Oct. 4, 2011
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 four of the 2011 season include a two-sack performance by Tamba Hali, Paul Posluszny's best outing since joining the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a successful return to the NFL by Aaron Maybin. In other news, Tennessee head coach Mike Munchak has his Titans in the midst of a three-game winning streak.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 34, Carolina Panthers 29
Adams played as a reserve nose tackle in the Bears' defensive line rotation but did not record a tackle.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers 24, Philadelphia Eagles 23
Bowman continued to play at a high level on Sunday, making six solo tackles, including two for a loss, had one pass defensed, and recovered a key fumble on the San Francisco four-yard line in the second quarter.
Brett Brackett (2007-10), TE, Miami Dolphins
San Diego Chargers 26, Miami Dolphins 16
After making a successful transition from college wide receiver to pro tight end, Brackett has earned a spot on the Miami Dolphins' practice squad.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
New York Giants 31, Arizona Cardinals 27
Brown made his 63rd career start, anchoring the Cardinals' offensive line from his left tackle spot. He helped pave the way as Arizona rushed for 156 yards.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
Atlanta Falcons 30, Seattle Seahawks 28
Butler is currently on Seattle's physically unable to perform (PUP) list, meaning he will miss the first six weeks of the 2011 season. Butler is still recovering from a broken leg suffered late in 2010.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Indianapolis Colts
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, Indianapolis Colts 17
Collins was inactive for Indianapolis' Monday night loss to Tampa Bay, missing the game after suffering a concussion in week three. Collins is the longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion, playing in his 17th professional season.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears 34, Carolina Panthers 29
Connor started his third consecutive game at middle linebacker and led the Panthers with eight tackles, including a team-best six solo stops.
Lou Eliades (2008-10), OT, Oakland Raiders
New England Patriots 31, Oakland Raiders 19
Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Raiders on July 28, Eliades was placed on injured reserve in late August.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints 23, Jacksonville Jaguars 10
Gilmore played but did not have a catch in New Orleans' victory over Jacksonville.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 34, Carolina Panthers 29
Gould made field goals of 20 and 24 yards and was 4-for-4 on extra points in the Bears' narrow win over Carolina.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs 22, Minnesota Vikings 17
Hali spent much of Kansas City's game with Minnesota in the Vikings' backfield, registering two sacks for a loss of 12 yards and five total quarterback hits. Hali finished the game tied for the team lead with seven tackles (6 solos).
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
Washington Redskins 17, St. Louis Rams 10
Hull played but did not have a tackle in the Rams' loss to Washington.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Houston Texans
Houston Texans 17, Pittsburgh Steelers 10
Johnson played did not have a catch in the Houston win over Pittsburgh.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, New York Giants
New York Giants 31, Arizona Cardinals 27
Kennedy, a back-up defensive lineman for the Giants, played but did have a tackle in New York's win over Arizona.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
Washington Redskins 17, St. Louis Rams 10
King did his part to try to help rally St. Louis late in the game, intercepting Washington quarterback Rex Grossman at the Rams' 18-yard line and returning it 51 yards in the fourth quarter. He also notched two solo tackles.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Detroit Lions 34, Dallas Cowboys 30
Lee totaled four tackles, including three solos, and had one pass defensed and one quarterback hit in Dallas' loss to Detroit.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), LB, New York Jets
Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Jets 17
Re-signed by New York on September 28, Maybin made a big impact in his first regular season game as a Jet. In the third quarter, Maybin sacked and forced a fumble of Ravens' quarterback Joe Flacco, which was recovered by New York.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
New York Giants 31, Arizona Cardinals 27
McKenzie made his 141st start at right tackle for New York on Sunday, protecting quarterback Eli Manning as he threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Tennessee Titans 31, Cleveland Browns 13
Norwood had one reception for 19 yards in the Browns' home loss to Tennessee.
Ollie Ogbu (2007-10), DT, Indianapolis Colts
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, Indianapolis Colts 17
Ogbu is a member of the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
San Diego Chargers 26, Miami Dolphins 16
Odrick played as a reserve along the Miami defensive line, posting two tackles, including one for a loss, and forcing one fumble.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
New England Patriots 31, Oakland Raiders 19
Ohrnberger was placed on injured reserve on September 3 and will miss the 2011 season.
Scott Paxson (2003-05), OG, Cleveland Browns
Tennessee Titans 31, Cleveland Browns 13
Paxson saw time in the Browns' defensive line rotation but did not record a tackle.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
New Orleans Saints 23, Jacksonville Jaguars 10
Posluszny had his best game of the 2011 season for Jacksonville, recording team highs in total tackles (13) and solo stops (9), one sack for a loss of 10 yards, and two passes defensed.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 49, Denver Broncos 23
Quarless saw playing time but did not have a catch in Green Bay's home win over Denver.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Atlanta Falcons 30, Seattle Seahawks 28
Robinson started at fullback for Seattle, catching one pass for seven yards.
Evan Royster (2007-10), RB, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins 17, St. Louis Rams 10
After running for 110 yards and one touchdown in the preseason, Royster, Penn State's all-time leading rusher, was signed to the Redskins' practice squad.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals 23, Buffalo Bills 20
Scott made the biggest defensive play of the day for the Bills, intercepting Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton in the second quarter and returning it 43 yards for a touchdown. He also had two total tackles in action on defense and on special teams.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans 31, Cleveland Browns 13
Shaw assisted on one special teams tackle in Tennessee's third consecutive win.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
San Diego Chargers 26, Miami Dolphins 16
Wake had three solo tackles and one sack for a loss of eight yards in the Dolphins' road loss to the Chargers.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10), OL, Oakland Raiders
New England Patriots 31, Oakland Raiders 19
Entrenched as Oakland's starting left guard just four games into his NFL career, Wisniewski helped the Raiders' offense pile up 504 total yards versus the Patriots. Wisniewski protected quarterback Jason Campbell as he threw for 344 yards and did not allow a sack on 39 passing attempts.