2011-14
Season: 13 G, 11 GS, 26 TKL, 10 AST, 36 TT, 3.0 SK, 6.0 TFL, 8 QBH, 2 PD, 1 FR, 1 TD
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 2 TT at Detroit Lions (W, 31-24)

Ranked second among Green Bay's linebackers with 56 snaps played

TOMMY STEVENS (PS) | CAROLINA PANTHERS – QB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. Denver Broncos (L, 27-32)

MONTEZ SWEAT | WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM – DE | AT MSU: 2017-18
Season: 13 G, 13 GS, 23 TKL, 14 AST, 37 TT, 7.0 SK, 10.0 TFL, 15 QBH, 5 PD, 1 INT, 2 FF, 1 TD
Last Week: 1 GS, 5 TKL, 5 TT, 1.0 SK, 2.0 TFL, 2 QBH at San Francisco 49ers (W, 23-15)

With a 9-point lead in the third quarter, made a stop for a loss of one on first down and then a sack for a loss of five on third down to for a punt
Became the fourth player in Washington history to record 14.0 or more sacks in his first two seasons
18 career tackles for loss are second in franchise history through a player's first 29 games
Ranks eighth in the NFL in sack yardage (63.0) this season
Tied for 10^th in the league with 10.0 tackles for loss
No. 10 in the NFL in rush defense grade (86.1) among players who have played a minimum of 50 percent of their team's snaps this season

DARRYL WILLIAMS (PS) | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – OT | AT MSU: 2015-19
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at Miami Dolphins (W, 33-27)

K.J. WRIGHT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – LB | AT MSU: 2007-10
Season: 13 G, 13 GS, 47 TKL, 21 AST, 68 TT, 2.0 SK, 9.0 TFL, 3 QBH, 1 INT, 8 PD, 1 FF, 2 FR
Last Week: 1 GS, 4 TKL, 2 AST, 6 TT, 2.0 TFL vs. New York Jets (W, 40-3)

Recorded two tackles for loss on the same drive in the second quarter

ISAIAH ZUBER (PS) | NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – WR | AT MSU: 2019
Season: 4 G, 2 REC, 29 YDS, 2 RUSH, 21 YDS
Last Week: DNP at Los Angeles Rams (L, 3-24)

Mississippi State University Athletics

#FromStateToSundays: Week 14 Update

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