Jan. 5, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - Nine former Nittany Lions playing in the National Football League are on surviving playoff teams, with at least one Penn Stater on six of the eight remaining squads vying for the Super Bowl XLIII title.
There are 27 former Nittany Lions on NFL rosters, placing Penn State in the top 12 nationally among schools in producing current NFL players.
A total of six former Nittany Lions are on the active rosters of NFL playoff teams with former Penn State linebacker Dan Connor on the Carolina Panthers' injured reserve list and cornerback Anwar Phillips and tight end Isaac Smolko residing on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad.
Taking over Tennessee's starting quarterback position in week two, Kerry Collins led the Titans to an NFL-best 13-3 record, the AFC South title, and the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC. The NFL's second-leading active passer, Collins threw for 2,676 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2008, his 14th NFL season.
The 1994 Davey O'Brien Award winner also led the New York Giants to Super Bowl XXXV and directed the Carolina Panthers to the NFC Championship game in 1996 in just his second professional season.
New York Giants offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie and defensive tackle Jay Alford return to the postseason to try and help the Giants win a second consecutive Super Bowl title. McKenzie, a former three-time All-Big Ten honoree, is the anchor of an offensive line that led the NFL in rushing yards per game (157.4) in 2008. A third team AP All-America selection as a senior in 2006, Jay Alford is a solid contributor in the Giants' defensive line rotation, recording 15 tackles and 2.5 sacks this season.
A pair of former Nittany Lions are looking to help the Pittsburgh Steelers capture a sixth Super Bowl crown. Tight end Sean McHugh was signed by Pittsburgh in early September after three seasons with the Detroit Lions. He has three receptions for 24 yards and one tackle this season. Defensive tackle Scott Paxson has been on the Steelers' active roster this season after being a member of the practice squad in 2007.
Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Levi Brown is a key member of one of the NFL's most explosive passing offenses. Protecting MVP candidate quarterback Kurt Warner from his right tackle position, Brown, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2007 draft, helped Arizona rack up 427 points and 31 passing touchdowns in 2008. The NFC West champion Cardinals defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 30-24, last weekend in a Wild Card match-up.
Connor, the 2007 Chuck Bednarik Award winner and two-time first team All-American, saw his rookie season with Carolina cut short when he suffered a knee injury in week three.
More than 300 Nittany Lions have signed NFL contracts since Joe Paterno became head coach in 1966. The legendary coach has seen 234 of his players drafted by NFL squads.
Thirty-four Nittany Lions have been NFL first round draft choices since 1966. 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 38 of 42 title games. Thirty former Nittany Lions have earned a total of 46 Super Bowl rings, including Alford and McKenzie with the Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Giants.
Former Nittany Lions on rosters of remaining 2008 NFL playoff teams (NFL season):
Arizona Cardinals - Levi Brown (2)
Baltimore Ravens - Anwar Phillips (2*) Isaac Smolko (3*)
Carolina Panthers - Dan Connor (1^)
New York Giants - Jay Alford (2), Kareem McKenzie (8)
Pittsburgh Steelers - Sean McHugh (3), Scott Paxson (1)
Tennessee Titans - Kerry Collins (14)
* practice squad players
^ currently on injured reserve