University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols in the NFL – Week 14
December 10, 2025 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Former Tennessee standouts continued to make their mark across the NFL in Week 14, highlighted by impactful performances from Jaylen Wright, James Pearce Jr., Alontae Taylor and Byron Young.
Second-year running back Jaylen Wright powered Miami's offense in a 34-10 win over the Jets, rushing 24 times for 107 yards and scoring his first career touchdown. In Atlanta, James Pearce Jr. extended his breakout rookie campaign with a sack, tackle for loss and two tackles against Seattle, giving him sacks in five straight games.
New Orleans cornerback Alontae Taylor recorded two tackles, an interception and two pass breakups in a 24-20 victory over Tampa Bay. For the Rams, Byron Young continued his strong season, tallying a sack, four tackles and three quarterback hits in a 45-17 win over Arizona.
A full recap of Tennessee's representatives across the league can be found below.
Derek Barnett – DE – Houston Texans
Posted two tackles in a 20-10 win over Kansas City
Matthew Butler – DT – Miami Dolphins
Did not see any action
Jerome Carvin – OL – Jacksonville Jaguars
On practice squad
McCallan Castles – TE – Green Bay Packers
On practice squad
Morgan Cox – LS – Tennessee Titans
Snapped 13 times on Sunday in a 31-29 win over Cleveland
Joshua Dobbs – QB – Patriots
Bye Week
Princeton Fant – TE – Dallas Cowboys
On practice squad
Kamal Hadden – DB – Green Bay Packers
Played 10 special teams snaps vs. Chicago
Jalin Hyatt – WR – New York Giants
Bye Week
Theo Jackson – DB – Minnesota Vikings
Did not see any action in Week 14
Jauan Jennings – WR – San Francisco 49ers
Bye Week
Jakob Johnson – FB – Houston Texans
Played 12 offensive snaps against Kansas City
Alvin Kamara – RB – New Orleans Saints
Rushed three times for 11 yards, adding two receptions for four yards
Cade Mays – C – Carolina Panthers
Bye Week
Jaylen McCollough – DB – Los Angeles Rams
Tallied three tackles in a 45-17 win over Arizona
Joe Milton III – QB – Dallas Cowboys
Did not see any action in Week 14
Omarr Norman-Lott – DT – Kansas City Chiefs
On Reserve/Injured list
Josh Palmer – WR – Buffalo Bills
Did not see any action in Week 14
James Pearce Jr. – OLB – Atlanta Falcons
Posted two tackles, including a TFL and a sack against Seattle, marking five consecutive games with a sack
Dylan Sampson – RB – Cleveland Browns
Caught five passes out of the backfield for 64 yards vs. Tennessee
Elijah Simmons – DT – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Did not see any action in Week 14
Trey Smith – OL – Kansas City Chiefs
Did not see any action in Week 14
Alontae Taylor – CB – New Orleans Saints
Posted two tackles with an interception and two PBUs in a 24-20 win over Tampa Bay
Darrell Taylor – OLB – Houston Texans
On Reserve/Injured list
Dont'e Thornton Jr. – WR – Las Vegas Raiders
Did not see any action in Week 14
Cedric Tillman – WR – Cleveland Browns
Caught one pass for 23 yards against the Titans
Shy Tuttle – DT – Tennessee Titans
Did not see any action in Week 14
Darnell Wright – OT – Chicago Bears
Played all 70 offensive snaps against Green Bay
Jaylen Wright – RB – Miami Dolphins
Rushed 24 times for 107 yards and notched his first career touchdown in a 34-10 win over the Jets
Byron Young – OLB – Los Angeles Rams
Had a sack, four tackles and three QB hits in a 45-17 win over Arizona
Second-year running back Jaylen Wright powered Miami's offense in a 34-10 win over the Jets, rushing 24 times for 107 yards and scoring his first career touchdown. In Atlanta, James Pearce Jr. extended his breakout rookie campaign with a sack, tackle for loss and two tackles against Seattle, giving him sacks in five straight games.
New Orleans cornerback Alontae Taylor recorded two tackles, an interception and two pass breakups in a 24-20 victory over Tampa Bay. For the Rams, Byron Young continued his strong season, tallying a sack, four tackles and three quarterback hits in a 45-17 win over Arizona.
A full recap of Tennessee's representatives across the league can be found below.
Derek Barnett – DE – Houston Texans
Posted two tackles in a 20-10 win over Kansas City
Matthew Butler – DT – Miami Dolphins
Did not see any action
Jerome Carvin – OL – Jacksonville Jaguars
On practice squad
McCallan Castles – TE – Green Bay Packers
On practice squad
Morgan Cox – LS – Tennessee Titans
Snapped 13 times on Sunday in a 31-29 win over Cleveland
Joshua Dobbs – QB – Patriots
Bye Week
Princeton Fant – TE – Dallas Cowboys
On practice squad
Kamal Hadden – DB – Green Bay Packers
Played 10 special teams snaps vs. Chicago
Jalin Hyatt – WR – New York Giants
Bye Week
Theo Jackson – DB – Minnesota Vikings
Did not see any action in Week 14
Jauan Jennings – WR – San Francisco 49ers
Bye Week
Jakob Johnson – FB – Houston Texans
Played 12 offensive snaps against Kansas City
Alvin Kamara – RB – New Orleans Saints
Rushed three times for 11 yards, adding two receptions for four yards
Cade Mays – C – Carolina Panthers
Bye Week
Jaylen McCollough – DB – Los Angeles Rams
Tallied three tackles in a 45-17 win over Arizona
Joe Milton III – QB – Dallas Cowboys
Did not see any action in Week 14
Omarr Norman-Lott – DT – Kansas City Chiefs
On Reserve/Injured list
Josh Palmer – WR – Buffalo Bills
Did not see any action in Week 14
James Pearce Jr. – OLB – Atlanta Falcons
Posted two tackles, including a TFL and a sack against Seattle, marking five consecutive games with a sack
Dylan Sampson – RB – Cleveland Browns
Caught five passes out of the backfield for 64 yards vs. Tennessee
Elijah Simmons – DT – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Did not see any action in Week 14
Trey Smith – OL – Kansas City Chiefs
Did not see any action in Week 14
Alontae Taylor – CB – New Orleans Saints
Posted two tackles with an interception and two PBUs in a 24-20 win over Tampa Bay
Darrell Taylor – OLB – Houston Texans
On Reserve/Injured list
Dont'e Thornton Jr. – WR – Las Vegas Raiders
Did not see any action in Week 14
Cedric Tillman – WR – Cleveland Browns
Caught one pass for 23 yards against the Titans
Shy Tuttle – DT – Tennessee Titans
Did not see any action in Week 14
Darnell Wright – OT – Chicago Bears
Played all 70 offensive snaps against Green Bay
Jaylen Wright – RB – Miami Dolphins
Rushed 24 times for 107 yards and notched his first career touchdown in a 34-10 win over the Jets
Byron Young – OLB – Los Angeles Rams
Had a sack, four tackles and three QB hits in a 45-17 win over Arizona
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ FootballFB | Music City Bowl Postgame Press Conference (12.30.25)
Tuesday, December 30
FB | Joey Halzle & William Inge Music City Bowl Preview Press Conference (12.29.25)
Monday, December 29
FB | Josh Heupel Music City Bowl Preview Press Conference (12.29.25)
Monday, December 29
FB | DeSean Bishop Media Availability (12.27.25)
Saturday, December 27
