Five Starters in NFL Week 16 from BYU Alumni, BYU Football Pro Tracker

In NFL week 16 there were five starters from BYU alumni and two substitutes in action. Most notable was a career high offensive performance by Jamaal Williams and a season high eight tackles by Daniel Sorensen.

Below are the summaries, statistics, and snap counts for each of the BYU alumni that played this week, as well as an update on the status of other unsigned players.

Michael Davis (CB, Los Angeles, No. 43). Davis started at cornerback in LA’s 22-10 loss to Baltimore.  He had had two solo tackles, one assisted tackle and two passes defended. Davis played 62 defensive snaps (100%) and eight more on special teams (30%). Season Totals: Eight games as a starter, seven games as a substitute; 34 solo tackles, seven assisted tackles, six passes defended, one forced fumble

John Denney (LS, Miami, No. 92).  Denney came in as a substitute in Miami’s 17-7 loss to Jacksonville.  He had eight snaps at long snapper (35%) and recorded no stats.  Season Totals: 15 games as a substitute; one tackle, three assisted tackles

Taysom Hill (QB, New Orleans, No. 7).  Hill came in as a substitute at quarterback in New Orlean’s 31-28 victory over Pittsburgh.  He continued to add stats in new categories, but this time it wasn’t a positive one. He had an interception on his only pass attempt and recorded no other stats. Hill played 10 snaps on offense (15%) and 23 on special teams (79%).  Season Totals: Three games as starter, 12 games as a substitute; 34 rushes for 185 yards, 1 rushing touchdown, three-of-six passing for 64 yards and an INT, two receptions for 1 yards, 14 kickoff returns for 348 yards, one punt return for zero yards, four solo tackles, two assisted tackles, one blocked punt.

Bronson Kaufusi (DE, New York Jets, No. 92). Kaufusi did not play this week after getting his first snaps of the season last week.  Season Totals: One game as a substitute, no stats.

Kyle Van Noy (LB, New England, No. 53). Van Noy started in New England’s 24-12 victory over Buffalo.  He recorded two solo tackles, one assisted tackle, and one quarterback hurry.  Van Noy played 58 snaps on defense (95%) and 11 more on special teams (38%).  Season Totals: 15 games as starter; 56 solo tackles, 32 assisted tackles, two passes defended, eight quarterback hurries, five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, one touchdown on a blocked punt.8

Daniel Sorensen (S, Kansas City, No. 49).  Sorensen started at safety in Kansas City’s 38-31 loss to Seattle.  He recorded four solo tackles, four assisted tackles, and one quarterback hurry. He played 80 snaps on defense (100%) and five more on special teams (15%). Season Totals: Two games as starter, four games as a substitute; 13 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, one pass defended, one quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery.

Fred Warner (LB, San Francisco, No. 48). Warner started in San Francisco’s 14-9 loss to Chicago.  He recorded two solo tackles, and two assisted tackles. Warner played 64 snaps on defense (100%) and four more on special teams (21%).  He is currently no. 19 in the NFL in total tackles and no. 19 in solo tackles. Season Totals: 15 games as starter; 74 solo tackles, 34 assisted tackles, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, six passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery.

Rookie MLB Fred Warner passed 100 Tackles against the Seahawks on Sunday. He’s having a great rookie campaign check marking nearly all the boxes, just need a sack before the season ends. We know he’s more than capable of that. @fred_warner #BYU #49ers #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/Ehou0ZOjYe

— 49er_Edits (@49er_edits) December 18, 2018

Jamaal Williams (RB, Green Bay, No. 30). Williams started at running back in Green Bay’s 44-38 victory over New York.  He rushed 15 times for 95 yards and a touchdown, and caught six passes for 61 yards.  Williams played 86 snaps on offense (95%). Season Totals: Seven games as starter, eight as substitute; 113 rushes for 460 yards and three touchdowns, 24 receptions for 194 yards, four kickoff returns for 96 yards.

Jamaal Williams with the touchdown! pic.twitter.com/SWsPOjecnh

— Cougs in the Pros (@BYUpros) December 16, 2018

Injured Reserve

  • Ezekiel Ansah (DE, Detroit, No. 94). Ansah was injured in Week 14 and likely won’t play the rest of the season  Season Totals: Two games as a starter, five as a substitute; nine solo tackles, four assisted tackles, two tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, four sacks

Practice Squads

  • Harvey Langi (LB, New York Jets, No. 48). Langi suffered an internal laceration after a hit in the first week of the preseason sat the remainder of the preseason due to concerns with his kidney.  He was waived by the Patriots on September 1st and was picked up by New York and added to their practice squad in October.
  • Tomasi Laulile (DT, New Orleans). Cut by Indianapolis in preseason but picked up by the Saints on September 27. Preseason Totals: Three games, three solo tackles, two assisted tackles, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry, one sack. Laulile was waived September 1st by the Colts, and worked out by Houston on September 4th before being signed by New Orleans on September 27.
  • Dallin Leavitt (S, Oakland, No. 45). Preseason Totals: Four games, 16 solo tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one pass defended. Leavitt was waived by the Raiders on September 1st but added to their practice squad the next day.
  • Kai Nacua (S, Baltimore, No. 31). Preseason Totals: Four games, 12 solo tackles, five assisted tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one pass defended, one interception for a touchdown.  He was waived by the Ravens on August 31st but was resigned and added to the practice squad. He was released from that squad on October 16th but picked up by the Carolina Pathers and added to their practice squad on December 5.
  • De’Ondre Wesley (OT, Indianapolis, No. 74).  Preseason Totals: Three games, no stats.  Wesley was waived by the Bills on September 1st but re-signed the following day and added to the practice squad.  He was released two weeks later by the Bills (9/14) but then signed on November 6 to the Indianapolis Colts and added to their practice squad.  They released him a week later (11/13) but re-signed him to the practice squad on December 5.

Cut Prior to the Regular Season.

  • Algie Brown (FB, Kansas City, No. 30). Preseason Totals: Two games, no stats.  Was waived by the Chiefs on September 1st and is currently an unsigned free agent.
  • Micah Hannemann (DB, L.A. Chargers, No. 35). Hannemann was signed to the Chargers practice squad on but then released on September 1. He was signed in December to play for the Salt Lake Stallions. Preseason Totals: Four games, six solo tackles, one assisted tackle. He was waived by the Chargers on September 1st and then re-signed to the practice squad on October 21st.
  • Tejan Koroma (C, Kansas City). After a promising summer was injured and waived prior to preseason.
  • Jordan Leslie (WR, Denver, No. 19). Leslie was waived by the Broncos on September 1st but was signed in December to play for the Salt Lake Stallions. NFL Preseason Totals: Four games, nine receptions for 110 yards, one touchdown, two tackles. 
  • Colby Pearson (WR, Atlanta, No. 84). Preseason Totals: Two games, no stats.  Pearson was waived by the Falcons on August 24th and is currently an unsigned free agent.
  • Jonah Trinnaman (WR, New York, No. 9). Preseason totals: One game, no stats. Trinnaman was waived by the Jets on August 30th and is currently an unsigned free agent.

For more information on each of these Pros, click on their names.  It will redirect you to their player profiles which include short summaries of their BYU and NFL careers.  During the season I will update these profiles with week-to-week game summaries and statistics. Note: Not all the profiles are up right now, but I’ll be adding most of them in the next week or two.

About Tyler Christensen 784 Articles
Tyler Christensen is a teacher, sports writer, speaker, and ultra-marathon runner. He is the founder of BYU Insider, D1 Recruiting, Virtual School Assembly, and After the Run. When he's not writing or speaking, he's spending time at home in southern Utah with his amazing wife and four children.
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