Demario Davis is still making noise in the NFL, and Arkansas State fans have every reason to watch the New York Jets this season.
The veteran linebacker earned a Week 1 game ball after helping the Jets dismantle the Tennessee Titans, 23–10, on Sunday, September 13. Davis was recognized alongside quarterback Geno Smith and cornerback Qwant'ez Stiggers as one of New York's top performers in the victory — a strong early signal that the 36-year-old remains a disruptive force in the middle of the Jets' defense.
The win was a complete team effort, but Davis's recognition stands out. After a decade-plus in the league, earning a game ball in a season opener speaks to the kind of consistent, high-level play that has defined his career since his days in Jonesboro. He's long been one of the most accomplished players to come out of Arkansas State's program, and Week 1 suggests that standard isn't slipping.
Other Red Wolves Around the League
Davis wasn't the only A-State alumnus suiting up in Week 1. The Red Wolves have a quietly broad footprint across the NFL, with players on rosters from New York to Los Angeles.
Blake Grupe, Davis's teammate with the Jets, continues to hold down the kicker role in New York, giving Arkansas State a two-man presence on one of the AFC's more closely watched rosters heading into 2026.
James Bradberry remains on the Philadelphia Eagles' roster at cornerback, while Jerry Jacobs is with the Los Angeles Rams in the same position. Keyron Crawford and Corey Rucker are both with the Las Vegas Raiders — Crawford at defensive end, Rucker at wide receiver — giving the Silver and Black a pair of Red Wolves to track.
Elsewhere around the league, Kenneth Harris is in Indianapolis with the Colts, Courtney Jackson is with the Tennessee Titans — the very team that Davis and the Jets just beat — and Courtney Jackson's listed position is linebacker, not cornerback. Trevian Thomas is on the Jacksonville Jaguars' roster at free safety. Seydou Traore is with the Miami Dolphins at tight end, and Dominic Zvada holds a placekicker spot with the New York Giants.
It's a legitimate spread of talent for a program that doesn't always get its due on the national stage.
The Bigger Picture
For Arkansas State alumni, the story of Week 1 is simple: Demario Davis is still one of the better linebackers in the AFC, and he proved it immediately. The Jets went into Nashville and came out with a comfortable win, and Davis was central enough to the effort to earn formal recognition from the organization.
With Davis anchoring the Jets' defense and a dozen-plus Red Wolves scattered across NFL rosters, there's no shortage of reasons for A-State fans to keep the Sunday ticket running all season long.
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