#FromStateToSundays: Week 9 Update
November 07, 2023 | Football
A pair of Mississippi State standouts were among the five highest-graded defenders during Week 9 of the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Willie Gay Jr. led the league with a 94.4 defensive grade against the run and received the third-best overall defensive grade (92). Gay recorded four solo stops, one tackle for loss and forced a fumble during the Kansas City Chiefs' 21-14 win over the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany.
Emmanuel Forbes produced the fifth-highest defensive grade (91.3) in the NFL, which was also tied for the best among 2023 rookie class. The former first-round pick had three solo tackles and defended two passes while earning the top defensive grade for the Washington Commanders.
For the season, Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson has produced the third-lowest passer rating in the NFL at 23.9.
Darius Slay finished third on Philadelphia's defense with eight tackles during Week 9. The five-time Pro Bowler achieved the second-best coverage grade (89.1) and third-highest overall defensive grade (81.2) for the Eagles in their 28-23 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Fletcher Cox also provided a half-sack in that victory, bringing his career total to 66 ½.
Dak Prescott completed 29 of 44 passes for 374 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions for the Cowboys in that contest. It was Prescott's 55th career game with a 100.0 or better passer rating, which ranks second all-time in franchise history.
Jeffery Simmons' seven tackles tied for the second-most for the Tennessee Titans this past week. His fellow defensive line teammate, Denico Autry, topped the Titans with the team's highest pressure grade and also earned the third-best tackling grade.
Elgton Jenkins was selected as one of the captains for Green Bay's game last week and garnered the second-highest pass blocking grade for the Packers.
Montez Sweat started his Chicago Bears debut this past week in the wake of signing a four-year, $98 million deal. Sweat is now the fourth-highest paid defensive lineman currently in the NFL. MSU now has two of the top six salaries among defensive linemen in the NFL and three of the top 15 with Simmons earning $94 million ($23.5 million annually) and Chris Jones signing a one-year deal worth up to $25 million ($19.5 million guaranteed).
JOHNATHAN ABRAM | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Abram was on the practice squad for a 24-17 win over the Bears.
Season: Eight tackles (three solo, five assists)
DENICO AUTRY | DE | TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week: Autry started and made three tackles (one solo, two assists) and one pass defense in a 20-16 loss at the Steelers.
Season: 26 tackles (13 solo, 13 assists), five tackles for loss, five sacks, nine quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, three pass defenses, one blocked kick
LOGAN COOKE | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Bye
Season: Punting - 32 punts, 1,525 yards (47.7 avg.), long 62 Passing – 1 of 1, 13 yards
FLETCHER COX | DT | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | AT MSU: 2009-11
Last Week: Cox started and made two assisted tackles, a half-sack and two quarterback hurries in a 28-23 win over the Cowboys.
Season: 17 tackles (six solo, 11 assists), 1 1/2 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery, one pass defense
CHARLES CROSS | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Cross started at left tackle in a 37-3 loss at the Ravens.
Season: Five games played, five starts
CAMERON DANTZLER | CB | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2016-19
Last Week: Dantzler was on the practice squad for a 24-17 win over the Bears.
Season: Two games played
GREG EILAND | OG | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU 2016-20
Last Week: Eiland was on the practice squad for a 37-3 loss at the Ravens.
Season: N/A
MARTIN EMERSON | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Emerson started and made one solo tackle in a 27-0 win over the Cardinals.
Season: 22 tackles (20 solo, two assists), one tackle for loss, five pass defenses, two interceptions
EMMANUEL FORBES | CB | WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Forbes made three solo tackles and two pass defenses in a 20-17 win at the Patriots.
Season: 23 tackles (21 solo, two assists), two tackles for loss, seven pass defenses, one interception
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Gay made four solo tackles, one tackle for loss and forced a fumble in a 21-14 win over the Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany.
Season: 35 tackles (25 solo, 10 assists), two tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, three quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
J.T. GRAY | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Gray saw action in a 24-17 win over the Bears.
Season: Five tackles (three solo, two assists)
ELGTON JENKINS | OG | GREEN BAY PACKERS | AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week: Jenkins started at left guard in a 20-3 win over the Rams.
Season: Six games played, six starts, one tackle, one fumble recovery
CHRIS JONES | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week: Jones started and made one assisted tackle and one quarterback hurry in a 21-14 win over the Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany.
Season: 17 tackles (nine solo, eight assists), 5 1/2 sacks, five tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
TYRE PHILLIPS | OT | NEW YORK GIANTS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Phillips started at right tackle in a 13-10 loss to the Jets.
Season: Three games played, two starts
DAK PRESCOTT | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week: Prescott started and completed 29 of 44 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed six times for 14 yards in a 28-23 loss at the Eagles.
Season: Passing – 186 of 265, 2,011 yards, 13 touchdowns, five interceptions Rushing – 29 carries, 118 yards, one touchdown
JEFFERY SIMMONS | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week: Simmons started and tied for the second-most tackles on the team with seven (four solo, three assists), one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry in a 20-16 loss at the Steelers.
Season: 32 tackles (22 solo, 10 assists), seven tackles for loss, five sacks, eight quarterback hurries, one forced fumble
DARIUS SLAY | CB | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week: Slay started and was third on the team with eight tackles (five solo, three assists) and one pass defense in a 28-23 win over the Cowboys.
Season: 40 tackles (33 solo, seven assists), one tackle for loss, seven pass defenses, two interceptions, one touchdown
PRESTON SMITH | LB | GREEN BAY PACKERS | AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week: Smith started at outside linebacker and made one solo tackle and one pass defense in a 20-3 win over the Rams.
Season: 18 tackles (12 solo, six assists), one tackle for loss, two sacks, five quarterback hurries, two pass defenses
MARQUISS SPENCER | DE | NEW YORK JETS | AT MSU: 2016-20
Last Week: Spencer was on the practice squad for a 27-6 loss to the Chargers.
Season: N/A
MONTEZ SWEAT | DE | CHICAGO BEARS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Sweat started and made two solo tackles and one pass defense in a 24-17 loss at the Saints.
Season: 33 tackles (21 solo, 12 assists), eight tackles for loss, 6 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles, 14 quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
JORDAN THOMAS | LB | CAROLINA PANTHERS | AT MSU: 2016-17
Last Week: Thomas was on the practice squad for a 27-13 loss to the Colts.
Season: N/A
TYRUS WHEAT | DE | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Wheat saw action in a 28-23 loss at the Eagles.
Season: Three games played
DARRYL WILLIAMS | C | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | AT MSU: 2015-19
Last Week: Bye
Season: N/A
CAMERON YOUNG | DT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2018-22
Last Week: Young saw action in a 37-3 loss at the Ravens.
Season: Seven tackles (five solo, two assists), one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry
