DALLAS – Former Conference USA playmakers Jaylin Lane (MTSU) and Luke McCaffrey (Rice) were at the center of Washington’s 41-24 rout of the Raiders in Week Three, showcasing the continued impact of CUSA alumni at the highest level.
 
Lane delivered one of the weekend’s most electrifying moments with a 90-yard punt return touchdown that put the team ahead 27-10 in the third quarter. He racked up 127 yards on five punt returns to ignite the Commanders’ special teams. On offense, McCaffrey hauled in his first career touchdown pass – a 43-yard strike from Marcus Mariota – to cap the team’s scoring in the win. He finished the day with three grabs for a career-high 56 yards.
 
Elsewhere around the league, Chicago safety Kevin Byard III (MTSU) posted seven tackles, including five solo stops, and sealed the game with an interception in the end zone. Tennessee safety Xavier Woods (LA Tech) contributed five solo tackles and a pass deflection, maintaining his position as the highest graded safety in the NFL according to PFF. New England’s Milton Williams (LA Tech), who is tied for third in TFL on the year (5), added to his tally with two stuffs this weekend.
 
Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (Florida Atlantic) led his team with eight tackles, and Cleveland’s Alex Wright (UAB) notched his first sack of the year. Indianapolis cornerback Charvarius Ward (MTSU) broke up two passes, while Upton Stout (San Francisco/WKU), Tyrice Knight (UTEP/Seattle) and Riq Woolen (Seattle/UTSA) each added five tackles and key stops for their defenses. New Orleans rookie Quincy Riley (Charlotte) forced a fumble and contributed a stuff in his emerging role.
 
In the trenches, Las Vegas’ Jordan Meredith (WKU) and Tampa Bay’s Elijah Klein (UTEP) each graded out as the top pass blockers on their teams, with marks of 78.8 and 79.0, respectively.
 
Special teams remained a strength for former CUSA student-athletes as well, with Chicago’s Cairo Santos (Tulane) hitting a 30-yard field goal and four PATs, Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell (Rice) going 3-3 on extra points and Detroit punter Jack Fox (Rice) averaging 48.7 yards per attempt.
 
Click here for a complete list of the 86 former CUSA players featured on NFL rosters for the 2025 season.