#FromStateToSundays: Week 1 Update

STARKVILLE – "D-line U" isn't just a catchy marketing moniker for Mississippi State.

Four former Bulldogs defensive linemen tallied five sacks on the opening weekend in the NFL with Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs leading the way with two sacks.

Jones is now tied for third in the NFL sack yardage (17 yards) and was the Chiefs' highest-graded defender according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Those sacks upped his total to 42.5 over his six-year career.

Pernell McPhee, Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat also had quarterback takedowns during Week 1. McPhee had a second quarter sack for a loss of 11 yards during the Baltimore Ravens' Monday Night Football appearance. Simmons' sack went for a 7-yard loss for the Tennessee Titans while Montez Sweat was credited with a strip sack for the Washington Football Team.

at first it may look like an incompletion

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A FORCED FUMBLE TOUCHBACK AND OUR BALL BABY

📺 » CBS | #LACvsWAS pic.twitter.com/TVZmSKSrzm
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) September 12, 2021

Down by three points late in the third quarter and the Los Angeles Chargers threatening again at the 7-yard line, Sweat hit quarterback Justin Herbert just as he was able to release the football. The ball traveled toward and then out of the end zone for a touchback, giving Washington possession at the 20-yard line.

Several other former MSU defensive linemen also had impacts last Sunday. Denico Autry made his debut with the Tennessee Titans and recorded a tackle and a quarterback hurry. Six-time Pro Bowler Fletcher Cox made his 135^th career start for the Philadelphia Eagles and had four QB pressures.

Chauncey Rivers played 21 snaps in his second career game alongside new teammate Preston Smith with the Green Bay Packers. Smith graded out as the Packers' top defender and racked up five tackles.

BEAUTIFUL!!!#DALvsTB | 🎥 Watch now on NBC pic.twitter.com/ymn8766SVe
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 10, 2021

Dak Prescott was the first former Bulldog back on the field this year, returning from an ankle injury suffered in Week 5 last season. Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys battled the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers down to the wire in the NFL opener last Thursday night, only to fall on a 36-yard field goal on the game's final play.

Prescott completed 42 of 58 passes for 403 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the contest. He leads the NFL in completions and recorded his 16^th career 300-yard passing game, second most in franchise history. He also passed Don Meredith for fifth place in Cowboys history in career pass attempts (2,309) while playing in his 70^th NFL game.

.@KJ_WRIGHT34 introduced himself to #RaiderNation with the fourth-down stop 💥

Watch the second half of #BALvsLV on @espn pic.twitter.com/JajXjBOMai
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) September 14, 2021

After a decade with the Seattle Seahawks, K.J. Wright donned the silver and black of the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night, teaming up with Jonathan Abram on defense. Wright made a crucial fourth down tackle in his Raiders debut while Abram swatted away a late pass that paved the way for a strip sack on the next play that setup the game-winning touchdown in overtime.

Rookie running back Kylin Hill made his NFL debut with the Green Bay Packers, rushing five times for 14 yards and also returned two kickoffs for 29 yards.

Helping pave the way for Hill was Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins, who earned his first career start at left tackle. Jenkins graded out as the third-best offensive lineman in the NFL during Week 1.

JOHNATHAN ABRAM | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – S | AT MSU: 2017-18
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 5 TKL, 4 AST, 9 TT, 1 PD, 1 ST TKL
Last Week: 1 GS, 5 TKL, 4 AST, 9 TT, 1 PD, 1 ST TKL vs. Baltimore Ravens (W, 33-27, OT)

Broke up a pass on second down in overtime that led to a strip sack on the next play to set up the game-winning touchdown

DENICO AUTRY | TENNESSEE TITANS – DT/DE | AT MSU: 2012-13
Season: 1 G, 1 TKL, 1 TT, 1 QBH
Last Week: 1 TKL, 1 TT, 1 QBH vs. Arizona Cardinals (L, 13-38)

HUNTER BRADLEY | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LS | AT MSU: 2012-17
Season: 1 G
Last Week: 1 G, 5 SNP at New Orleans Saints (L, 3-38)

LOGAN COOKE | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – P | AT MSU: 2014-17
Season: 1 G, 6 Punts, 297 YDS 49.5 AVG, LONG 58, 1 In-20
Last Week: 1 G, 6 Punts, 297 YDS, 49.5 AVG, LONG 58, 1 In-20 at Houston Texans (L, 21-37)

FLETCHER COX | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – DT | AT MSU: 2009-11
Season: 1 G, 1 GS
Last Week: 1 GS at Atlanta Falcons (W, 32-6)

Totaled four pressures per PFF

CAMERON DANTZLER | MINNESOTA VIKINGS – CB | AT MSU: 2016-19
Season: Inactive
Last Week: DNP at Cincinnati Bengals (L, 24-7, OT)

GREG EILAND | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – OT | AT MSU: 2016-20
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at Indianapolis Colts (W, 28-16)

WILLIE GAY JR. (IR) | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – LB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Season: Injured Reserve
Last Week: DNP vs. Cleveland Browns (W, 33-29)

J.T. GRAY | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – DB | AT MSU: 2014-17
Season: 1 G, 1 TKL, 1 AST, 2 TT, 2 ST TKL
Last Week: 1 G, 1 TKL, 1 AST, 2 TT, 2 ST TKL vs. Green Bay Packers (W, 38-3)

Recorded a career-high 80.6 tackling grade from PFF
Tied for third in the NFL in special teams tackles

FARROD GREEN (PS) | INDIANAPOLIS COLTS – TE | AT MSU: 2015-19
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. Seattle Seahawks (L, 16-28)

GERRI GREEN (PS) | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – LB | AT MSU: 2014-18
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. Baltimore Ravens (W, 33-27, OT)

KYLIN HILL | GREEN BAY PACKERS – RB | AT MSU: 2017-20
Season: 1 G, 5 RUSH, 14 YDS, 2.8 AVG, 2 KO RET, 29 YDS, 14.5 AVG
Last Week: 1 G, 5 RUSH, 14 YDS, 2.8 AVG, 2 KO RET, 29 YDS, 14.5 AVG at New Orleans Saints (L, 3-38)

Made his NFL debut and posted a 79.9 pass blocking grade per PFF

GABE JACKSON | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – OG | AT MSU 2009-13
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 2 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 Pressures Allowed at Indianapolis Colts (W, 28-16)

ELGTON JENKINS | GREEN BAY PACKERS – OG | AT MSU: 2014-18
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 91.4 Run Block Grade, 81.2 Pass Block Grade, 1 Pressures Allowed, 1 TKL
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 Pressures Allowed, 1 TKL at New Orleans Saints (L, 3-38)

Started at left tackle for the first time in his career and played all 57 snaps at the position
Led the Packers in PFF grades with an 89.6 overall, a 91.4 run blocking mark and an 81.2 pass blocking grade
Overall offensive grade ranked third among NFL linemen in Week 1 and was No. 4 in run blocking
Made a tackle on an interception return

CHRIS JONES | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – DT | AT MSU: 2013-15
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 3 TKL, 3 TT, 2.0 SK, 2.0 TFL, 2 QBH
Last Week: 1 GS, 3 TKL, 3 TT, 2.0 SK, 2.0 TFL, 2 QBH vs. Cleveland Brown (W, 33-29)

Kansas City's highest-graded defender per PFF
Totaled three pressures
Tied for third in the NFL in sack yardage (17 yards)

PERNELL MCPHEE | BALTIMORE RAVENS – LB | AT MSU: 2009-10
Season: 1 G, 2 TKL, 2 TT, 1.0 SK, 1.0 TFL, 1 QBH
Last Week: 1 G, 2 TKL, 2 TT, 1.0 SK, 1.0 TFL, 1 QBH at Las Vegas Raiders (L, 27-33, OT)

Picked up a sack in the second quarter for a loss of 11 yards
Totaled two pressures per PFF

OSIRUS MITCHELL | DALLAS COWBOYS – WR | AT MSU: 2016-20
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 29-31)

TYRE PHILLIPS | BALTIMORE RAVENS – OT | AT MSU: 2017-19
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 0 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 0 Pressures Allowed at Las Vegas Raiders (L, 27-33, OT)

Did not allow a pressure in 29 snaps before leaving with injury

DAK PRESCOTT | DALLAS COWBOYS – QB | AT MSU: 2011-2015
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 42-58, 403 YDS, 3 TD, 101.4 QBR, 4 RUSH, 13 YDS
Last Week: 1 GS, 42-58, 403 YDS, 3 TD, 101.4 QBR, 4 RUSH, 13 YDS at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 29-31)

Led the NFL in completions and was second in passing yardage in Week 1
Tied for second in the NFL with five "Big Time Throws" per PFF which are passes with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window
Recorded his 16^th career 300-yard passing game, second-most in Cowboys history
Became the fifth quarterback in NFL history with 133 combined touchdowns in his first 70 career games
One of five NFL quarterbacks to be sacked just once in Week 1

WILL REDMOND (IR) | GREEN BAY PACKERS – S | AT MSU: 2012-15
Season: Injured Reserve
Last Week: DNP at New Orleans Saints (L, 3-38)

CHAUNCEY RIVERS | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Season: 1 G
Last Week: 1 G at New Orleans Saints (L, 3-38)

Played 21 snaps in his Packers debut

JEFFERY SIMMONS | TENNESSEE TITANS – DL | AT MSU: 2016-18
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 5 TKL, 5 TT, 1.0 SK, 1.0 TFL, 1 QBH
Last Week: 1 GS, 5 TKL, 5 TT, 1.0 SK, 1.0 TFL, 1 QBH vs. Arizona Cardinals (L, 13-38)

Recorded one of Tennessee's two sacks for a 7-yard loss.
All four of his tackles were rated "stops" per PFF, which are tackles that constitute a failure for the offense
Tied for 12^th in the NFL in "stops"

DARIUS SLAY | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – CB | AT MSU: 2011-12
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 3 TKL, 3 AST, 6 TT, 1 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 3 TKL, 3 AST, 6 TT, 1 PD at Atlanta Falcons (W, 32-6)

Three of his five tackles were rated "stops" per PFF, which are tackles that constitute a failure for the offense
Ranked fourth on the Eagles in overall defensive grade

PRESTON SMITH | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LB | AT MSU: 2011-14
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 4 TKL, 1 AST, 5 TT, 1 QBH
Last Week: 1 GS, 4 TKL, 1 AST, 5 TT, 1 QBH at New Orleans Saints (L, 3-38)

Green Bay's highest-graded defender per PFF with an 86.3 overall mark and a team-high 85.1 run defense grade
Three of his five tackles were rated "stops" per PFF, which are tackles that constitute a failure for the offense

MARQUISS SPENCER (PS) | DENVER BRONCOS – DE | AT MSU: 2016-20
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at New York Giants (W, 27-13)

MONTEZ SWEAT | WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM – DE | AT MSU: 2017-18
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 2 TKL, 2 AST, 4 TT, 1.0 SK, 1 QBH, 1 FF
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 2 AST, 4 TT, 1.0 SK, 1 QBH, 1 FF vs. Los Angeles Chargers (L, 16-20)

Recorded a strip sack in the third quarter with Washington trailing by three points
Sacked Justin Herbert at the 15-yard line for an 8-yard loss while forcing a fumble that went out the back of the end zone for a turnover and touchback
Led Washington in overall defensive grade from PFF

DARRYL WILLIAMS (PS) | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – OT | AT MSU: 2015-19
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. Cleveland Brown (W, 33-29)

K.J. WRIGHT | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – LB | AT MSU: 2007-10
Season: 1 G, 1 TKL, 1 AST, 2 TT
Last Week: 1 G, 1 TKL, 1 AST, 2 TT vs. Baltimore Ravens (W, 33-27, OT)

ISAIAH ZUBER (PS) | SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – WR | AT MSU: 2019
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at Detroit Lions (W, 41-33)

Mississippi State University Athletics

#FromStateToSundays: Week 1 Update

Players Mentioned

Kylin Hill

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