Football September 16, 2025
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DALLAS – Former Conference USA standouts continued to shine across the NFL in Week Two, with alumni delivering big plays on both sides of the balls and on special teams.
CUSA products were disruptive up front defensively as Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson (Florida Atlantic) and New England’s Milton Williams (LA Tech) each came up with game-sealing sacks in the waning moments of their respective teams’ wins. Hendrickson finished with three stops, including a sack that set the Jaguars back 10 yards before an unsuccessful lateral play as the clock wound down. Williams brought down Tua Tagovailoa for his second sack of the day to force a turnover-on-downs with less than a minute to go in the Patriots’ 33-27 victory.
Elsewhere around the league, Detroit’s Marcus Davenport (UTSA) recorded two tackles and a sack before exiting with an injury. At the second level, Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair (Florida Atlantic) tallied a team-high 10 tackles, including eight solo stops, along with a pass deflection. Seattle’s Tyrice Knight (UTEP) also impressed with eight tackles, five solo stops and a pair of pass breakups.
Plenty of former CUSA defensive backs continued to make their mark, including a pair of former LA Tech players now in Tennessee in Xavier Woods and L’Jarius Sneed. Woods tallied six tackles with five solo stops, and Sneed broke up two passes to go with three tackles. Indianapolis’ Charvarius Ward (MTSU) made six tackles, including four solos. San Francisco rookie Upton Stout (WKU) had a breakout game with five tackles and four solos, including a sack.
Cincinnati wideout Mitchell Tinsley (WKU) hauled in his first career touchdown on a 13-yard reception to tie the game up coming out of halftime. Chargers rookie Tre’ Harris (LA Tech) brought in two passes for 34 yards on Monday night. Veteran tight ends Tyler Higbee (LA Rams/WKU) and Jonnu Smith (Pittsburgh/FIU) each snagged four passes in their contests.
CUSA also accounted for some difference-makers on special teams. Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell (Rice) remained perfect on the season, connecting on all three field-goal attempts, including a 48-yarders, and is now 5-5 with every make from 40 yards or longer. Chicago’s Cairo Santos (Tulane) went 3-3 on extra points. Detroit punter Jack Fox (Rice) averaged 49 yards per punt on three attempts with a long of 62 yards and two punts downed inside the 20. Washington’s Jaylin Lane (MTSU) provided a spark in the return game, racking up 50 yards on three punt returns, including a long of 24 yards.
Click here for a complete list of the 86 former CUSA players featured on NFL rosters for the 2025 season.