#STATEtoSundays: Week 18 Preview
January 04, 2025 | Football
There are plenty of opportunities in the final week of the regular season to catch some of your favorite Mississippi State alumni at the next level with 26 Bulldogs currently on NFL rosters, coaching staffs and more.
Among the Bulldogs that have made the move #FromStateToSundays are Pro Bowl selections for this season, Chris Jones and Logan Cooke. It is Jones' sixth time to be picked as a Pro Bowler while Cooke earned his first career nod. Darius Slay (6x), Dak Prescott (3x), Elgton Jenkins (2x), Jeffery Simmons (2x), J.T. Gray (1x) and Montez Sweat (1x) have also been named to the Pro Bowl during their careers.
MSU also has four first-round picks currently in the league in Simmons, Sweat, Charles Cross and Emmanuel Forbes as well as Super Bowl Champions in Jones (3x) and Willie Gay Jr. The Bulldogs also boast the 2016 NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year and 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year in Prescott.
Among the Bulldogs in the NFL, Marcus Banks (Buccaneers) and Tyre Phillips (Giants) are practice squad members. Prescott (Cowboys) and Cameron Young (Seahawks) are both on injured reserve and will not play this week.
Several other State alums are making an impact on the sidelines and beyond throughout the NFL. Stephen Adegoke is the safeties coach for the Houston Texans and Fred Walker is working as the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. Former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champ K.J. Wright is in his first year as the defensive quality control coach for the San Francisco 49ers while fellow linebacker DeAndre Ward is now the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dr. Allen Sills also serves as the league's chief medical officer.
Cleveland Browns (3-13) at Baltimore Ravens (11-5) | 3:30 p.m. ESPN, ABC, ESPN+
CB Martin Emerson (CLE)
LB Nathaniel Watson (CLE)
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) | 7 p.m. ESPN, ABC, ESPN+
LB Preston Smith (PIT)
Carolina Panthers (4-12) at Atlanta Falcons (8-8) | 12 p.m. CBS
DT Jaden Crumedy (CAR)
Washington Commanders (11-5) at Dallas Cowboys (7-9) | 12 p.m. FOX
DE Tyrus Wheat (DAL)
Chicago Bears (4-12) at Green Bay Packers (11-5) |12 p.m. FOX
OG Elgton Jenkins (GB)
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) at Indianapolis Colts (7-9) | 12 p.m. FOX
P Logan Cooke (JAX)
New York Giants (3-13) at Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) | 12 p.m. CBS
CB Darius Slay (PHI)
New Orleans Saints (5-11) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) | 12 p.m. FOX
LB Willie Gay Jr. (NO)
S J.T. Gray (NO)
Houston Texans (9-7) at Tennessee Titans (3-13) | 12 p.m. CBS
DE Denico Autry (HOU)
DT Jeffery Simmons (TEN)
Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) at Denver Broncos (9-7) | 3:25 p.m. CBS
DT Chris Jones (KC)
Seattle Seahawks (9-7) at Los Angeles Rams (10-6) | 3:25 p.m. FOX
OT Charles Cross (SEA)
CB Emmanuel Forbes (LAR)
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) at Las Vegas Raiders (4-12) | 3:25 p.m. CBS
CB Decamerion Richardson (LV)
