Each week Rocky Top Insider will recap the performances of former Tennessee Volunteers in the NFL. Below is a comprehensive list of week 18’s VFLs in the NFL, including statistics and observations. The last week of the regular season was action-packed for many Volunteers, but rookie quarterback Joe Milton III stole the show for the Patriots.
Derek Barnett – Houston Texans – DE
Barnett had a productive day getting to the backfield for the Texans, as he recorded one sack, one stuff, and two tackles in Houston’s 23-14 win over the Titans.
Morgan Cox – Tennessee Titans – LS
Cox found the field for seven snaps in the Titans’ 23-14 loss.
Joshua Dobbs – San Francisco 49ers – QB
Dobbs received his first start of the season in week 18 in the 49ers matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. The former Volunteer quarterback completed 29 passes on 43 attempts for 326 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. In addition to the aerial attack, Dobbs rushed eight times for 17 yards and one touchdown.
Princeton Fant – Dallas Cowboys – TE
Fant was active on the Cowboys roster but did not play a snap.
Hendon Hooker – Detroit Lions – QB
Hendon Hooker did not see the field in the Lions Sunday Night Football win over the Minnesota Vikings. There was a lot at stake in the primetime matchup, as the winner received the No. 1 seed and secured a first-round bye.
Jalin Hyatt – New York Giants – WR
Hyatt did not bring in a reception in the Giant’s loss to the Eagles but was targeted once.
More From RTI: Tennessee Lands Former Alabama WR Amari Jefferson Out of Transfer Portal
Theo Jackson – Minnesota Vikings – DB
Jackson made three tackles in the Viking’s loss to the Lions.
Jauan Jennings – San Francisco 49ers – WR
In just a quarter-and-a-half of action, Dobbs and Jennings had their vintage volunteer connection in full effect. Dobbs targeted Jennings 10 times for seven receptions, totaling 52 yards. With six minutes remaining, Jennings was flagged on back-to-back plays that led to his disqualification. Jennings found himself in two scuffles due to pancake blocking a defensive back on two straight running plays.
Jauan Jennings is a baller! WR Blocking is a lost art yet he continues to dominate! Respect! 👀 @49ers pic.twitter.com/iAEi0ZoQke
— Ed McCaffrey (@87ed) January 5, 2025
i need a jauan jennings jersey asap. i love this dude so much 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/XB4DF1hIiR
— crys; 🏈 (@crystalscuor) January 6, 2025
Entering the game, the wide receiver was 77 yards away from his first 1,000-yard season in the NFL. The ejection came when Jennings had only 52 yards, leaving him with 975 receiving yards on the season.
Ramel Keyton – Las Vegas Raiders – WR
Keyton played 17 total snaps against the Chargers, primarily on special teams. Only one of the 17 plays Keyton was in for he was lined up on offense. On the rest of them, he was playing special teams.
Cade Mays – Carolina Panthers – OL
Mays started and played 67 snaps in Carolina’s overtime win.
Joe Milton III – New England Patriots – QB
Milton got his first regular-season snaps in his Patriots debut and did not disappoint. The rookie quarterback completed 22 passes of his 29 attempts for 241 yards through the air.
Man somebody trade for Joe Milton!pic.twitter.com/u8a9QusXTR
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) January 5, 2025
Milton passed for one touchdown, and ran for another, celebrating with a backflip.
Joe Milton III hits the backflip after the TD
📺: #BUFvsNE on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/7MEmrGnQLD— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
Milton created another play that did not count due to a flag, but many took notice of his mobility and arm strength on the play.
Plays like this from Joe Milton is why there should be 1 “that play rocked” rule where if a play is cool enough then the flag is picked up.
— Dylan Holt (@DylanHolt_) January 5, 2025
Jaylen McCollough – Los Angeles Rams – DB
McCollough made five tackles in the Rams 30-25 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Cordarrelle Patterson – Pittsburgh Steelers – RB
Patterson has one carry for one yard in the Steeler’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin – Detroit Lions – LB
Reeves-Maybin made one tackle in the Lion’s win over the Vikings to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Trey Smith – Kansas City Chiefs – OL
Smith, Joe Thuney, and Creed Humphrey played the first three snaps of the game before exiting. For Smith and the rest of the Chief’s interior offensive line, this made over 1,000 snaps for the group with zero sacks allowed.
OL that have played 1,000+ snaps this season and Allowed Zero Sacks:
🔴 Creed Humphrey
🔴 Trey Smith
🔴 Joe ThuneyThat’s it pic.twitter.com/Ag9eIjShE6
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) January 3, 2025
Cameron Sutton – Pittsburgh Steelers – CB
Sutton recorded six tackles in the Steeler’s two-point loss to the Bengals.
Alontae Taylor – New Orleans Saints – CB
Taylor made two tackles in the Saints 27-19 loss to the Buccaneers.
Darrell Taylor – Chicago Bears – OLB
Taylor assisted in making four tackles for the Chicago Bears in their win over the Green Bay Packers.
Shy Tuttle – Carolina Panthers – DL
Tuttle recorded four tackles in the Panthers overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Darnell Wright – Chicago Bears – OL
Wright played 62 snaps in the Bears win over the Packers. Wright finished the season as the fifth-highest-graded right tackle per Pro Football Focus.
Jaylen Wright – Miami Dolphins – RB
Wright carried the ball six times, ultimately losing four yards. The former Tennessee running back averaged -0.7 yards per carry.
Byron Young – Los Angeles Rams – OLB
Young made two tackles and recorded half of a sack in the Ram’s loss to the Seahawks.
Inactive:
Matthew Butler – Las Vegas Raiders – DT
Marquez Callaway – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – WR
Velus Jones Jr. – Carolina Panthers – WR/RB
Alvin Kamara – New Orleans Saints – RB
Emmanuel Moseley – Detroit Lions – CB
Josh Palmer – Los Angeles Chargers – WR
Cedric Tillman – Cleveland Browns – WR
Dee Williams – New York Giants – RS/CB
Practice Squad:
McCallan Castles – Los Angeles Chargers – TE
Kamal Hadden – Green Bay Packers – DB
Gabe Jeudy-Lally – Tennessee Titans – DB
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
