#STATEtoSundays: Conference Championships Update
January 27, 2026 | Football
Charles Cross is Super Bowl bound following the Seattle Seahawks' 31-27 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship.
Cross started at left tackle and logged all 67 offensive snaps for the Seahawks. Pro Football Focus (PFF) awarded him with the second-highest offensive grade among O-linemen this past Sunday at 81.9.
The former first round draft pick from Mississippi State tied for the No. 2 pass blocking grade amongst NFL offensive linemen during championship weekend at 81.6 and also posted the third-best run blocking grade in the trenches at 78.8.
Cross will be the 41st player to represent the Bulldogs in The Big Game and push the program's Super Bowl total to 63 appearances overall.
Another first round pick, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, recorded a tackle for loss in the defeat for the Rams. Forbes received the second-highest run defensive and pressure grades at his position during the conference championships.
Next week, former MSU standouts Dak Prescott, Chris Jones and Jeffery Simmons are scheduled to compete in the Pro Bowl Games on Tuesday, Feb. 3 starting at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN. The flag football game is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN and Disney XD.
Jones will be making his seventh Pro Bowl appearance while Prescott and Simmons are each making their fourth.
DENICO AUTRYÂ | DE | HOUSTON TEXANSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week:Â Season complete
Postseason:Â one assisted tackle, 0.5 sack, two quarterback hurries, two pass defenses
Regular Season:Â eight tackles (five solo, three assists), three tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hurries, one pass defense, one forced fumble, two blocked field goals
MARCUS BANKSÂ | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS |Â AT MSU:Â 2022-23
Last Week:Â Season complete
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 Season complete
Postseason:Â Two punts, 50 yards (50 avg.), long 58
Regular Season: Punting – 60 punts for 2,878 yards (48.0 avg.), long 68 Misc. – one solo tackle
CHARLES CROSSÂ | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Cross started at left tackle and played all 67 offensive snaps in a 31-27 win over the Rams in the NFC Championship.
Postseason:Â two games, two starts
Regular Season:Â 14 games played, 14 starts
JADEN CRUMEDYÂ | DT | CAROLINA PANTEHRS |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Season complete
Regular Season:Â two assisted tackles
MARTIN EMERSONÂ | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Season complete.
Season:Â Missed the 2025 season with a torn Achilles
EMMANUEL FORBESÂ | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Forbes made one solo tackle for loss in a 31-27 loss at the Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
Postseason:Â eight tackles (five solo, three assists), one tackle for loss
Regular Season:Â 45 tackles (32 solo, 13 assists), 18 pass defenses, one forced fumble, three interceptions
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | MIAMI DOLPHINS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Season complete
Season:Â 20 tackles (10 solo, 10 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 Season complete
Season:Â one assisted tackle
ELGTON JENKINSÂ | G/C | GREEN BAY PACKERS |Â AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week:Â Season complete
Season:Â nine games played, nine starts
CHRIS JONESÂ | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |Â AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week:Â Season complete
Season:Â 29 tackles (15 solo, 14 assists), 12 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hurries, seven sacks, two pass defenses
JO'QUAVIOUS "WOODY" MARKSÂ | RB | HOUSTON TEXANS |Â AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week:Â Season complete
Postseason:Â 33 carries, 129 yards, one touchdown
Regular Season: Rushing – 196 carries, 703 yards, two touchdowns Receiving – 24 catches, 208 yards, three touchdowns
TYRE PHILLIPSÂ | OG | CLEVELAND BROWNS |Â AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Season complete
Season:Â Phillips spent the season on the Browns' practice squad.
DAK PRESCOTTÂ | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS |Â AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week:Â Season complete
Season: Passing - 404 of 600, 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Rushing – 53 carries, 177 yards, two touchdowns Misc. – two solo tackles, three fumble recoveries
DECAMERION RICHARDSONÂ | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week:Â Season complete
Season:Â 11 tackles (nine solo, two assists)
JEFFERY SIMMONSÂ | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS |Â AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week:Â Season complete
Season: Defense - 67 tackles (39 solo, 28 assists), 18 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 21 quarterback hurries, three 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 Season complete
Regular 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 Season complete
Season:Â 24 tackles (eight solo, 16 assists), six quarterback hurries, two tackles for loss, one pass defense, 0.5 sack
MONTEZ SWEATÂ | DE | CHICAGO BEARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week:Â Season complete
Postseason: five tackles (two solo, three assists), four quarterback hurries, one pass defense, one sack, one forced fumble
Regular Season:Â 52 tackles (37 solo, 15 assists), 13 tackles for loss, seven pass defenses, 17 quarterback hurries, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery
NATHANIEL WATSONÂ | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Season complete
Season:Â Watson missed the 2025 season due to a bicep injury.
TYRUS WHEATÂ | DE | DETROIT LIONSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Season complete
Season: 14 tackles (six solo, eight assists), one tackle for loss, 1 ½ sacks, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one pass defense
