Idaho ties in the NFL: McNichols credits Snoop Dogg for giving him ‘hope’ as young kid
Former Boise State running back Jeremy McNichols was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft and has since played for the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.
In his second year with the Titans organization, McNichols seems to have found his niche, and the Long Beach, California, native says his NFL career wouldn’t have been possible without a well-known person you might not associate with football:
Snoop Dogg.
McNichols was coached by Snoop on a 7-on-7 all-star team in high school, and the rapper’s youth league in Southern California gave him his start in the sport.
Snoop Dogg started the nonprofit Snoop Youth Football League in 2005 to “provide the opportunity for inner-city children to participate in youth football and cheer … teaching them the values of teamwork, good sportsmanship, discipline, and self-respect, while also stressing the importance of academics.”
“It gave me hope. A lot of times, kids can’t really afford to play football,” McNichols told Titanswire.com. “Him even giving me that opportunity to allow you to have pads and a helmet and maybe not pay as much and be able to play with your peers, that changed my life.”
McNichols entered the draft following a junior season at Boise State in which he ran for 1,709 yards and scored 27 total touchdowns. He also had 88 receptions combining his sophomore and junior years, which has helped increase his role with the Titans.
He has 17 receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown this season, while adding seven carries for 38 yards.
“I think the role that I do play on third downs, getting to mix in there on first and second down, and playing special teams — I think that’s a great role,” McNichols told Buck Reising on 104.5 The Zone last week. “It’s a great role. I’m just trying to continue to help us win and continue to do the best I can, whatever the coaches ask, whatever the staff asks me, and whatever we need on this team.”
BOISE STATE
TE, John Bates, No. 87 Washington Football Team: Came off the bench and played 17 snaps on offense (20%) and nine on special teams (31%) in Washington’s 33-22 loss to New Orleans. Bates did not record any stats.
G, Ezra Cleveland, No. 72 Minnesota Vikings: Started at left guard and played all 67 snaps on offense and six on special teams (23%) in the Vikings’ 19-17 win over Detroit.
CB, Dont’e Deayon, No. 21 Los Angeles Rams: Deayon is a member of the Rams’ practice squad and was not called up for their 26-17 win over Seattle.
WR, John Hightower, No. 82 Philadelphia Eagles: Hightower is a member of the Eagles’ practice squad and was not called up for their 21-18 win over Carolina.
DE, DeMarcus Lawrence, No. 90 Dallas Cowboys: Lawrence is expected to miss six to eight weeks after fracturing a foot during practice on Sept. 15.
OT, Charles Leno Jr., No. 72 Washington Football Team: Started at left tackle and played all 83 snaps on offense and four on special teams (14%) in Washington’s 33-22 loss to New Orleans. Leno was flagged for a holding penalty in the first quarter.
RB, Alexander Mattison, No. 25 Minnesota Vikings: Started at running back and scored his first touchdown of the season on a 15-yard pass from Kirk Cousins with 2:20 remaining in the second quarter. Mattison racked up a career-best 113 yards on 25 carries and caught seven passes for 40 yards. He did lose a fumble late in the fourth quarter — only the second of his NFL career — that set up a Detroit touchdown drive that gave the Lions a 17-16 lead. Mattison played 44 snaps on offense (66%) and was bailed out by a 54-yard field goal from Greg Joseph as time expired for a 19-17 Minnesota victory.
“It was a little bit of an emotional roller coaster,” Mattison told the Star Tribune. “It’s football and it happens to the best of us. At the end, I talked to Greg and he talked to me and he said, ‘You got my back, I got your back.’ That’s what this team is about.”
RB, Jeremy McNichols, No. 28 Tennessee Titans: Came off the bench and had one carry for 9 yards and caught two passes for 26 yards while playing 15 snaps on offense (23%) in the Titans’ 37-19 win over Jacksonville.
DT, David Moa, No. 96 New York Giants: Moa is a member of the Giants’ practice squad and was not called up for their 44-20 loss to Dallas.
G, John Molchon, No. 75 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Remained on injured reserve with a leg injury for the fifth straight week.
C, Matt Paradis (Council High), No. 61 Carolina Panthers: Started at center and played all 71 snaps on offense in the Panthers’ 21-18 loss to Philadelphia. Paradis was flagged for a holding penalty in the third quarter.
QB, Brett Rypien, No. 4 Denver Broncos: Rypien was on the inactive list for the Broncos’ 27-19 loss to Pittsburgh.
S, Darian Thompson, No. 23 Dallas Cowboys: Thompson is a member of the Cowboys’ practice squad and is currently listed as injured.
ILB, Tanner Vallejo, No. 51 Arizona Cardinals: Came off the bench and totaled two tackles, including a half-sack, with a QB hurry. Vallejo played six snaps on defense (9%) and 15 on special teams (79%) in the Cardinals’ 17-10 win over San Francisco.
LB, Leighton Vander Esch (Salmon River High), No. 55 Dallas Cowboys: Started at middle linebacker and collected five tackles, including one for loss, while playing 31 snaps on defense (46%) and five on special teams (17%) in the Cowboys’ 44-20 win over the N.Y. Giants.
DE, Curtis Weaver, No. 59 Cleveland Browns: Weaver is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 47-42 loss to the L.A. Chargers.
CB, Avery Williams, No. 35 Atlanta Falcons: Williams was on the inactive list with a hamstring injury and missed the Falcons’ 27-20 win over the N.Y. Jets.
WR, Cedrick Wilson, No. 1 Dallas Cowboys: Started at receiver and contributed one carry for 6 yards, one pass for 22 yards and one reception for 35 yards. Wilson played 52 snaps on offense (67%) and two on special teams (7%) as the Cowboys beat the N.Y. Giants 44-20.
Wilson, who played quarterback in high school, completed his 22-yard pass to receiver Noah Brown in the fourth quarter on a double-pass trick play. Dak Prescott lateraled the ball to Wilson, who then hit Brown with the pass for a first down.
IDAHO
WR, Jeff Cotton, No. 88 Jacksonville Jaguars: Cotton is a member of the Jags’ practice squad and was not called up for their 37-19 loss to Tennessee.
G/T, Jesse Davis, No. 77 Miami Dolphins: Started at right tackle and played all 54 snaps on offense and three on special teams (11%) in the Dolphins’ 45-17 loss to Tampa Bay.
LB, Christian Elliss, No. 53 Philadelphia Eagles: Elliss is a member of the Eagles’ practice squad and was not called up for their 21-18 win over Carolina.
LB, Kaden Elliss, No. 55 New Orleans Saints: Came off the bench and played six snaps on defense (7%) and 24 on special teams (83%) but did not record any stats in the Saints’ 33-22 win over Washington.
DE, Benson Mayowa, No. 10 Seattle Seahawks: Returned to the lineup after missing the last two games with a neck injury, playing 22 snaps on defense (33%) and recording one tackle.
RB, Elijhaa Penny, No. 39 New York Giants: Came off the bench and had one carry for 4 yards while playing six snaps on offense (9%) and 16 on special teams (53%) in the Giants’ 44-20 loss to Dallas.
HIGH SCHOOLS
DE, Porter Gustin (Emmett High), No. 94 Cleveland Browns: Gustin is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 47-42 loss to the L.A. Chargers.
QB, Taysom Hill (Highland High), No. 7 New Orleans Saints: Started on offense and caught one pass for 11 yards. He also registered one tackle when the Saints lost a fumble. Hill played nine snaps on offense (16%) as the Saints beat Washington 33-22. He exited the game in the second quarter after sustaining a concussion.
OL, Tristen Hoge (Highland High), Cleveland Browns: Hoge is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 47-42 loss to the L.A. Chargers.
DT, Tommy Togiai (Highland High), No. 93 Cleveland Browns: Togiai was on the Browns’ inactive roster for the fifth straight game.
DL, Jonah Williams (Rocky Mountain High), No. 92 Los Angeles Rams: Came off the bench and made one tackle in the third quarter while playing six snaps on defense (9%) and five on special teams (18%).
Note: There are currently no players from Idaho State listed on an NFL roster.
This story was originally published October 12, 2021 at 4:05 PM.
