Williams Scores, Kaufusi plays, and Hill rumbles in NFL week 15, BYU Football Pro Tracker

In NFL week 15 there were three starters from BYU alumni and five substitutes in action.  Jamaal Williams may have had his biggest game of the season with nearly 100 yards of offense and a rushing touchdown, while Taysom Hill had another great game with a 17 yard run and a tackle.  Finally, Bronson Kaufusi saw his first action of the season coming off the bench for New York.

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 29-28 victory over Kansas City.  He had had four solo tackles and one pass defended. Davis played 60 defensive snaps (100%) and five more on special teams (22%). Season Totals: Seven games as a starter, seven games as a substitute; 32 solo tackles, six assisted tackles, four passes defended, one forced fumble

John Denney (LS, Miami, No. 92).  Denney came in as a substitute in Miami’s 41-17 loss to Minnesota.  He had ten snaps at long snapper (31%) and recorded no stats.  Season Totals: 14 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 12-9 victory over Carolina.  On offense he had one rush for 17 yards, and on special teams he had one assisted tackle. Hill played 12 snaps on offense (16%) and 18 on special teams (90%).  Season Totals: Three games as starter, 11 games as a substitute; 34 rushes for 185 yards, 1 rushing touchdown, three-of-five passing for 64 yards, 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 saw his first action of the season as he came in as a substitute in New York’s 29-22 loss to Houston.  He played three snaps on defense (6%), seven snaps on special teams (23%) and recorded no stats.  Season Totals: One game as a substitute, no stats.

Kyle Van Noy (LB, New England, No. 53). Van Noy started in New England’s 17-10 loss to Pittsburgh.  He recorded three solo tackles, one ten yard sack, one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hurry.  Van Noy played 64 snaps on defense (100%) and 10 more on special teams (50%).  Season Totals: 14 games as starter; 54 solo tackles, 31 assisted tackles, two passes defended, seven quarterback hurries, five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, one touchdown on a blocked punt.

Daniel Sorensen (S, Kansas City, No. 49).  Sorensen came in as a substitute in Kansas City’s 29-28 loss to the Chargers.  He recorded three solo tackles, playing 47 snaps on defense (64%) and six more on special teams (26%). Season Totals: One game as starter, four games as a substitute; nine solo tackles, six assisted tackles, one pass defended, one fumble recovery.

Fred Warner (LB, San Francisco, No. 48). Warner started in San Francisco’s 26-23 victory over Seattle.  He recorded four solo tackles, and five assisted tackles. Warner played 75 snaps on defense (100%) and two more on special teams (6%).  He is currently no. 19 in the NFL in total tackles and no. 16 in solo tackles. Season Totals: 14 games as starter; 72 solo tackles, 32 assisted tackles, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, six passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery.

Jamaal Williams (RB, Green Bay, No. 30). Williams came in as a substitute in Green Bay’s 24-17 loss to Chicago.  He rushed 12 times for 55 yards and a touchdown, and caught four passes for 42 yards.  Williams played 59 snaps on offense (87%) and two on special teams (7%). Season Totals: Six games as starter, eight as substitute; 98 rushes for 365 yards and two touchdowns, 18 receptions for 133 yards, four kickoff returns for 96 yards.

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

  • Micah Hannemann (DB, L.A. Chargers, No. 35). It has been reported that Hannemann was signed to the Chargers practice squad on October 21. 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.
  • 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.
  • Tejan Koroma (C, Kansas City). After a promising summer was injured and waived prior to preseason.
  • Jordan Leslie (WR, Denver, No. 19). Preseason Totals: Four games, nine receptions for 110 yards, one touchdown, two tackles.  Leslie was waived by the Broncos on September 1st and is currently an unsigned free agent.
  • 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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