#STATEtoSundays: Week 5 Update
October 13, 2026 | Football
Former Mississippi State standout and Starkville native Willie Gay Jr. racked up a season-high eight tackles during Week 5.
Gay's eight stops tied for the second-most on Miami's defense this past week and were the most tackles he has made in a single game since totaling 11 when he was with Kansas City against the Chargers on Nov. 20, 2022.
But Gay was not the only former Bulldog defender to find success on that side of the ball. Jeffery Simmons notched a tackle for loss and finished with four tackles and a pass defense for Tennessee while Martin Emerson forced a fumble and added a tackle for New Orleans.
On offense, Woody Marks led the Texans in rushing by picking up 62 yards on 15 carries. Dak Prescott threw for 316 yards and a touchdown for Dallas during Week 5. Prescott holds the third-best passing grade among NFL quarterbacks this season at 85.3 according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Charles Cross and Elgton Jenkins continue to be stalwarts along their respective offensive lines. Cross played all 63 reps at left tackle for Seattle and posted the third-highest offensive grade among tackles in the league at 82.5 in Week 5.
Jenkins returned to the field this week and logged all 68 offensive snaps for Cleveland.
Jacksonville's Logan Cooke punted five times for a 45.6 yard average, including a long of 58 yards. Cooke is averaging 47.6 yards per punt this season and 47.5 yards across his nine-year NFL career.
Decamerion Richardson was waived by New Orleans on Oct. 10 but resigned with the Saints three days later.
DAVON BOOTHย | RB | INDIANAPOLIS COLTSย |ย AT MSU: 2024-25
Last Week:ย Booth was on the practice squad for a 34-22 loss at the Steelers.
LOGAN COOKEย | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSย |ย AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:ย Cooke punted five times for 228 yards (45.6 avg.) including a long of 58 yards in a 19-17 win over the Eagles.
Season:ย 17 punts for 809 yards (47.6 avg.), long 60
CHARLES CROSSย | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKSย |ย AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:ย Cross started at left tackle and played all 63 offensive snaps as well as seven special teams reps. He also recorded one solo tackle in a 32-29 loss to the 49ers.
Season:ย Five games played, five starts Misc. โ one solo tackle
JADEN CRUMEDYย | DT | HOUSTON TEXANS |ย AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:ย Crumedy made two assisted tackles in a 26-3 win at the Titans.
Season:ย Three assisted tackles, 0.5 sack, one quarterback hit
MARTIN EMERSONย | CB | NEW ORLEANS SAINTSย |ย AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:ย Emerson made one assisted tackle and forced a fumble in a 23-13 loss to the Vikings.
Season:ย Six tackles (four solo, two assists), one forced fumble
EMMANUEL FORBESย | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMSย |ย AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:ย Forbes made a solo tackle in a 24-20 win at the Eagles.
Season:ย Three tackles (one solo, two assists), one pass defense
WILLIE GAY JR.ย | LB | MIAMI DOLPHINSย |ย AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:ย Gay finished tied for second on the team with eight tackles (one solo, seven assists) in a 31-24 loss to the Bengals.
Season:ย 16 tackles (four solo, 12 assists)
ELGTON JENKINSย | G/C | CLEVELAND BROWNS |ย AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week:ย Jenkins started at center and played all 68 offensive snaps in a 17-12 loss at the Jets.
Season:ย Four games played, four starts Misc. โ one solo tackle
CHRIS JONESย | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |ย AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week:ย Open date
Season:ย 11 tackles (five solo, six assists), one fumble recovery, two quarterback hits, two pass defenses, one tackle for loss
JO'QUAVIOUS "WOODY" MARKSย | RB | HOUSTON TEXANS |ย AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week:ย Marks led the team in rushing with 62 yards on 15 carries. He also caught four passes for 23 yards in a 26-3 win at the Titans.
Season:ย Rushing โย 43 carries, 149 yards, two touchdowns Receiving โย 11 catches, 54 yards Kickoff return โ seven returns, 170 yards
DAK PRESCOTTย | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS |ย AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week:ย Prescott started and completed 24 of 42 passes for 316 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 24-16 loss to the Buccaneers.
Season: Passing -ย 129 of 192, 1,381 yards, nine touchdowns, three interceptionsย Rushing โย 12 carries, 66 yards
ALBERT REESE IV | OT | CAROLINA PANTHERS |ย AT MSU: 2021-25
Last Week:ย Open date
Season:ย n/a
DECAMERION RICHARDSONย | CB | NEW ORLEANS SAINTSย |ย AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week:ย Richardson was waived by the Saints on Oct. 10 and resigned with them three days later.
Season:ย One assisted tackle
JEFFERY SIMMONSย | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS |ย AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week:ย Simmons started and made four tackles (three solo, one assist), one tackle for loss and one pass defense in a 26-3 loss to the Texans.
Season:ย 28 tackles (15 solo, 13 assists), four tackles for loss, two sacks, three quarterback hits, two pass defenses
MONTEZ SWEATย | DE | CHICAGO BEARSย |ย AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week:ย Sweat started and made one quarterback hit in a 31-7 loss at the Packers.
Season:ย Seven tackles (two solo, five assists), two tackles for loss, two sacks, four quarterback hits
BRENEN THOMPSON | WR | LOS ANGELES CHARGERSย |ย AT MSU: 2025
Last Week:ย Thompson was inactive in a 23-18 loss to the Broncos.
Season:ย One catch, 13 yards
SEYDOU TRAORE | TE | MIAMI DOLPHINSย |ย AT MSU: 2023-25
Last Week:ย Traore made one solo tackle on special teams in a 31-24 loss to the Bengals.
Season:ย Misc. โ one solo tackle
NATHANIEL WATSONย | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNSย |ย AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:ย Watson was on the practice squad injured list (knee) in a 17-12 loss at the Jets.
Season:ย One solo tackle
TYRUS WHEATย | LB | DALLAS COWBOYSย |ย AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:ย Wheat played six snaps on defense and received 16 reps on special teams in a 24-16 loss to the Buccaneers.
Season:ย Two tackles (one solo, one assist)
