University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols in the NFL – Week 8
October 29, 2025 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Former Tennessee stars continued to make an impact across the league in Week 8 of NFL action, highlighted by strong performances from Derek Barnett, Joe Milton III and rookie James Pearce Jr.
Barnett delivered one of his best outings of the season for the Houston Texans, tallying a sack, two tackles, a tackle for loss and two quarterback hits in a 26-15 victory over San Francisco.
In Denver, Joe Milton III made the most of his opportunity under center for the Dallas Cowboys, completing 3-of-4 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.
James Pearce Jr., making his first career start for the Atlanta Falcons, turned in a solid performance with four tackles and a quarterback hit.
A full recap of Vols around the league can be found below.
Derek Barnett – DE – Houston Texans
Posted one sack with two tackles, a TFL and two QB hits in a 26-15 win over San Francisco
Matthew Butler – DT – Miami Dolphins
Played 15 defensive snaps in Miami's 34-10 victory over Atlanta
Jerome Carvin – OL – Jacksonville Jaguars
On practice squad
Morgan Cox – LS – Tennessee Titans
Snapped eight times against the Colts
Joshua Dobbs – QB – Patriots
Did not see any action on Sunday
Princeton Fant – TE – Dallas Cowboys
On practice squad
Kamal Hadden – DB – Green Bay Packers
Did not see any action in Week 8
Hendon Hooker – QB – Carolina Panthers
On practice squad
Jalin Hyatt – WR – New York Giants
Did not see any action against Philadelphia
Theo Jackson – DB – Minnesota Vikings
Made one tackle versus the Chargers on Thursday night
Jauan Jennings – WR – San Francisco 49ers
Caught four passes for 45 yards against Houston
Jakob Johnson – FB – Houston Texans
On Reserve/Injured list
Alvin Kamara – RB – New Orleans Saints
Carried the ball six times for 21 yards with two receptions for 24 yards against Tampa Bay
Cade Mays – C – Carolina Panthers
Played 27 snaps for the Panthers versus Buffalo
Jaylen McCollough – DB – Los Angeles Rams
Bye Week
Joe Milton III – QB – Dallas Cowboys
Went 3-for-4 with 58 passing yards and a touchdown at Denver
Omarr Norman-Lott – DT – Kansas City Chiefs
On Reserve/Injured list
Josh Palmer – WR – Buffalo Bills
Hauled in two receptions for 60 yards against Atlanta
James Pearce Jr. – OLB – Atlanta Falcons
Had four tackles and a QB hit in his first career start on Sunday
Dylan Sampson – RB – Cleveland Browns
Caught five passes for 29 yards at New England
Elijah Simmons – DT – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Played seven snaps on defense against Detroit
Trey Smith – OL – Kansas City Chiefs
Did not play on Monday night
Alontae Taylor – CB – New Orleans Saints
Recorded two tackles and a pass break up against Tampa Bay
Darrell Taylor – OLB – Houston Texans
Did not see any action on Sunday
Dont'e Thornton Jr. – WR – Las Vegas Raiders
Bye Week
Cedric Tillman – WR – Cleveland Browns
On Reserve/Injured list
Shy Tuttle – DT – Tennessee Titans
Posted two tackles against the Colts
Darnell Wright – OT – Chicago Bears
Played all 63 offensive snaps against Baltimore
Jaylen Wright – RB – Miami Dolphins
Rushed nine times for 28 yards in a 34-10 win over Atlanta
Byron Young – OLB – Los Angeles Rams
Bye Week
Barnett delivered one of his best outings of the season for the Houston Texans, tallying a sack, two tackles, a tackle for loss and two quarterback hits in a 26-15 victory over San Francisco.
In Denver, Joe Milton III made the most of his opportunity under center for the Dallas Cowboys, completing 3-of-4 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.
James Pearce Jr., making his first career start for the Atlanta Falcons, turned in a solid performance with four tackles and a quarterback hit.
A full recap of Vols around the league can be found below.
Derek Barnett – DE – Houston Texans
Posted one sack with two tackles, a TFL and two QB hits in a 26-15 win over San Francisco
Matthew Butler – DT – Miami Dolphins
Played 15 defensive snaps in Miami's 34-10 victory over Atlanta
Jerome Carvin – OL – Jacksonville Jaguars
On practice squad
Morgan Cox – LS – Tennessee Titans
Snapped eight times against the Colts
Joshua Dobbs – QB – Patriots
Did not see any action on Sunday
Princeton Fant – TE – Dallas Cowboys
On practice squad
Kamal Hadden – DB – Green Bay Packers
Did not see any action in Week 8
Hendon Hooker – QB – Carolina Panthers
On practice squad
Jalin Hyatt – WR – New York Giants
Did not see any action against Philadelphia
Theo Jackson – DB – Minnesota Vikings
Made one tackle versus the Chargers on Thursday night
Jauan Jennings – WR – San Francisco 49ers
Caught four passes for 45 yards against Houston
Jakob Johnson – FB – Houston Texans
On Reserve/Injured list
Alvin Kamara – RB – New Orleans Saints
Carried the ball six times for 21 yards with two receptions for 24 yards against Tampa Bay
Cade Mays – C – Carolina Panthers
Played 27 snaps for the Panthers versus Buffalo
Jaylen McCollough – DB – Los Angeles Rams
Bye Week
Joe Milton III – QB – Dallas Cowboys
Went 3-for-4 with 58 passing yards and a touchdown at Denver
Omarr Norman-Lott – DT – Kansas City Chiefs
On Reserve/Injured list
Josh Palmer – WR – Buffalo Bills
Hauled in two receptions for 60 yards against Atlanta
James Pearce Jr. – OLB – Atlanta Falcons
Had four tackles and a QB hit in his first career start on Sunday
Dylan Sampson – RB – Cleveland Browns
Caught five passes for 29 yards at New England
Elijah Simmons – DT – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Played seven snaps on defense against Detroit
Trey Smith – OL – Kansas City Chiefs
Did not play on Monday night
Alontae Taylor – CB – New Orleans Saints
Recorded two tackles and a pass break up against Tampa Bay
Darrell Taylor – OLB – Houston Texans
Did not see any action on Sunday
Dont'e Thornton Jr. – WR – Las Vegas Raiders
Bye Week
Cedric Tillman – WR – Cleveland Browns
On Reserve/Injured list
Shy Tuttle – DT – Tennessee Titans
Posted two tackles against the Colts
Darnell Wright – OT – Chicago Bears
Played all 63 offensive snaps against Baltimore
Jaylen Wright – RB – Miami Dolphins
Rushed nine times for 28 yards in a 34-10 win over Atlanta
Byron Young – OLB – Los Angeles Rams
Bye Week
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ FootballFB | Cinematic Recap at Kentucky (10.25.25)
Wednesday, October 29
FB | Alec Abeln Press Conference (10.28.25)
Tuesday, October 28
FB | Rodney Garner Press Conference (10.28.25)
Tuesday, October 28
FB | Mike Matthews Media Availability (10.28.25)
Tuesday, October 28
