Sept. 14, 2010
With 31 Nittany Lions on National Football League rosters, Penn State is well represented in the professional ranks. Each week throughout the year, www.GoPSUsports.com, will provide updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats. Highlights from week one of the 2010 season include a stellar performance by Dan Connor in his first career NFL start and Deon Butler's first NFL touchdown reception.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 19, Detroit Lions 14
Adams started at nose tackle for the Bears but did not register a tackle.
Jay Alford (2003-06), DT, Oakland Raiders
Tennessee Titans 38, Oakland Raiders 13
Signed by the Raiders on Sept. 8, Alford saw action is his first game in the silver and black, making one solo tackle.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks 31, San Francisco 49ers 6
In his NFL debut, Bowman played on special teams, tallying one tackle.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals 17, St. Louis Rams 13
Brown helped the Cardinals' offense amass 378 total yards in a season opening win over St. Louis. An alternate to the Pro Bowl in 2009, Brown has started 41 consecutive regular season games at right tackle dating back to his rookie season in 2007 and also started all six postseason contests in 2008 and 2009.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks 31, San Francisco 49ers 6
Butler had a momentous day in the Seahawks' 2010 season opener, catching his first career touchdown, a 13-yard strike from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck late in the second quarter.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans 38, Oakland Raiders 13
The longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion, in his 17th professional season, Collins served as the No. 2 quarterback in the Titans' opener but did not take a snap.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
New York Giants 31, Carolina Panthers 18
In his first NFL start, Connor was all over the field, registering a team-high 13 tackles, including 10 solos, one sack for a loss of five yards, three total tackles for loss, and one quarterback hit.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17, Cleveland Browns 14
Gilmore played but did not have a catch in the win over Cleveland.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 19, Detroit Lions 14
Gould converted on three kicking opportunities, connecting on field goals of 20 and 31 yards and making his lone PAT attempt.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs 21, San Diego Chargers 14
Starting at right outside linebacker in the Chiefs' defensive 3-4 scheme, Hali notched five total tackles (three solos) and had a half sack.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
Arizona Cardinals 17, St. Louis Rams 13
In his first professional game, Hull played on special teams for the Rams, notching one tackle and causing a fumble on a punt return.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears 19, Detroit Lions 14
Johnson caught one pass for 24 yards as the Lions' No. 3 receiver. His reception came late in the fourth quarter, beginning what was nearly the game winning drive.
Ed Johnson (2003-04, 2006), DT, Carolina Panthers
New York Giants 31, Carolina Panthers 18
Johnson started at left defensive tackle in his first regular season game as a Panther, recording two stops, including one for a loss, and one quarterback hit.
Larry Johnson (1999-02), RB, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins 13, Dallas Cowboys 7
As the primary back-up to Clinton Portis, Johnson rushed for nine yards on three carries in the Redskins' season opening victory over the rival Cowboys.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints 14, Minnesota Vikings 9
Kennedy, a back-up defensive tackle for the Vikings, sat out the 2010 season opener against the Saints with a knee injury.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
Arizona Cardinals 17, St. Louis Rams 13
King served as an extra defensive back and played on special teams, registering two total tackles versus the Cardinals.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Washington Redskins 13, Dallas Cowboys 7
Sean Lee made his NFL debut for the Cowboys on Sunday evening but did not record a tackle.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), DE, Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins 15, Buffalo Bills 10
Maybin had one tackle and one quarterback hit in a back-up defensive end role.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
New York Giants 31, Carolina Panthers 18
McKenzie and the Giants' offense had a strong performance versus Carolina, posting 31 points while totaling 376 total net yards in a winning effort.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
On Sept. 6, Norwood was signed to the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns, the team he originally signed with as an undrafted free agent in 2009.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 15, Buffalo Bills 10
Earning the start at right defensive end in the Dolphins' 3-4 defense in his NFL debut, Odrick made one tackle.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
New England Patriots 38, Cincinnati Bengals 24
After see playing time in three games as a rookie for New England, Ohrnberger, a fourth round choice in 2009, is currently on the Patriots' practice squad.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins 15, Buffalo Bills 10
Posluszny was on his way to a monster game before his day was cut short by a knee injury suffered in the third quarter. In his time on the field, he recorded eight tackles, including six solos, one sack for a loss of six yards, and two quarterback hits. Posluszny's injury is not considered serious and will not require surgery. He is expected to miss two weeks.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 27, Philadelphia Eagles 20
A fourth-round draft choice for the Packers in the 2010 draft, Quarless returned to the state where he played his collegiate football in week one but was inactive for the game versus the Eagles.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks 31, San Francisco 49ers 6
Signed by Seattle on Sept. 6, Robinson contributed immediately in his first game as a Seahawk, helping to beat his former team by catching two passes for 12 yards and making one special teams tackle.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins 15, Buffalo Bills 10
Scott came off the bench in the Bills' season opener, contributing two tackles, one sack for a loss of six yards, and two quarterback hits from his strong safety position.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans 38, Oakland Raiders 13
Shaw saw action on special teams but did not record a tackle.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08), C, Philadelphia Eagles
Green Bay Packers 27, Philadelphia Eagles 20
Shipley joined the Eagles in the 2010 offseason and spent the entire training camp and preseason with the team before signing to the practice squad on Sept. 5. Originally, a seventh-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Shipley spent his entire rookie campaign on their practice squad.
Mickey Shuler (2007-09), TE, Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints 14, Minnesota Vikings 9
After earning a roster spot with the Vikings as a seventh-round draft choice, Shuler was inactive for the 2010 opener versus the Saints.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 15, Buffalo Bills 10
Getting the start at outside linebacker for the Dolphins, Wake had a big day, registering three tackles, one sack for a loss of five yards, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and two passes defensed.
Derrick Williams (2005-08), WR, Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears 19, Detroit Lions 14
Williams was not active for the Lions' 2010 season opener in Chicago.