#FromStateToSundays: Week 15 Update
December 19, 2023 | Football
D-Line U isn't just a flashy catchphrase or recruiting gimmick for Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have consistently produced some of the NFL's most elite defensive lineman as evidenced by a dozen Pro Bowl appearances by active MSU alums.
Week 15 was no different as former Bulldog standout defensive linemen combined for 17 tackles, 5 ½ sacks, five tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Montez Sweat led the charge racking up seven stops – which tied for the second-most on the Chicago Bears defense – to go along with 2 ½ sacks and a forced fumble. Sweat is now up to 12 ½ sacks on the season, which is tied for eighth in the NFL.
For his efforts, Sweat earned the highest defensive grade for the Bears this past week at 89.5 by Pro Football Focus (PFF). He also garnered the third-highest run defensive grade (84.5) among edge rushers in the NFL in Week 15 and No. 5 tackling grade among his position group.
On the year, Sweat ranks ninth among edge rushers in the NFL with an 80.2 run defense grade.
Denico Autry also had a solid showing as well last week, collecting four solo tackles and two sacks for the Tennessee Titans. Autry is up to 11 sacks this season and 58 ½ for his career. He also holds the fifth-highest special teams grade in the NFL for 2023.
Six-time Pro Bowler Fletcher Cox collected another sack and now has 70 for his illustrious career. Cox was awarded the highest pressure grade for Philadelphia and the No. 5 pressure grade among interior defenders in the NFL during Week 15.
Two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Jones recorded a stop behind the line of scrimmage and now has 10 tackles for loss on the year. Jones earned the top pressure grade (85.3) and No. 2 defensive grade (84.2) for Kansas City last week. He also holds the sixth-highest pressure grade (87) by an interior defender in the NFL this season.
But the success was not limited to just the defensive line. Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. snagged an interception and returned it 24 yards which helped him earn the third-best coverage grade on the Chiefs last week.
State also had a strong showing in the offensive trenches during Week 15. Playing in just his second game for the Carolina Panthers, Gabe Jackson earned the top run blocking grade on the team and now holds the No. 10 run blocking grade among guards in the NFL this season.
Charles Cross had the best pass blocking grade in Seattle's win on Monday Night Football and has the highest offensive grade among the Seahawks' offensive linemen for the season.
Elgton Jenkins of the Green Bay Packers has the seventh-highest pass blocking grade among NFL guards this season.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott ranks second in the NFL with 28 touchdown passes this season and has the third-best offensive (90.6) and passing (88.5) grades among signal callers in the league in 2023.
J.T. Gray has been a star for the New Orleans Saints and has reached double digit tackles on special teams for the fourth time in his career. Gray is one of only two players in the NFL to record 10-plus stops on special teams in each of the past three seasons.
JOHNATHAN ABRAMÂ | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS |Â AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week:Â Abram saw action in a 24-6 win over the Giants.
Season:Â 11 tackles (four solo, seven assists), one tackle for loss
Last Week:Â Autry started and made four solo tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and two quarterback hurries in a 19-16 overtime loss to the Texans. Â
Season:Â 44 tackles (29 solo, 15 assists), 12 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, four pass defenses, two blocked kicks
Last Week:Â Cooke punted three times for 148 yards (49.3 avg.) with a long of 60 yards in a 23-7 loss to the Ravens. Â Â
Season: Punting - 56 punts, 2,645 yards (47.2 avg.), long 62 Passing – 1 of 1, 13 yards
Last Week:Â Cox started and made one solo tackle, one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 20-17 loss at the Seahawks.
Season:Â 25 tackles (10 solo, 15 assists), five sacks, three tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two pass defenses
Last Week:Â Cross started at left tackle in a 20-17 win over the Eagles.
Season:Â 11 games played, 11 starts
Last Week:Â Dantzler was not active in a 24-6 win over the Giants.
Season: Two games played
Last Week:Â Emerson started and made six tackles (four solo, two assists) and one pass defense in a 20-17 win over the Bears.
Season:Â 50 tackles (36 solo, 14 assists), one tackle for loss, 11 pass defenses, four interceptions
Last Week:Â Forbes saw action in a 28-20 loss at the Rams.
Season:Â 25 tackles (23 solo, two assists), two tackles for loss, 10 pass defenses, one interception
Last Week:Â Gay started and made two solo tackles, one pass defense and one interception returned for 24 yards in a 27-17 win at the Patriots.
Season:Â 51 tackles (38 solo, 13 assists), three tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, three quarterback hurries, four pass defenses, one interception
Last Week:Â Gray made one solo tackle on special teams in a 24-6 win over the Giants.
Season:Â 11 tackles (six solo, five assists)
Last Week: Jackson saw action in a 9-7 win over the Falcons.
Season: Two games played
Last Week:Â Jenkins started at left guard in a 34-20 loss to the Buccaneers.
Season:Â 12 games played, 12 starts, one tackle, one fumble recovery
Last Week:Â Jones started and made two solo tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass defense in a 27-17 win at the Patriots.
Season:Â 26 tackles (17 solo, nine assists), 7 1/2 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hurries, four pass defenses
Last Week:Â Phillips started at right tackle in a 24-6 loss at the Saints.
Season:Â Eight games played, seven starts
Last Week:Â Prescott started and completed 21 of 34 passes for 134 yards and one interception. He also rushed four times for 27 yards in a 31-10 loss at the Bills.
Season: Passing – 333 of 484, 3,639 yards, 28 touchdowns, seven interceptions Rushing – 48 carries, 209 yards, two touchdowns
Last Week:Â Simmons was not active in a 19-16 overtime loss to the Texans.
Season: Defense - 37 tackles (23 solo, 14 assists), 11 tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one pass defense Receiving – One catch, two yards, one touchdown
Last Week:Â Slay was not active in a 20-17 loss at the Seahawks.
Season:Â 50 tackles (41 solo, nine assists), one tackle for loss, 15 pass defenses, two interceptions, one touchdown
Last Week:Â Smith started at outside linebacker and made one assisted tackle in a 34-20 loss to the Buccaneers.
Season:Â 37 tackles (18 solo, 19 assists), two tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, four pass defenses
Last Week:Â Spencer was on the practice squad for a 30-0 loss at the Dolphins.
Season:Â N/A
Last Week: Sweat started and finished tied for second on the team with seven tackles (five solo, two assists), one tackle for loss, 2 ½ sacks, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble in a 20-17 loss at the Browns.
Season:Â 51 tackles (34 solo, 17 assists), 13 tackles for loss, 12 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles, 27 quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
Last Week:Â Thomas was on the practice squad for a 9-7 win over the Falcons.
Season:Â N/A
Last Week:Â Wheat made one assisted tackle on special teams in a 31-10 loss at the Bills.
Season:Â Two tackles (one solo, one assist)
Last Week:Â Williams was on the practice squad for a 23-7 loss to the Ravens.
Season:Â N/A
CAMERON YOUNGÂ | DT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS |Â AT MSU: 2018-22
Last Week:Â Young made two solo tackles in a 20-17 win over the Eagles.
Season:Â 13 tackles (nine solo, four assists), one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry
