#STATEtoSundays: Week 1 Preview
September 04, 2025 | Football
There will be plenty of opportunities this week to catch some of your favorite Mississippi State alumni at the next level with 22 Bulldogs currently on NFL rosters, coaching staffs and more.
Among the Bulldogs that have made the move #FromStateToSundays are Pro Bowlers Darius Slay (6x), Chris Jones (6x), Dak Prescott (3x), Jeffery Simmons (3x), Elgton Jenkins (2x), Logan Cooke, J.T. Gray and Montez Sweat.
MSU also has four first-round draft picks in the league in Simmons, Sweat, Charles Cross and Emmanuel Forbes as well as Super Bowl Champions in Jones (3x), Slay 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 are practice squad members Gray (Ravens) and Jaden Crumedy (Panthers). Martin Emerson Jr. and Nathaniel Watson are on injured reserve for the Cleveland Browns while Denico Autry of the Houston Texans is currently on the physically unable to perform list.
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 an offensive assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champ K.J. Wright is in his second year as the defensive quality control coach for the San Francisco 49ers while fellow linebacker DeAndre Ward serves as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dr. Allen Sills also holds the distinction of being the NFL's chief medical officer.
Dallas Cowboys (0-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (0-0) | 7:20 p.m. NBC
QB Dak Prescott (DAL)
Kansas City Chiefs (0-0) at Los Angeles Chargers (0-0) | 7 p.m. YouTube
DT Chris Jones (KC)
Miami Dolphins (0-0) at Indianapolis Colts (0-0) | 12 p.m. CBS
LB Willie Gay Jr. (MIA)
Carolina Panthers (0-0) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-0) | 12 p.m. FOX
P Logan Cooke (JAX)
Las Vegas Raiders (0-0) at New England Patriots (0-0) | 12 p.m. CBS
CB Decamerion Richardson (LV)
Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) at New York Jets (0-0) | 12 p.m. CBS
CB Darius Slay (PIT)
Tennessee Titans (0-0) at Denver Broncos (0-0) | 3:05 p.m. FOX
DT Jeffery Simmons (TEN)
San Francisco 49ers (0-0) AT Seattle Seahawks (0-0) | 3:05 p.m. FOX
OT Charles Cross (SEA)
Detroit Lions (0-0) at Green Bay Packers (0-0) | 3:25 p.m. CBS
C/G Elgton Jenkins (GB)
DL Tyrus Wheat (DET)
Houston Texans (0-0) at Los Angeles Rams (0-0) | 3:25 p.m. CBS
CB Emmanuel Forbes (LAR)
Minnesota Vikings (0-0) at Chicago Bears (0-0) | 7:15 p.m. ESPN, ABC, ESPN2
DE Montez Sweat (CHI)