#STATEtoSundays: Week 14 Update
December 09, 2025 | Football
Defense has been the calling card for Mississippi State for decades.
That was certainly evident during Week 14 of the NFL slate as former Bulldog defenders combined for 23 tackles, five tackles for loss, five sacks, 13 quarterback hurries and five pass defenses.
Jeffery Simmons led the charge with seven tackles, two tackles for loss and 1 ½ sacks for Tennessee. Simmons' tackle total was second on the team this past week and is now up to eight sacks this season and 39 ½ for his career – the fifth most in Titans' history. His 12 tackles for loss this year also matches his career high.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) has given Simmons the top pressure grade among all interior defenders in the NFL this year at 90.7 and also ranks second at his position in overall defensive grade (88.3).
Wille Gay Jr. earned the top defensive (86.2) and pressure (71.8) grades for Miami in Week 14. Gay recorded three tackles including a sack in a 34-10 road win at the Jets.
Gay ranks second on the Dolphins' defense in 2025 with a tackling grade of 82.3 and overall defensive grade of 79.5 while also sitting third with a coverage grade of 78.5. His coverage grade is ninth among all linebackers in the league.
Chris Jones and Montez Sweat secured sacks for Kansas City and Chicago, respectively, while Denico Autry provided Houston with a half-sack.
Jones posted the top defensive (90.3) and pressures (92.4) grades for the Chiefs in Week 14. His overall defensive grade was the fourth highest in the league this past week, regardless of position and his pass rush grade led all interior defenders.
Jones sits just behind Simmons with the No. 2 pass rush grade in the NFL among interior defenders at 90.4, which is tops for Kansas City. He now has 84 ½ career sacks during his star-studded career.
Dak Prescott connected on 31 of 47 passes for 376 yards and one touchdown for Dallas last Thursday. Prescott now leads the league with 3,637 yards passing in 2025 with his 26 TD throws tied for second.
Prescott has the highest offensive grade on the Cowboys at 87.2 this season, which ranks third among NFL quarterbacks.
Charles Cross started at left tackle for Seattle and earned the highest run-blocking performance on the team at 87.2, the fifth-best mark among offensive tackles in the league last week.
For the third straight week, Tampa Bay activated Marcus Banks from the practice squad. Banks saw action on 12 special teams plays, earning a team-high grade of 92.0 on that unit.
DENICO AUTRY | DE | HOUSTON TEXANS | AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week: Autry made one assisted tackle, a half-sack and two quarterback hurries in a 20-10 win at the Chiefs.
Season: five tackles (three solo, two assists), one tackle for loss, 1 1/2 sacks, three quarterback hurry, one pass defense, two blocked field goals
MARCUS BANKS | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | AT MSU: 2022-23
Last Week: Banks was activated from the practice squad on Dec. 6 and saw action on 12 special teams plays in a 24-20 loss to the Saints. He returned to the practice squad on Dec. 8.
Season: three games played
STONE BLANTON | LB | FREE AGENT | AT MSU: 2024
Last Week: Blanton was released from the 49ers practice squad on Nov. 26.
Season: N/A
LOGAN COOKE | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Cooke punted three times for 137 yards (45.7 avg.) with a long of 50 yards in a 36-19 win over the Colts.
Season: Punting – 47 punts for 2,197 yards (46.7 avg.), long 68 Misc. – one solo tackle
CHARLES CROSS | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Cross started at left tackle and played 53 snaps on offense and seven on special teams in a 37-9 win at the Falcons.
Season: 13 games played, 13 starts
JADEN CRUMEDY | DT | CAROLINA PANTEHRS | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Bye
Season: two assisted tackles
MARTIN EMERSON | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Emerson was on injured reserve for a 31-29 loss to the Titans.
Season: Out for the season (torn Achilles)
EMMANUEL FORBES | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Forbes started and made four tackles (two solo, two assists) and one pass defense in a 45-17 win at the Cardinals.
Season: 33 tackles (23 solo, 10 assists), 14 pass defenses, one forced fumble, three interceptions
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | MIAMI DOLPHINS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Gay made three tackles (two solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry and one pass defense in a 34-10 win at the Jets.
Season: 13 tackles (seven solo, six assists), three tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries, two pass defenses
J.T. GRAY | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Gray was on the practice squad for a 24-20 loss to the Saints.
Season: one game played
ELGTON JENKINS | G/C | GREEN BAY PACKERS | AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week: Jenkins was on injured reserve (fractured lower left leg) for a 28-21 win over the Bears.
Season: nine games played, nine starts
CHRIS JONES | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week: Jones started and made two tackles (one solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, one sack, four quarterback hurries and one pass defense.
Season: 22 tackles (11 solo, 11 assists), eight tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hurries, four sacks, two pass defenses
TYRE PHILLIPS | OG | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Phillips was on the practice squad for a 31-29 loss to the Titans.
Season: N/A
DAK PRESCOTT | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week: Prescott started and completed 31 of 47 passes for 376 yards, one touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed three times for 14 yards and made one solo tackle in a 44-30 loss at the Lions.
Season: Passing - 334 of 484, 3,637 yards, 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Rushing – 44 carries, 138 yards, two touchdowns Misc. – two solo tackles, three fumble recoveries
DECAMERION RICHARDSON | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week: Richardson saw action on 12 special teams reps in a 24-17 loss to the Broncos.
Season: eight tackles (seven solo, one assist)
JEFFERY SIMMONS | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week: Simmons started and finished second on the team with seven tackles (two solo, five assists), two tackles for loss, 1 ½ sacks, three quarterback hurries and one pass defense in a 31-29 win at the Browns.
Season: 48 tackles (28 solo, 20 assists), 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one pass defense
DARIUS SLAY | CB | BUFFALO BILLS | AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week: Slay was on the reserve/did not report list for a 39-34 win over the Bengals.
Season: 36 tackles (28 solo, eight assists), three pass defenses, one fumble recovery, one tackle for loss
PRESTON SMITH | DE | WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week: Smith made three tackles (one solo, two assists) and one quarterback hurry in a 31-0 loss at the Vikings.
Season: 17 tackles (five solo, 12 assists), three quarterback hurries, one tackle for loss
MONTEZ SWEAT | DE | CHICAGO BEARS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Sweat started and two solo tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 28-21 loss at the Packers.
Season: 37 tackles (28 solo, nine assists), 12 tackles for loss, six pass defenses, 13 quarterback hurries, 8 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery
NATHANIEL WATSON | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Watson was on injured reserve for a 31-29 loss to the Titans.
Season: Out for the season (bicep)
TYRUS WHEAT | DE | DETROIT LIONS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Wheat made one solo tackle, one quarterback hurry and one pass defense in a 44-30 win over the Cowboys.
Season: 12 tackles (four solo, eight assists), one tackle for loss, 1 ½ sacks, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one pass defense
