#STATEtoSundays: Week 16 Update
December 23, 2025 | Football
Three former Mississippi State standouts are headed back to the Pro Bowl.
Quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive tackles Chris Jones and Jeffery Simmons were all selected to participate in this year's Pro Bowl Games in the San Fransico on Feb. 3 starting at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN.
It is Jones' seventh Pro Bowl selection, the most of any Bulldog ever. Prescott and Simmons have both been picked for four Pro Bowls in their careers. It is the 11th consecutive year MSU has had at least one player voted to the Pro Bowl.
Simmons and Jones hold the top two pressure grades among NFL interior defenders this season according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Simmons has a pressure grade of 90.9 followed closely by Jones at 90.5.
This past weekend, Simmons totaled three tackles along with two stops for loss, two pass defenses and a safety. It was the first safety of Simmons' career and the first for Tennessee since Nov. 24, 2024. His 16 tackles for loss this season are a career best and ties for the most by a Titan since 2008.
Jones also made a tackle for loss last weekend, his ninth of the year. His pressure grade is also the highest on Kansas City's defense.
Prescott leads the NFL with 378 completions and his 4,175 yards ranks second, four shy of the league leader. Last Sunday, he connected on 21 of 30 throws for 244 yards and two touchdowns and holds Dallas' highest offensive grade in 2025 at 88.6.
Prescott's offensive grade ranks No. 4 among all NFL quarterbacks and is also fourth in passing grade at 86.5. He also surpassed the 4,000 yard plateau passing for the fourth time in his career, tying him with Tony Romo for the most in Cowboys history. He also tied Romo for the third-most Pro Bowl selections in franchise history.
Montez Sweat finished with five tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack for Chicago and earned the fifth-highest pressure grade among edge rushers in Week 16 at 82.5.
Sweat now has 9 ½ sacks this season and 56 ½ for his career. He also owns the third-highest pressure grade on the Bears defense in 2025.
Logan Cooke was a busy man for Jacksonville, punting six times for a 46.3 yard average this past week with a long of 63 yards. Cooke's 43.5 yard net punting average over the course of his career is the best of any punter since the league started tracking that stat in 1976.
Tampa Bay signed former Pro Bowler J.T. Gray from its practice squad and has now played in back-to-back games for the Buccaneers.
DENICO AUTRYÂ | DE | HOUSTON TEXANSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week:Â Autry made one assisted tackle in a 23-21 win over the Raiders.
Season:Â seven tackles (four solo, three assists), two tackles for loss, 2 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hurries, one pass defense, two blocked field goals
MARCUS BANKSÂ | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS |Â AT MSU:Â 2022-23
Last Week:Â Banks was on the practice squad for a 23-20 loss at the Panthers.
Season:Â three games played
STONE BLANTONÂ | LB | FREE AGENT |Â AT MSU: 2024
Last Week:Â Blanton was released from the 49ers practice squad on Nov. 26.
Season:Â N/A
LOGAN COOKEÂ | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Cooke punted six times for 312 yards (46.3 avg.) with a long of 63 yards in a 34-20 win at the Broncos.
Season: Punting – 55 punts for 2,613 yards (47.5 avg.), long 68 Misc. – one solo tackle
CHARLES CROSSÂ | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Cross was inactive for a 38-37 overtime win against the Rams.
Season:Â 14 games played, 14 starts
JADEN CRUMEDYÂ | DT | CAROLINA PANTEHRS |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Crumedy was on the practice squad for a 23-20 win over the Buccaneers.
Season:Â two assisted tackles
MARTIN EMERSONÂ | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Emerson was on injured reserve for a 23-20 loss to the Bills.
Season:Â Out for the season (torn Achilles)
EMMANUEL FORBESÂ | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Forbes started and made two solo tackles and one pass defense in a 38-37 overtime loss at the Seahawks.
Season:Â 41 tackles (29 solo, 12 assists), 16 pass defenses, one forced fumble, three interceptions
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | MIAMI DOLPHINS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Gay saw action on three defensive reps and seven special teams plays in a 45-21 loss to the Bengals.
Season:Â 14 tackles (seven solo, seven assists), three tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries, two pass defenses
J.T. GRAYÂ | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Gray was signed from the practice squad and saw action on 16 special teams plays in a 23-20 loss at the Panthers.
Season:Â one assisted tackle
ELGTON JENKINSÂ | G/C | GREEN BAY PACKERS |Â AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week:Â Jenkins was on injured reserve (fractured lower left leg) for a 22-16 loss at the Bears.
Season:Â nine games played, nine starts
CHRIS JONESÂ | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |Â AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week:Â Jones started and made two tackles (one solo, one assist), one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry in a 26-9 loss at the Titans.
Season:Â 24 tackles (12 solo, 12 assists), nine tackles for loss, 18 quarterback hurries, four sacks, two pass defenses
TYRE PHILLIPSÂ | OG | CLEVELAND BROWNS |Â AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Phillips was on the practice squad for a 23-20 loss to the Bills.
Season:Â N/A
DAK PRESCOTTÂ | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS |Â AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week:Â Prescott started and completed 21 of 30 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed twice for 14 yards in a 34-17 loss to the Chargers.
Season: Passing - 378 of 552, 4,175 yards, 28 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Rushing – 47 carries, 154 yards, two touchdowns Misc. – two solo tackles, three fumble recoveries
DECAMERION RICHARDSONÂ | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week:Â Richardson made one solo tackle on special teams in a 23-31 loss at the Texans.
Season:Â 10 tackles (eight solo, two assists)
JEFFERY SIMMONSÂ | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS |Â AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week:Â Simmons started and made three tackles (two solo, one assist), two tackles for loss, two pass defenses and one safety in a 26-9 win over the Chiefs.
Season: Defense - 58 tackles (34 solo, 24 assists), 16 tackles for loss, nine sacks, 19 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, three pass defenses, one safety Receiving – one catch, 1 yard, one touchdown
DARIUS SLAYÂ | CB | BUFFALO BILLS |Â AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week:Â Slay was on the reserve/did not report list for a 23-20 win at the Browns.
Season:Â 36 tackles (28 solo, eight assists), three pass defenses, one fumble recovery, one tackle for loss
PRESTON SMITHÂ | DE | WASHINGTON COMMANDERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week:Â Smith made two tackles (one solo, one assist) in a 29-18 loss to the Eagles.
Season:Â 21 tackles (eight solo, 13 assists), five quarterback hurries, two tackles for loss, one pass defense
MONTEZ SWEATÂ | DE | CHICAGO BEARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week:Â Sweat started and made five tackles (two solo, three assists), one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 22-16 win over the Packers.
Season:Â 43 tackles (31 solo, 12 assists), 13 tackles for loss, six pass defenses, 16 quarterback hurries, 9 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery
NATHANIEL WATSONÂ | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Watson was on injured reserve for a 23-20 loss to the Bills.
Season:Â Out for the season (bicep)
TYRUS WHEATÂ | DE | DETROIT LIONSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Wheat saw action on 11 defensive reps and 18 special teams plays in a 29-24 loss to the Steelers.
Season: 13 tackles (five solo, eight assists), one tackle for loss, 1 ½ sacks, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one pass defense
