Tag: Jaylen McCollough

Rams rookie Jaylen McCollough’s coverage stats this season are crazy good

Jaylen McCollough has yet to allow a completion in coverage this season, picking off four passes and allowing a 0.0 passer rating

Jared Verse and Braden Fiske have gotten a lot of attention this season for being the standout players of the Los Angeles Rams’ 2024 draft class, but one of their most impactful rookies wasn’t even drafted.

Safety Jaylen McCollough, who signed as an undrafted rookie out of Tennessee, has been a spark on defense despite playing limited snaps. Remarkably, he leads the team with four interceptions in only 110 defensive snaps.

He’s helped fill in with John Johnson and Kam Curl banged up, also contributing as a dime defender when the Rams get six defensive backs on the field. His play has made many people wonder how he went undrafted, showing he deserved to be selected at some point in April.

The Rams shared some stats from his rookie year and they’re unbelievably good. In 69 coverage snaps, he has yet to allow a single reception. He has more pick-sixes than he has receptions allowed and he’s given up a 0.0 passer rating in coverage.

It’s a small sample size as a part-time player, but McCollough is making Les Snead and the Rams look brilliant for signing him after the draft ended.

Johnson will be back at some point this season and Curl will still be a starter alongside Quentin Lake, but the Rams will have to find ways to get McCollough on the field. His play has been too good to keep on the bench.

Jaylen McCollough perfectly predicted his two INTs in a pre-game chat with Cooper Kupp

Jaylen McCollough called his two-interception game Sunday in a chat with Cooper Kupp before kickoff

Jaylen McCollough may not be a household name but he’s been one of the Rams’ most impactful defenders in the last two games. He had a pick-six against the Packers in Week 5 and on Sunday, he and Cooper Kupp both had a feeling another interception was coming against the Raiders.

McCollough told Gary Klein of the LA Times after Sunday’s win that in his pre-game conversation with Kupp, he told the Rams star he was going to have not one, but two interceptions. And that he did.

“You got another one for me?” McCollough recalled Kupp asking him before the game.

“Nah, bro. I got two,” he replied. “It was crazy because, like, I ended up with two.”

McCollough’s first interception of the game came with 8:35 left in the third quarter. He was in perfect position after the ball went off the receiver and landed in his lap for an easy pick. Two plays later, the Rams were in the end zone with a 20-6 lead.

His second also came at an opportune time during the Raiders’ final drive of the afternoon. It was a desperation heave by Gardner Minshew down the field on third down and McCollough tracked the ball for his second interception of the game.

Sean McVay gave McCollough a game ball in the locker room after the victory, crediting him for the impact he had on defense. The undrafted rookie out of Tennessee has carved out a nice role for himself in the secondary and it should continue to grow as he gets even more comfortable.

Maybe on Thursday night he’ll tell Kupp three more picks are coming against Sam Darnold.

Watch: Jaylen McCollough scores pick-6 on unbelievably bad throw by Jordan Love

Jaylen McCollough took full advantage of a hilariously bad throw by Jordan Love from his own end zone

Every now and then, a touchdown just falls into your lap. Jaylen McCollough learned that on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers in what’s just his fifth NFL game ever.

Late in the second quarter, Byron Young pressured Jordan Love and had a free run at the quarterback, laying a hit on him in his own end zone. Except, Love didn’t go down and decided to chuck the ball downfield in an attempt to avoid a safety.

The ball floated into McCollough’s hands at the 4-yard line and he avoided a tackle before slipping into the end zone for a touchdown. It was the easiest pick-six of his life and gave the Rams a 13-7 lead over the Packers.

Here’s another angle of the wild play.

Five undrafted rookies made Rams’ 53-man roster, all on defense

The Rams kept five undrafted rookies on their 53-man roster, all of them on defense

With how many late-round picks and undrafted rookies have made the Los Angeles Rams’ roster over the last seven years, it’s clear that Sean McVay and Les Snead aren’t afraid to bet on lesser-known players. That’s the case again this year.

As the Rams were going through final roster cuts before Tuesday’s deadline, they decided to keep five undrafted rookies. That’s a high number for any team, particularly one with as much talent as the Rams.

The five undrafted rookies who made the 53-man roster are all on defense, too.

  • LB Omar Speights
  • LB Elias Neal
  • CB Josh Wallace
  • CB Charles Woods
  • CB Jaylen McCollough

Speights, Wallace, Woods and McCollough all seemed likely to make the team after they were held out of the third preseason game, but Neal’s inclusion comes as a big surprise. Perhaps he made the team after the Rams decided to trade Ernest Jones to the Titans, which opened up a roster spot. Regardless, he earned a spot on the roster with a strong preseason.

In addition to the five undrafted rookies, the Rams kept nine of their 10 drafted rookies on the 53-man roster. The only exception is seventh-rounder KT Leveston, who was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return.

Jaylen McCollough is a sleeper to make Rams’ roster entering preseason finale

Jaylen McCollough could secure a spot on the Rams’ 53-man roster with a strong showing on Saturday

Undrafted rookie Jaylen McCollough has had himself a special preseason so far. He’s shined in his two appearances for the Rams, recording five solo tackles, two pass deflections and an interception.

When talking about McCollough’s performance against the Chargers, Sean McVay had high praise for the rookie defensive back.

“I think I’m just not surprised anymore. He’s consistent. He’s a man, got a great demeanor,” McVay said. “I think we’ve got some really impressive young rookies that – I think the best way I can describe it, they’re men. They’ve got a mature, grown demeanor. There’s an ability to communicate with them because of the way they understand this game and some of the things that we’re asking within the scheme. He plays with a physical toughness. He’s got a mental toughness. I’m a big fan of Jaylen McCollough and it only continues to grow just by the way he handles himself. You guys have heard me talk about feeling certain defensive players when you’re out there. You feel him and he’s continued to show up. I was happy for him. He’d better have made that pick though, right? I mean, come on. That’s more on the tip there, but he’s done a lot of good stuff. The pick wasn’t the most impressive thing he did last night by any stretch. I’d crush him if he didn’t catch that one.”

With a public backing from his head coach, combined with needs in the DB room, a strong performance against the Texans in the preseason finale could guarantee at least a practice squad spot. But an outstanding game could propel McCollough onto the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie – an accomplishment worth applauding.

Watch: Rams rookie Jaylen McCollough makes diving interception vs. Chargers

Jaylen McCollough making a strong case for a spot on the Rams’ roster

Jaylen McCollough was a standout player for the Rams in last week’s preseason opener and he picked up right where he left off on Saturday against the Chargers. In the second quarter of a 3-3 game, McCollough came down with his first career interception, picking off Easton Stick on a pass that was tipped by Chargers receiver Simi Fehoko.

It was a great job by McCollough to concentrate and make an adjustment when the ball was in the air, diving to secure it for a key turnover when the Chargers were driving. The undrafted rookie is making a strong case for the 53-man roster with the way he’s played this preseason.

Jaylen McCollough breaks Tennessee career record for starts

Jaylen McCollough breaks Tennessee career record for starts.

No. 23 Tennessee (9-4, 4-4 SEC) defeated No. 17 Iowa (10-4, 7-2 Big Ten), 35-0, Monday in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Senior defensive back Jaylen McCollough made his 51st career start in Tennessee’s win against Iowa. That sets Tennessee’s career record for starts, passing defensive back Jonathan Hefney, who started 50 games for the Vols from 2004-07.

The 6-foot, 206-pound McCollough recorded four tackles and one pass deflection against the Hawkeyes.

“We are proud of him,” Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks said of McCollough ahead of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. “I think it says a lot about him as a man and his durability and being able to fight through some bumps and bruises. We are excited for him. Not only has he been a tremendous player on the field, but, definitely, a great locker room teammate and a guy that we have enjoyed coaching through this ride.”

PHOTOS: Tennessee defeats Iowa in 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Vols defeat UConn for homecoming victory

Tennessee defeats UConn for homecoming victory.

No. 16 Tennessee (7-2, 3-2 SEC) defeated UConn (1-8), 59-3, Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

It was a homecoming victory for the Vols. who led, 35-3 at halftime.

Tennessee led, 7-0, on its second offensive play as Jaylen Wright scored on an 82-yard run.

After the Huskies kicked a field goal, the Vols scored 28 unanswered points before halftime. Joe Milton III completed a 60-yard touchdown pass to Ramel Keyton and scored on a six-yard touchdown run.

Later in the second quarter, Milton III completed an 82-yard touchdown pass to Squirrel White with 4 minutes, 34 seconds left until halftime. Tennessee’s defense scored before the end of the first half as Tyler Baron returned a UConn fumble to the end zone.

In the third quarter, Jaylen McCollough and Aaron Beasley had interception returns for scores to give Tennessee a 42-3 advantage.

Nico Iamaleava entered the game at quarterback for Tennessee and completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to McCallan Castles.

Milton III completed 11-of-14 passing attempts for 254 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. He also recorded seven rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

Wright had eight rushing attempts and totaled 113 yards and one touchdown.

White recorded two receptions for 94 receiving yards and one touchdown.

PHOTOS: Tennessee football wears Summitt Blue against UConn

Vols’ depth at safety starts with Jaylen McCollough

Tennessee’s depth at safety starts with Jaylen McCollough in 2023.

Third-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media ahead of the Vols’ 2023 season-opening contest versus Virginia on Sept. 2 (noon EDT, ABC).

Banks discussed the depth of Tennessee’s safety position ahead of playing Virginia.

“I think it starts with Tank (Jaylen McCollough),” Banks said. “He’s obviously played a lot of football for us around here. Wesley Walker played a ton of snaps last year, as well for us, at some STAR and some safety. Jourdan Thomas was also a special teams guy who did a tremendous job for us last season that we think will be able to help us. Christian Charles is rotating in from corner, to safety, to STAR, so we feel like we have some guys. Andre Turrentine, we feel like he’s got a chance to be able to help the team.

“I think we have really good depth there, obviously we don’t have the guys that have played as many snaps as (Trevon) Flowers played the year before outside of Tank, but we think collectively, we have a good group of guys to work with. We are excited to watch those guys play and perform.”

McCollough enters his fifth season at Tennessee in 2023. He appeared in 47 games for the Vols from 2019-22, recording 183 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, two sacks, three interceptions, 14 pass deflections and one forced fumble.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tennessee football’s highest-graded returning defensive players in 2023

A look Tennessee football’s highest-graded returning defensive players ahead of the 2023 season.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel. Heupel has compiled an 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record with the Vols.

The Vols will kick off its 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tennessee football: 2023 post-spring game-by-game predictions

As the 2023 season approaches, Vols Wire looks at the highest-graded returning defensive players for Tennessee.

All grades were gathered using the Pro Football Focus (PFF) database and grading system. Data compiled represents a player’s overall offensive grade from the 2022 season, including postseason games.

Student-athletes who played 20 percent of the minimum number of snaps in 2022 were included.

Below are Tennessee’s top-10 highest-graded returning defensive players entering the 2023 season.