NFL stars from East Texas, NW Louisiana shine on the field

(KTAL/KMSS) — Several local products are currently playing in the NFL. The following is an in-season update on some current NFL players with ties to East Texas and Northwest Louisiana. Look for more updates on these players and others as the season progresses.

Trent Williams

Trent Williams continues to anchor the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line at left tackle.

The Longview, Texas native has been regarded as the best offensive lineman in the NFL for years, and most rank him highly on the all-time list.

Many expected the 11-time Pro Bowler and four-time all-pro to finally regress in year 15; however, on a team decimated by injuries, he has been one of the few stabilizing forces.

Dak Prescott

From high school in Haughton to college at Mississippi State, Dak Prescott has always been good, but rarely seen as THE guy.

This year, he certainly looks like he is.

As the quarterback for a Dallas Cowboys team battling injuries and saddled with a porous defense, Prescott has been one of the few bright spots on the team.

So far this season, the 10-year pro has completed 71.4 percent of his passes for 1,881 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only three interceptions.

The Cowboys are only 3-3-1 this season; they would likely be much worse without Prescott.

While the season is still young, as key players return, he could look even better. As is, he has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league and is receiving early MVP buzz.

Patrick Mahomes

Someone else with evident talent who was never seen as THE guy is Patrick Mahomes.

He was not supposed to be this good.

From his high school days at Whitehouse, south of Tyler, TX, to his college years at Texas Tech, he was productive, but no one watching could have predicted this.

Mahomes is the face of the league.

In his ninth year, eighth as a starter, he has already won three championships and is firmly in the conversation as the all-time greatest quarterback, with many people already placing him first based on the “eye test.”

Almost every year, his team looks worse on paper than the year before. Nearly every year, people predict the team’s downfall.

Every year, those people have been wrong.

In his career as a starter, his team has never missed the AFC Championship Game; they have played in four championship games, winning three.

Perhaps the most amazing thing is that despite a slow start to the season, the Chiefs may do it again this year.

Demarvion Overshown

If the Dallas Cowboys are going to turn their early-season woes around, Demarvion Overshown may be a crucial part of that resurgence.

An up-and-coming linebacker, Overshown has not been seen on an NFL field since Week 14 last season, when he tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

After starting this season on injured reserve, he recently returned to practice.

While he should not be expected to fill the huge void left by the departure of Micah Parsons, Overshown had posted 90 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, an interception, and a touchdown as a rookie before his injury.

His stock was clearly rising, and his return should boost a Cowboys defense that has floundered thus far this season.

Tre’Davious White

In his second career stint as a Buffalo Bill, Shreveport and LSU product Tre’Davious White has started all five games he has played in.

In those games, he has broken up three passes, completed 19 solo tackles, two assisted tackles, and has four tackles for loss.

If the 4-2 Bills are finally going to topple the Chiefs and conquer the AFC, as many are predicting, White could be an essential piece.

Donovan Wilson

Donovan Wilson is one of the few bright spots on the aforementioned Dallas Cowboys defense.

The safety, who played at Woodlawn and Texas A&M along the way, has already tied his season-high with two interceptions.

The Cowboys hope he adds more, in addition to his three defended passes, 21 solo tackles, and 15 assists on tackles

Jerry Tillery

Jerry Tillery played for Evangel Christian Academy and Notre Dame, two teams with unquestionable legacies.

Now in his seventh NFL season, he is still seeing action.

The defensive lineman has started one of his seven games this year for the Kansas City Chiefs, recording one fumble, one sack, five solo tackles, two tackle assists, two tackles for loss, and one quarterback hit.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Nacogdoches native Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been a productive wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks this season.

Contributing 50 catches, 36 of which were for first downs, on 70 targets, 819 yards, and four touchdowns in seven games.

With the NFC West a tight race thus far, Smith-Njigba should have plenty of chances to produce.

Savion Williams

Former Marshall Maverick and TCU Horned Frog Savion Williams has not yet asserted himself as a member of the Green Bay Packers, but the former third-round draft pick has been productive with limited opportunities.

So far, Williams has contributed four receptions for 23 yards and six rushes for 27 yards, but given his history, there is plenty of reason to believe he will be ready to produce more when given the chance.

Tahj Washington

For a player to go from Marshall, Texas, to play college football at Memphis and the University of Southern California, there has to be a good deal of talent and determination involved.

Right now, Washington is waiting for a chance to show it.

A member of the Miami Dolphins’ crowded wide receiver room, Washington has seen action in only one game so far, and the ball was not thrown in his direction.

Currently 1-6, the Dolphins could be considering some changes, but whether those changes include more opportunities for Washington is impossible to predict.