Each week Rocky Top Insider will recap the performances of former Tennessee Volunteers in the NFL.
Below is a comprehensive list of week nine VFLs in the NFL, including statistics and observations.
Derek Barnett – Houston Texans – DE
Barnett played 30 snaps for the Texans in their 21-13 loss to the Jets but did not record a statistic.
Matthew Butler – Las Vegas Raiders – DT
Butler had three tackles as the Raiders lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 41-24.
Marquez Callaway – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – WR
Callaway played in three snaps for the Buccaneers after being elevated from the practice squad. The Buccaneers lost in overtime to former Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith and the Chiefs.
Morgan Cox – Tennessee Titans – LS
Cox snapped the ball nine times in the Titan’s win over the Patriots.
Kamal Hadden – Green Bay Packers – DB
Hadden was elevated from the practice squad and played four snaps on special teams.
Hendon Hooker – Detroit Lions – QB
Hooker did not see the field in the Lions 24-14 win over the Packers.
Jalin Hyatt – New York Giants – WR
Hyatt played only four snaps in the Giant’s loss to the Commanders.
Theo Jackson – Minnesota Vikings – DB
Jackson took part in the Vikings’ special teams unit, playing 15 snaps. The Vikings defeated the Colts 21-13.
Gabe Jeudy-Lally – Tennessee Titans – DB
Jeudy-Lally was alongside Morgan Cox, and both former Tennessee players took part in the special teams unit. Jeudy-Lally logged four snaps as the Titans beat the Patriots.
Alvin Kamara – New Orleans Saints – RB
With Derek Carr back in the lineup, Kamara bolstered a much-improved performance. Kamara had 29 carries for 155 rushing yards. as well as 60 receiving yards. The Saints fell to the Panthers 23-22.
Ramel Keyton – Las Vegas Raiders – WR
Keyton was elevated from the practice squad and caught one pass for seven yards.
Cade Mays – Carolina Panthers – OL
Mays started for the Panthers and played 53 snaps as Carolina got their second win of the season against Kamara and the Saints.
Jaylen McCollough – Los Angeles Rams – DB
McCollough continues his impressive rookie campaign, as he intercepted his fourth pass of the season. On top of the interception, he had seven tackles and one pass breakup. McCollough was signed by the Rams after going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and has been a key contributor to their defense this season.
In 69 coverage snaps this season, S Jaylen McCollough has recorded four interceptions, one defensive touchdown, four passes defended, one pass breakup, and two incompletions against as the primary defender.
His 0.0 passer rating against as the primary defender is tied for first… pic.twitter.com/4SXFMSnr6H
— Los Angeles Rams PR (@TheLARamsPR) November 5, 2024
His fourth interception of the season can be seen below.
A mini tip drill for the @RamsNFL INT! Jaylen McCollough with his 4th of the year!
📺: #LARvsSEA on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/2mMDvWhQS1— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
Joe Milton III – New England Patriots – QB
Milton did not log a snap for New England.
Josh Palmer – Los Angeles Chargers – WR
Palmer caught two passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. It was Palmer’s first touchdown reception of the season.
3rd & 21 = Touchdown.
Justin Herbert to Josh Palmer.Broken coverage. ✅
Too easy. ✅ pic.twitter.com/8KFNvRxUlC— Ryan DePaul (@RyanDePaul) November 3, 2024
Jalen Reeves-Maybin – Detroit Lions – LB
Reeves-Maybin had two tackles for the Lions in their win over the Packers.
Trey Smith – Kansas City Chiefs – OL
Trey Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs continue their undefeated season as they defeated the Buccaneers in overtime. Smith played 89 snaps in the win.
Alontae Taylor – New Orleans Saints – CB
Taylor finished the Saint’s loss to the Panthers with four tackles and three pass breakups. The former Tennessee cornerback will have an increased role as the Saints traded star defensive back Marshon Lattimore to Washington.
Taylor had a great stop on third and short, bringing former South Carolina receiver Xavier Legette short of the sticks quickly after the catch. Watch below.
Alontae Taylor Read It Like a Book 📕 pic.twitter.com/ZGGiKnz5iZ
— Saints Happy Hour Podcast (@SaintsHappyHour) November 3, 2024
Darrell Taylor – Chicago Bears – OLB
Taylor had two tackles in the Bears’ 29-9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Cedric Tillman – Cleveland Browns – WR
Tillman continued his impressive performance with the Browns, as he had six receptions for 75 yards and one touchdown. Over the past three games, Tillman has been the number one overall wide receiver in fantasy football.
Cedric Tillman’s THE WR1 overall in fantasy points from weeks 7-9
➖1st in Targets (32)
➖5th in Yards (255)
➖2nd in TD’s (3)His 22.2 PPG in that span also ranks 1st in the NFL pic.twitter.com/HkOc7ht4ZJ
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) November 5, 2024
In this three-game stretch, Tillman has recorded stat lines of:
Bengals, Week 7: eight catches, 81 yards,
Ravens, Week 8: seven catches, 99 yards, two touchdowns
Chargers, Week 9: six catches, 75 yards, one touchdown
Shy Tuttle – Carolina Panthers – DL
Tuttle ended the Panther’s win over the Saints with three tackles and a quarterback hit.
Dee Williams – Seattle Seahawks – RS
Williams returned two punts for a combined 13 yards. He also registered one tackle.
Darnell Wright – Chicago Bears – OL
Wright logged 60 snaps for the Bears in their loss to the Cardinals.
Jaylen Wright – Miami Dolphins – RB
Wright had six carries for 18 yards. The Dolphins lost to the Bills 30-27
Byron Young – Los Angeles Rams – OLB
Young had six tackles, one sack, one TFL, and three quarterback hits as the Rams beat the Seahawks. The sack can be seen in the tweet linked below.
#VFL Byron Young bull rushes in for his fourth sack of the season and 12th of his career. #Vols pic.twitter.com/9DC27z4vt5
— Reece Van Haaften (@Reece_VH) November 3, 2024
Next Gen Stats found that Byron Young leads the NFL in turnovers caused by pressure.
Another interesting, though not entirely surprising because of the way he’s played, Next Gen Stats find:
Rams OLB Byron Young currently leads the NFL with 4 turnovers caused by pressure (the number of pressures that a defender creates that result in a turnover – INT or forced…
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) November 6, 2024
Bye Week:
Joshua Dobbs – San Francisco 49ers – QB
Jauan Jennings – San Francisco 49ers – WR
Cordarrelle Patterson – Pittsburgh Steelers – RB
Cameron Sutton – Pittsburgh Steelers – CB
Practice Squad:
Princeton Fant – Dallas Cowboys – TE
McCallan Castles – Los Angeles Chargers – TE
Jakob Johnson – New York Giants – FB
John Kelly Jr. – Baltimore Ravens – RB
Jabari Small – Tennessee Titans – RB
Kendal Vickers – New Orleans Saints – DL
Injured Reserve:
Micah Abernathy – Atlanta Falcons – S
Emmanuel Moseley – Detroit Lions – CB
