Dec. 20, 2011
With 33 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 15 of the 2011 season include a three-sack performance by Kansas City linebacker Tamba Hali, touchdown receptions by Seattle's Michael Robinson and New Orleans' John Gilmore, and another career high by rookie Redskins running back Evan Royster.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Seattle Seahawks 38, Chicago Bears 14
Adams had three total tackles, including two solos and one for a loss in Chicago's loss to Seattle.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 3
Bowman led the 49ers in total (8) and solo tackles (7) and tied for the team high in tackles for loss with two, as the San Francisco defense held Pittsburgh to three points in a decisive home win on Monday Night Football.
Brett Brackett (2007-10), TE, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles 45, New York Jets 19
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 20, Cleveland Browns 17 (OT)
Brown made his 73rd career start for Arizona, helping the Cardinals offense compile 363 total yards, including 289 through the air, as Arizona won its fourth straight game.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks 38, Chicago Bears 14
Butler caught two passes for 19 yards in Seattle's win over Chicago.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts 27, Tennessee Titans 13
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 28, Houston Texans 13
Connor made seven tackles (6 solos), including one for a loss, in Carolina's upset road win of playoff-bound Houston.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints 42, Minnesota Vikings 20
Gilmore caught a two-yard touchdown pass in New Orleans rout of Minnesota.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Seattle Seahawks 38, Chicago Bears 14
Gould was 2-for-2 on PATs in Chicago's loss to Seattle.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs 19, Green Bay Packers 14
Hali totaled four solo tackles, including three sacks for a loss of 13 yards, in Kansas City's upset win over visiting Green Bay.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
Cincinnati Bengals 20, St. Louis Rams 13
Hull had one special teams tackles in the Rams loss to the Bengals.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Houston Texans
Carolina Panthers 28, Houston Texans 13
Johnson had two receptions for 23 yards in the Texans home loss to the Panthers.
Jeremy Kapinos (2003-06), P, Pittsburgh Steelers
San Francisco 49ers 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 3
Kapinos punted four times, averaging 38.5 yards per kick, with a long of 42 yards in Pittsburgh's Monday night road loss to San Francisco.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, New York Giants
Washington Redskins 23, New York Giants 10
Kennedy was on the inactive list for the Giants divisional loss to the Redskins.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
Cincinnati Bengals 20, St. Louis Rams 13
King missed the Rams game with the Bengals due to a shoulder injury.
Dennis Landolt (2007-09), OT, New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles 45, New York Jets 19
Landolt was re-signed to the New York Jets' practice squad on October 31.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 15
Continuing to fight through playing with a dislocated wrist, Lee made two solo tackles, including one for a loss, as Dallas beat Tampa Bay and secured sole possession of first place in the NFC East.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), LB, New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles 45, New York Jets 19
Maybin saw action but did not record a tackle in the Jets loss to the Eagles.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
Washington Redskins 23, New York Giants 10
McKenzie made his 151st start at right tackle for New York in the Giants loss to NFC East rival Washington.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Arizona Cardinals 20, Cleveland Browns 17 (OT)
Norwood caught three passes for 21 yards in Cleveland's overtime loss to Arizona.
Ollie Ogbu (2007-10), DT, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts 27, Tennessee Titans 13
Ogbu is a member of the Indianapolis Colts practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 30, Buffalo Bills 23
Odrick started at left defensive end, recording two solo tackles including one sack for a loss of 10 yards in Miami's divisional win over Buffalo.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
New England Patriots 41, Denver Broncos 23
Ohrnberger was placed on injured reserve on September 3 and will miss the 2011 season.
Scott Paxson (2003-05), OG, Cleveland Browns
Arizona Cardinals 20, Cleveland Browns 17 (OT)
Playing in Cleveland's defensive line rotation, Paxson had one assisted tackle in the Browns loss to the Cardinals.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Atlanta Falcons 41, Jacksonville Jaguars 14
Posluszny had eight total tackles, including three solos, in Jacksonville's loss to Atlanta.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Kansas City Chiefs 19, Green Bay Packers 14
Quarless 2011 season came to end on December 7 when he was placed on injured reserve following suffering a knee injury in the Packers week 13 win over the New York Giants.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks 38, Chicago Bears 14
Robinson caught a two-yard touchdown pass and notched one assisted special teams tackle in the Seahawks rout of the Bears.
Evan Royster (2007-10), RB, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins 23, New York Giants 10
Royster had a career-high 10 carries for 36 yards as Washington claimed a divisional win over the rival New York Giants.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins 30, Buffalo Bills 23
Scott started and recorded one solo tackle in Buffalo's loss to Miami.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Indianapolis Colts 27, Tennessee Titans 13
Shaw had two total special teams tackles in the Titans loss to the Colts.
Mickey Shuler (2007-09), TE, Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints 42, Minnesota Vikings 20
Shuler was signed to Minnesota's practice squad on November 28. Originally a seventh-round draft choice of the Vikings, Shuler played in six games in 2010 with the Miami Dolphins.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 30, Buffalo Bills 23
Wake spearheaded the Miami defense in its win over Buffalo, registering seven tackles (6 solos), including two for a loss, one sack for a loss of 10 yards, four quarterback hits, and one pass defensed.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10), OL, Oakland Raiders
Detroit Lions 28, Oakland Raiders 27
Starting his 14th consecutive game at left guard in his rookie campaign, Wisniewski and the Raiders offense totaled 477 yards in a narrow loss to the Lions.