Photo by: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
#FromStateToSundays: Week 3 Update
September 24, 2024 | Football
There's a reason Mississippi State has earned the moniker of "D-Line U".
The Bulldogs have produced some of the NFL's best defensive linemen in recent years and this season is no different. This past week, MSU defensive linemen tallied 13 tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks and five quarterback hurries.
Preston Smith produced a pair of sacks in the Green Bay Packers' 30-14 win at the Tennessee Titans to push his career sack total to 68. Smith is back playing defensive end this season, the same position he flourished for the Bulldogs from 2011-14.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranks Smith 10th among edge rushers in the NFL this season in tackling and he holds the No. 2 run defense grade for the Packers through the first three games.
Montez Sweat also had a sack and two tackles for loss for Chicago and owns the No. 3 tackling grade for the Bears in 2024. Sweat, a former first-round pick in 2019, has 42.5 sacks for his career.
Another first-round selection from 2019, Jeffery Simmons, earned the second-highest defensive grade for the Titans in Week 3. Simmons finished with four tackles and a sack and has the best run defense grade on the team this season.
Two more State defensive standouts were making plays for the New Orleans Saints this past Sunday. Willie Gay Jr. had four solo tackles and recovered a fumble while J.T. Gray blocked a punt.
Gay led all linebackers in the NFL with a 90.6 coverage grade during Week 3, which ranked third overall in the league regardless of position. His 85.9 defensive grade ranked third among all linebackers this past week.
Charles Cross has continued to have a Pro Bowl caliber start to his third season. Cross ranks No. 1 among offensive tackles with an 88.7 offensive grade and his 90.6 run blocking grade is also tops at his position.
This week, Cross posted the highest run blocking grade along Seattle's offensive line and owns the Seahawks' top offensive grade for the season.
Two-time Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins continues to expand upon his stellar career and currently owns the ninth-best pass blocking grade among NFL guards this year.
Dak Prescott accounted for three touchdowns this past Sunday. Prescott completed 28 of 51 passes for 379 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while also sneaking in a 1-yard score on the ground. The NFL's highest paid player also reached a career milestone by surpassing 30,000 career passing yards becoming only the ninth player in NFL history to reach that benchmark in their first 117 games.
JOHNATHAN ABRAMÂ | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTSÂ | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Abram was on the practice squad for a 15-12 loss to the Eagles. Â
Season: N/A
DENICO AUTRYÂ | DT | HOUSTON TEXANSÂ | AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week: Autry was suspended for a 34-7 loss at the Vikings.
Season: N/A
MARCUS BANKSÂ | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERSÂ | AT MSU: 2022-23
Last Week: Banks was on the practice squad for a 26-7 loss to the Broncos.
Season: N/A
LOGAN COOKE | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSÂ | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Cooke punted twice for 109 yards (54.5 avg.) with a long of 59 yards in a 47-10 loss at the Bills.
Season: 11 punts for 576 yards (52.4 avg.), long 67
CHARLES CROSS | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKSÂ | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Cross started at left tackle in a 24-3 win over the Dolphins.
Season: Three games played, three starts
JADEN CRUMEDY | DT | CAROLINA PANTHERS | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Crumedy was on injured reserve (high-ankle sprain) for a 36-22 win at the Raiders.
Season: N/A
MARTIN EMERSONÂ | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Emerson started and made seven tackles (five solo, two assists) in a 21-15 loss to the Giants.
Season: 18 tackles (11 solo, seven assists), two pass defenses
EMMANUEL FORBES | CB | WASHINGTON COMMANDERSÂ | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Forbes was inactive (thumb) for a 38-33 win at the Bengals.
Season: Four tackles (two solo, two assists)
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | NEW ORLEANS SAINTSÂ | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Gay started at Sam and made four solo tackles (one on special teams) and recovered a fumble in a 15-12 loss to the Eagles.
Season: Eight tackles (six solo, two assists), one fumble recovery
J.T. GRAYÂ | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTSÂ | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Gray blocked a punt in a 15-12 loss to the Eagles.
Season: Four tackles (two solo, two assists), one blocked punt
ELGTON JENKINS | OG | GREEN BAY PACKERS | AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week: Jenkins started at left guard in a 30-14 win at the Titans.
Season: Three games played, three starts
CHRIS JONES | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week: Jones started and made two assisted tackles and one quarterback hurry in a 22-17 win at the Falcons.
Season: Six tackles (one solo, five assists), one tackle for loss, 1 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble, four quarterback hurries
DAK PRESCOTT | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week: Prescott started and completed 28 of 51 passes for 379 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed twice for 7 yards and one touchdown in a 28-25 loss to the Ravens.
Season: Passing: 74 of 122, 851 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions Rushing: five carries, 22 yards, one touchdown Misc: one assisted tackle
DECAMERION RICHARDSON | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERSÂ | AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week: Richardson was not active in a 36-22 loss to the Panthers.
Season: N/A
JEFFERY SIMMONSÂ | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week: Simmons started and made four tackles (two solo, two assists), one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 30-14 loss to the Packers.
Season: 11 tackles (six solo, five assists), two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry
DARIUS SLAYÂ | CB | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week: Slay started and made two tackles (one solo, one assist) and one pass defense in a 15-12 win at the Saints.
Season: 10 tackles (six solo, four assists), one forced fumble, one pass defense
PRESTON SMITHÂ | DE | GREEN BAY PACKERSÂ | AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week: Smith started and made three solo tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and two quarterback hurries in a 30-14 win at the Titans.
Season: Six tackles (five solo, one assist), two tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries
MONTEZ SWEAT | DE | CHICAGO BEARSÂ | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Sweat started and made four tackles (two solo, two assists), two tackles for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 21-16 loss at the Colts.
Season: Six tackles (four solo, two assists), one pass defense, two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry
NATHANIEL WATSONÂ | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Watson was on the practice squad for a 21-15 loss to the Giants.
Season: Two games played
TYRUS WHEATÂ | DE | DALLAS COWBOYSÂ | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Wheat was inactive for a 28-25 loss to the Ravens.
Season: Three tackles (one solo, two assists)
CAMERON YOUNG | DT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKSÂ | AT MSU: 2018-22
Last Week: Young was on the physically unable to perform list with a lower-body injury for a 24-3 win over the Dolphins.
Season: N/A
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The Bulldogs have produced some of the NFL's best defensive linemen in recent years and this season is no different. This past week, MSU defensive linemen tallied 13 tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks and five quarterback hurries.
Preston Smith produced a pair of sacks in the Green Bay Packers' 30-14 win at the Tennessee Titans to push his career sack total to 68. Smith is back playing defensive end this season, the same position he flourished for the Bulldogs from 2011-14.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranks Smith 10th among edge rushers in the NFL this season in tackling and he holds the No. 2 run defense grade for the Packers through the first three games.
Montez Sweat also had a sack and two tackles for loss for Chicago and owns the No. 3 tackling grade for the Bears in 2024. Sweat, a former first-round pick in 2019, has 42.5 sacks for his career.
Another first-round selection from 2019, Jeffery Simmons, earned the second-highest defensive grade for the Titans in Week 3. Simmons finished with four tackles and a sack and has the best run defense grade on the team this season.
Two more State defensive standouts were making plays for the New Orleans Saints this past Sunday. Willie Gay Jr. had four solo tackles and recovered a fumble while J.T. Gray blocked a punt.
Gay led all linebackers in the NFL with a 90.6 coverage grade during Week 3, which ranked third overall in the league regardless of position. His 85.9 defensive grade ranked third among all linebackers this past week.
Charles Cross has continued to have a Pro Bowl caliber start to his third season. Cross ranks No. 1 among offensive tackles with an 88.7 offensive grade and his 90.6 run blocking grade is also tops at his position.
This week, Cross posted the highest run blocking grade along Seattle's offensive line and owns the Seahawks' top offensive grade for the season.
Two-time Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins continues to expand upon his stellar career and currently owns the ninth-best pass blocking grade among NFL guards this year.
Dak Prescott accounted for three touchdowns this past Sunday. Prescott completed 28 of 51 passes for 379 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while also sneaking in a 1-yard score on the ground. The NFL's highest paid player also reached a career milestone by surpassing 30,000 career passing yards becoming only the ninth player in NFL history to reach that benchmark in their first 117 games.
JOHNATHAN ABRAMÂ | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTSÂ | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Abram was on the practice squad for a 15-12 loss to the Eagles. Â
Season: N/A
Last Week: Autry was suspended for a 34-7 loss at the Vikings.
Season: N/A
Last Week: Banks was on the practice squad for a 26-7 loss to the Broncos.
Season: N/A
Last Week: Cooke punted twice for 109 yards (54.5 avg.) with a long of 59 yards in a 47-10 loss at the Bills.
Season: 11 punts for 576 yards (52.4 avg.), long 67
Last Week: Cross started at left tackle in a 24-3 win over the Dolphins.
Season: Three games played, three starts
Last Week: Crumedy was on injured reserve (high-ankle sprain) for a 36-22 win at the Raiders.
Season: N/A
Last Week: Emerson started and made seven tackles (five solo, two assists) in a 21-15 loss to the Giants.
Season: 18 tackles (11 solo, seven assists), two pass defenses
Last Week: Forbes was inactive (thumb) for a 38-33 win at the Bengals.
Season: Four tackles (two solo, two assists)
Last Week: Gay started at Sam and made four solo tackles (one on special teams) and recovered a fumble in a 15-12 loss to the Eagles.
Season: Eight tackles (six solo, two assists), one fumble recovery
Last Week: Gray blocked a punt in a 15-12 loss to the Eagles.
Season: Four tackles (two solo, two assists), one blocked punt
Last Week: Jenkins started at left guard in a 30-14 win at the Titans.
Season: Three games played, three starts
Last Week: Jones started and made two assisted tackles and one quarterback hurry in a 22-17 win at the Falcons.
Season: Six tackles (one solo, five assists), one tackle for loss, 1 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble, four quarterback hurries
Last Week: Prescott started and completed 28 of 51 passes for 379 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed twice for 7 yards and one touchdown in a 28-25 loss to the Ravens.
Season: Passing: 74 of 122, 851 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions Rushing: five carries, 22 yards, one touchdown Misc: one assisted tackle
Last Week: Richardson was not active in a 36-22 loss to the Panthers.
Season: N/A
Last Week: Simmons started and made four tackles (two solo, two assists), one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 30-14 loss to the Packers.
Season: 11 tackles (six solo, five assists), two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry
Last Week: Slay started and made two tackles (one solo, one assist) and one pass defense in a 15-12 win at the Saints.
Season: 10 tackles (six solo, four assists), one forced fumble, one pass defense
Last Week: Smith started and made three solo tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and two quarterback hurries in a 30-14 win at the Titans.
Season: Six tackles (five solo, one assist), two tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries
Last Week: Sweat started and made four tackles (two solo, two assists), two tackles for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 21-16 loss at the Colts.
Season: Six tackles (four solo, two assists), one pass defense, two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry
Last Week: Watson was on the practice squad for a 21-15 loss to the Giants.
Season: Two games played
Last Week: Wheat was inactive for a 28-25 loss to the Ravens.
Season: Three tackles (one solo, two assists)
Last Week: Young was on the physically unable to perform list with a lower-body injury for a 24-3 win over the Dolphins.
Season: N/A
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