Jan. 3, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - Ten former Nittany Lions playing in the National Football League are on playoff teams, with at least one Penn Stater on eight of the 12 squads vying for the Super Bowl XLII title.
There are 31 former Nittany Lions on NFL rosters, placing Penn State in the top 15 nationally among schools in producing current NFL players.
There are nine Penn Staters on the active rosters of NFL playoff teams and former Nittany Lion defensive tackle Scott Paxson is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad.
Among the former Nittany Lions that will be making their NFL playoff debut are rookies Ed Johnson, a defensive tackle with the defending NFL Champion Indianapolis Colts, and Jay Alford, a defensive tackle with the New York Giants. Safety Calvin Lowry (Tennessee) and tight end Isaac Smolko (Jacksonville) also will be making their NFL playoff debuts. Alford, Lowry and Smolko's teams play this weekend.
Returning to the NFL post-season are a trio of first team All-Americans from Penn State's undefeated Big Ten and Rose Bowl title team of 1994: tight end Kyle Brady (New England), quarterback Kerry Collins (Tennessee) and wide receiver Bobby Engram (Seattle). Brady and Collins are in their 13th season in the NFL, while Engram is in his 12th.
Collins came off the bench to lead the Titans to a 16-10 win over the Colts on Sunday to secure the last playoff berth. The 1994 Davey O'Brien Award winner was 10 of 13 for 106 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions. Engram is having a tremendous season, with a career-high 94 receptions for 1,147 yards and six touchdowns. The 1994 Biletnikoff Award winner ranks 11th in the NFL in receptions. His previous high was 88 catches with the Chicago Bears in 1999.
Collins led the Giants to Super Bowl XXXV and Engram was a member of the Seahawks squad that lost to the Steelers in Super Bowl XL.
More than 300 Nittany Lions have signed NFL contracts since Joe Paterno became head coach in 1966. The legendary coach has seen 232 of his players drafted by NFL squads.
Thirty-one Nittany Lions have been NFL first round draft choices since 1966, including tackle Levi Brown (Arizona), who was the No. 5 overall pick in 2007. A school record four Nittany Lions were selected in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft and Penn State led all schools with six picks in the first 57 selections.
Penn State has had at least one alumnus on a Super Bowl team in 37 of 41 title games, including Chicago's John Gilmore and Robbie Gould in Super Bowl XLI. Twenty-eight former Nittany Lions have earned a total of 44 Super Bowl rings.
Former Nittany Lions on rosters of 2007 NFL playoff teams (NFL season):
Indianapolis Colts - Ed Johnson (1)
Jacksonville Jaguars - Isaac Smolko (2)
New England Patriots - Kyle Brady (13)
New York Giants - Jay Alford (1), Kareem McKenzie (7)
Pittsburgh Steelers - Scott Paxson (2-practice squad)
Seattle Seahawks - Bobby Engram (12)
Tennessee Titans - Kerry Collins (13), Calvin Lowry (2)
Washington Redskins - David Macklin (8)