Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The fifth week of the 2025 NFL season wrapped up this past Monday, officially concluding three days of exciting action across the league. Former athletes who once succeeded in maroon and orange are now doing so for their professional teams as their talents in all three phases of the game have been on full display. In this week’s iteration of NFL Hokies, we’re taking a deep dive into some of the most impressive performances to come out of Week 5 of the 2025 NFL campaign, presented by Coca-Cola.
Joey Slye – Kicker, Tennessee Titans
Behind a booming leg and pinpoint accuracy, kicker Joey Slye has carved a career for himself over what is now seven years in the league. The former First Team All-ACC placekicker now finds himself in Nashville in his first year with the Tennessee Titans.
On Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, Slye continued to demonstrate his athleticism by converting all three field goal attempts through the duration of the contest. The matchup against the Cardinals is the third time in five games that the Tech alumnus has contributed 10 or more points in a single game, joining 12 and 13-point efforts against the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Rams respectively.
No kick was more important than Slye’s 29-yard game-winning field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter. The kick served as the last three points in what was a 16-point quarter for the Titans, who ended up winning the contest 22-21. Over five weeks, Slye’s 13 field goals are tied for first among NFL kickers (Spencer Shrader, Indianapolis Colts).
Tim Settle Jr. - Defensive Tackle, Houston Texans
Now in his eighth year in the NFL, Houston’s Tim Settle has continued to serve as a force among the Texans defense. Standing at 6-foot-3, 313 pounds, the former Second Team All-ACC lineman has been imposing his will on opposing offenses through five games this season.
Against the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday, Settle logged yet another solid performance, tallying three total tackles alongside a quarterback hurry on Ravens playcaller Lamar Jackson. Settle’s defensive efforts contributed to a 44-10 thumping of Baltimore, the game standing as the largest margin of victory ever achieved in head-to-head matchups between the two teams.
Settle’s presence has continued to be recognized beyond just his tackle counts, however. His 87.4 overall defensive grade on Pro Football Focus ranks second among all Texans defensive players, and his 79.9 pass rush grade ranks third. Among all defensive linemen in the NFL, Settle’s grades place him seventh overall.
Brock Hoffman – Center, Dallas Cowboys
After logging just 20 snaps over the first two games of the 2025 season, Cowboys center Brock Hoffman has been the starter for each of the past three contests. The former All-ACC Honorable Mention athlete has been an integral part of an offensive front that has allowed the Cowboys to gain a league third-best 5.4 yards per carry.
Against the winless New York Jets on Sunday afternoon, Hoffman logged his most efficient game of the season, refusing to allow any member of the Jets defense to pressure quarterback Dak Prescott through four quarters. Hoffman was also just one of five Dallas players to feature in every one of the offense’s 60 snaps.
For his efforts on gameday, Hoffman earned an impressive 84.5 pass blocking grade from PFF. The grade was the highest among all centers in Week 5 competition.
Chamarri Conner – Safety, Kansas City Chiefs
Third-year safety Chamarri Conner has grown into a tackle machine for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and the Kansas City Chiefs. The former fourth-round pick and Super Bowl LVII winner’s budding career has been built behind elite speed, twitchy reaction time, and off-the-charts athleticism that were all honed during his time in Blacksburg.
On the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night, Conner recorded the second-highest seven tackles (4 solo) over 58 defensive snaps. The game raised Conner’s total tackle count to 37 (19 solo), sitting just behind teammate Nick Bolton (42, 25 solo).
Notable Week 6 Matchups:
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers: Sunday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS
An AFC North clash kicks off Week 6 of the NFL season on Sunday as the Cleveland Browns travel to play the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. The two teams have a deep shared history between each other, and this weekend’s matchup will serve as the 148th time that the two squads have gone head-to-head. Hokie alumni can be found on both sides of the ball on gameday, as Browns guard Wyatt Teller will go up against Chuck Clark and the Pittsburgh defense.
Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders: Monday, Oct. 13 at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears will face the Washington Commanders in the second of two games on Monday evening. Chaos ensued the last time Chicago visited Washington, as the Commanders’ then-rookie phenomenon Jayden Daniels would throw a game-winning touchdown to Noah Brown as time expired. Hokie alumni will be on both sidelines in the contest, as linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and the Chicago defense will look to limit electric wide receiver/kick returner Jaylin Lane.