Nov. 29, 2011
With 32 Nittany Lions on National Football League rosters, Penn State is well represented in the professional ranks. Each week throughout the year, GoPSUsports.com will provide updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats. Highlights from week 12 of the 2011 season include Jordan Norwood catching his first career touchdown pass, Evan Royster seeing his first NFL regular season action, and Levi Brown playing a role in a prolific rushing performance by the Cardinals' offense.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Oakland Raiders 25, Chicago Bears 20
Adams was inactive for the Bears match-up with the Raiders.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
Baltimore Ravens 16, San Francisco 49ers 6
Playing in the NFL's Thanksgiving Day finale, Bowman totaled eight tackles (4 solos) as the 49ers suffered just their second loss of the season.
Brett Brackett (2007-10), TE, Philadelphia Eagles
New England Patriots 38, Philadelphia Eagles 20
Brackett was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad on November 8. He spent time on the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars practice squads earlier this year.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals 23, St. Louis Rams 20
Brown made his 70th career start for Arizona, helping pave the way as the Cardinals rushed for 268 yards in a win over the Rams.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
Washington Redskins 23, Seattle Seahawks 17
Butler was on the inactive list for Seattle's game with Washington.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Indianapolis Colts
Carolina Panthers 27, Indianapolis Colts 19
Collins, the longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion, in his 17th professional season, was placed on injured reserve on October 25 and will miss the remainder of the 2011 season.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers 27, Indianapolis Colts 19
After missing last week's game due to a shoulder injury, Connor was back in the starting line-up on Sunday against Indianapolis, registering five total tackles, including three solo stops.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints 49, New York Giants 24
Gilmore did not have a catch but played a key role blocking in the run game and protecting Saints quarterback Drew Brees as he threw for 363 yards and four touchdowns.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Oakland Raiders 25, Chicago Bears 20
Gould nailed two long distance field goals on Sunday versus Oakland, hitting from 50 and 53 yards. He also converted on two PAT attempts.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Pittsburgh Steelers 13, Kansas City Chiefs 9
Hali totaled two tackles and forced a fumble of Steelers running back Mewelde Moore in the first quarter of Kansas City's narrow loss to Pittsburgh.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
Arizona Cardinals 23, St. Louis Rams 20
Hull was inactive for the Rams home loss to the Cardinals.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Houston Texans
Houston Texans 20, Jacksonville Jaguars 13
Johnson played but did not have a reception in Houston's win over Jacksonville.
Jeremy Kapinos (2003-06), P, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers 13, Kansas City Chiefs 9
Kapinos punted five times for a total of 211 yards (42.2 avg.), with a long of 52, placing two kicks inside the 20-yard line.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, New York Giants
New Orleans Saints 49, New York Giants 24
Kennedy was inactive for the Giants' Monday Night Football contest with the Saints.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
Arizona Cardinals 23, St. Louis Rams 20
King started at cornerback, recording seven tackles (4 solos) in St. Louis' loss to Arizona.
Dennis Landolt (2007-09), OT, New York Jets
New York Jets 28, Buffalo Bills 24
Landolt was re-signed to the New York Jets' practice squad on October 31.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys 20, Miami Dolphins 19
Playing with a cast on his dislocated wrist, Lee shined under the Thanksgiving Day spotlight, collecting seven tackles (5 solos), including one for a loss, and one sack.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), LB, New York Jets
New York Jets 28, Buffalo Bills 24
Maybin notched two sacks for a loss of 10 yards in the Jets key divisional win over the Bills.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
New Orleans Saints 49, New York Giants 24
McKenzie made his 148th start at right tackle for New York, as the Giants totaled 406 passing yards in a road loss to the Saints on Monday Night Football.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals 23, Cleveland Browns 20
Norwood caught his first career touchdown pass on Sunday, hauling in a 24-yard scoring reception in the first quarter. He finished the day with four catches for a team-high 69 yards.
Ollie Ogbu (2007-10), DT, Indianapolis Colts
Carolina Panthers 27, Indianapolis Colts 19
Ogbu is a member of the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys 20, Miami Dolphins 19
Odrick played but did not have a tackle in Miami's last-second Thanksgiving Day loss to Dallas.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
New England Patriots 38, Philadelphia Eagles 20
Ohrnberger was placed on injured reserve on September 3 and will miss the 2011 season.
Scott Paxson (2003-05), OG, Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals 23, Cleveland Browns 20
Playing in Cleveland's defensive line rotation, Paxson totaled three tackles (2 solos), including one for a loss, and recovered a fumble in the second quarter.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans 20, Jacksonville Jaguars 13
Posluszny finished second on the team with seven tackles (4 solos), including one for a loss, and forced a fumble in a Jacksonville home loss.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 27, Detroit Lions 15
Quarless saw action but did not have a catch as the Packers remain undefeated with a win over the Lions on Thanksgiving Day, improving to 11-0 on the season.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Washington Redskins 23, Seattle Seahawks 17
Robinson started at fullback, catching one pass for seven yards in Seattle's loss to Washington.
Evan Royster (2007-10), RB, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins 23, Seattle Seahawks 17
After being promoted from Washington's practice squad to the active roster on November 22, Royster saw his first regular season NFL action on Sunday, rushing once for three yards in the Redskins win over the Seahawks.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
New York Jets 28, Buffalo Bills 24
Scott had one solo tackle in the Bills divisional loss to the Jets.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17
Shaw made one solo special teams tackle in Tennessee's win over Tampa Bay.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys 20, Miami Dolphins 19
Wake recorded four solo tackles, one sack for a loss of eight yards, two total tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits in Miami's Thanksgiving Day loss to Dallas.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10), OL, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders 25, Chicago Bears 20
Starting his 11th consecutive game at left guard, Wisniewski and the Raiders offense totaled 341 yards of offense versus the stout Bears defense in an Oakland home win.