NFL season begins for 17 former Mississippi State players

Football is here yet again.

High school and college football got kicked off across the country and inside the state of Mississippi last week, and now it’s the NFL’s turn. Like every year, there is plenty of Magnolia State flavor on the biggest stage and several players from Mississippi State are making their name in the league.

For the third time in his career, Bulldog great Chris Jones won a super Bowl last season as he brought home the trophy for the second year in a row with the Kansas City Chiefs. Additionally, Dak Prescott led the Dallas Cowboys with arguably his best season as a pro.

Willie Gay Jr. finds himself with a new team this season as he joins JT Gray with the New Orleans Saints. Three State defenders look to make their debut this season as LB Bookie Watson (Cleveland Browns), Decamerion Richardson (Las Vegas Raiders) and DT Jaden Crumedy (Carolina Panthers) all made the team’s rosters. Crumedy’s impact will be delayed as he was injured in the preseason and is on the reserved injured list.

Ahead of Thursday night’s season opener between Jones’ Chiefs and Baltimore, take a look at the Bulldogs in the NFL along with their 2023 stats and career numbers.

CB Darius Slay – Philadelphia Eagles  (12 seasons) vs. Green Bay Packers – Friday, Sept. 6, 7:15 p.m.

2023 Stats: 12 G, 12 S, 57 TKL, 14 PD, 2 INT, 1 TD

Career Stats: 163 G, 153 S, 570 TKL, 13.0 TFL, 1.0 SK, 147 PD, 28 INT, 3 TD, 4 FR, 1 FF

DE Denico Autry – Tennessee Titans (11 seasons – Reserve/Injured)  vs. Chicago Bears – Sunday, Sept. 8, Noon

2023 Stats: 17 G, 14 S, 50 TKL, 12.0 TFL, 11.5 SK, 2 FF, 4 PD

Career Stats: 141 G, 89 S, 309 TKL, 80.0 TFL, 59.0 SK, 31 PD, 7 FF, 3 FR

DT Jeffery Simmons – Titans (5 seasons)

2023 Stats: 12 G, 12 S, 44 TKL, 10.0 TFL, 5.5 SK, 1 FF, 1 PD

Career Stats: 68 G, 66 S, 233 TKL, 38.0 TFL, 26.5 SK, 20 PD, 3 FR, 3 FF

LB Preston Smith – Green Bay Packers (10 seasons)  vs. PHI – Friday, Sept. 6, 7:15 p.m.

2023 Stats: 17 G, 17 S, 48 TKL, 4.0 TFL, 8.0 SK, 2 FF, 4 PD

Career Stats: 146 G, 129 S, 411 TKL, 69.0 TFL, 66.0 SK, 27 PD, 5 INT, 6 FR, 10 FF, 2 TD

OL Elgton Jenkins –Packers (6 seasons)

2023 Stats: 15 G, 15 S

Career Stats: 70 G, 68 S

QB Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys (9 seasons) vs. Cleveland Browns – Sunday, Sept. 8, 3:25 p.m.

2023 Stats: 17 G, 17 S, 410-590, 4,516 yds, 36 TD, 9 INT, 69.5%; 55 car. 242 yds, 2 TD

Career Stats: 114 G, 114 S, 2,595-3,873, 29,459, 202 TD, 74 INT, 67%;  407 car., 1,884 yd., 28 TD

DE Tyrus Wheat – Cowboys (2 seasons)

2023 Stats: 11 G, 3 TKL

DE Chris Jones – Kansas City Chiefs (9 seasons) vs. Baltimore Ravens – Thursday, September 5, 7:20 p.m

2023 Stats: 16 G, 16 S, 30 TKL, 13.0 TFL, 10.5 SK, 4 PD

Career Stats: 123 G, 102 S, 273 TKL, 78.0 TFL, 75.5 SK, 37 PD, 2 INT, 1 TD, 12 FF, 12 FR

P Logan Cooke – Jacksonville Jaguars (7 seasons) vs. Miami Dolphins – Sunday, Sept. 8, Noon

2023 Stats: 17 G, 17 S, 61 punts, 2,893 yds, 47.5 ypp, 65 LNG, 4 TB, 29 IN 20

Career Stats: 99 G, 400 punts, 18,829 yds., 47.1 ypp, 72 LNG, 25 TB, 162 IN20

S J.T. Gray – New Orleans Saints (6 seasons) vs. Carolina Panthers – Sunday, Sept. 8, Noon

Week 18: 1 TKL

2023 Stats: 14 G, 12 TKL

Career Stats: 81 G, 78 TKL, 70 TKL, 2.5 SK, 1.0 TFL, 1 PD, 3 FR

LB Willie Gay Jr. – Saints (5 seasons)

2023 Stats: 16 G, 15 S, 58 TKL, 4.0 TFL, 1.0 SK, 4 PD, 1 INT, 1 FF, 3 FR

Career Stats: 57 G, 47 S, 233 TKL, 17.0 TFL, 5.0 SK, 19 PD, 4 INT, 1 TD, 2 FF, 4 FR

DE Montez Sweat – Chicago Bears (6 seasons) vs. TEN – Sunday, Sept. 8, Noon

2023 Stats: 17 G, 17 S, 57 TKL, 14.0 TFL, 12.5 SK, 3 FF, 4 PD

Career Stats: 76 G, 76 S, 222 TKL, 51.0 TFL, 41.5 SK, 10 FF, 14 PD, 1 INT, 1 TD

CB Martin Emerson Jr. – Cleveland Browns (3 seasons) vs. DAL – Sunday, Sept. 8, 3:25 p.m.

2023 Stats: 16 G, 12 S, 59 TKL, 1.0 TFL, 14 PD, 4 INT

Career Stats: 33 G, 18 S, 122 TKL, 2.0 TFL, 29 PD, 4 INT

LB Nathaniel Watson – Browns (Rookie)

OT Charles Cross – Seattle Seahawks (3 seasons) vs. Denver Broncos – Sunday, Sept. 8, 3:05 p.m.

2023 Stats: 14 G, 14 S

Career Stats: 31 G, 31 S

DT – Cameron Young – Seahawks  (2 Seasons)

2023 Stats: 16 G, 1 S, 18 TKL, 1.0 TFL, 1 PD

Career Stats: Same

CB Emmanuel Forbes –Commanders (2 seasons)

2023 Stats: 14 G, 6 S, 38 TKL, 2.0 TFL, 12 PD, 1 INT

Career Stats: Same

CB Decamerion Richardson – Las Vegas Raiders (Rookie) vs. Los Angeles Chargers – Sunday, Sept. 8, 3:05 p.m

DT Jaden Crumedy – Carolina Panthers (Rookie, Reserve/Injured)  vs. NO – Sunday, Sept. 8, Noon

Practice Squad:

S Marcus Banks – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

WR Tulu Griffin – Browns

S Johnathan Abram – Saints