Dec. 29, 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 16 of the 2011 season include a 132-yard rushing performance by Evan Royster in his first NFL start and another standout effort by Navorro Bowman for the NFC West champion 49ers. In other news, Tamba Hali was named to his first Pro Bowl and injuries ended the 2011 seasons of Rams Justin King and Josh Hull.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Green Bay Packers 35, Chicago Bears 21
Adams was inactive for Chicago's Sunday night loss to Green Bay.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers 21, Seattle Seahawks 19
Bowman led the 49ers in total (12) and solo tackles (7) and had one sack for a loss of four yards as San Francisco edged out divisional foe Seattle.
Brett Brackett (2007-10), TE, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles 20, Dallas Cowboys 7
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
Cincinnati Bengals 23, Arizona Cardinals 16
Brown made his 74th career start for Arizona, as the Cardinals four-game winning streak came to an end with a road loss to Cincinnati.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers 21, Seattle Seahawks 19
Butler caught two passes for 13 yards in Seattle's loss to San Francisco.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts 19, Houston Texans 16
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 48, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16
Connor started at middle linebacker, making four total tackles and forcing a fumble in Carolina's rout of Tampa Bay.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints 45, Atlanta Falcons 16
Gilmore started at tight end but did not have a catch in the Saints big win over the Falcons.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Green Bay Packers 35, Chicago Bears 21
Gould made 2-of-3 field goal attempts, hitting from 30 and 35 yards, and connected on his lone PAT in the Bears road loss to the Packers.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders 16, Kansas City Chiefs 13 (OT)
Hali recorded six solo tackles, including one for a loss, and one quarterback hit in Kansas City's overtime loss to divisional foe Oakland.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
Pittsburgh Steelers 27, St. Louis Rams 0
Hull was placed on injured reserve on December 20 with a high ankle sprain.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts 19, Houston Texans 16
Johnson played but did not have a catch as the playoff-bound Texans dropped their second straight game.
Jeremy Kapinos (2003-06), P, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers 27, St. Louis Rams 0
Kapinos punted four times, averaging 47.8 yards per kick, with a long of 56 yards in Pittsburgh's shutout win over St. Louis.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, New York Giants
New York Giants 29, New York Jets 14
Kennedy was on the inactive list for the Giants won the battle of New York with the Jets.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
Pittsburgh Steelers 27, St. Louis Rams 0
King's shoulder injury, suffered in the week of practice before the Cincinnati game on December 18, will require surgery, effectively ending his 2011 season. King finished the year with 63 tackles (sixth on the team), two sacks, an interception, six passes defended, three quarterback hits and a forced fumble.
Dennis Landolt (2007-09), OT, New York Jets
New York Giants 29, New York Jets 14
Landolt was re-signed to the New York Jets' practice squad on October 31.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles 20, Dallas Cowboys 7
Lee had five total tackles, including one for a loss, and had one quarterback hit, as Dallas dropped a divisional game to rival Philadelphia.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), LB, New York Jets
New York Giants 29, New York Jets 14
Maybin saw action but did not record a tackle in the Jets loss to the Giants.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
New York Giants 29, New York Jets 14
McKenzie made his 152nd start at right tackle for the Giants in a win against the team that originally drafted him.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Baltimore Ravens 20, Cleveland Browns 14
Norwood was on the Browns inactive list for week 16.
Ollie Ogbu (2007-10), DT, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts 19, Houston Texans 16
Ogbu is a member of the Indianapolis Colts practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots 27, Miami Dolphins 24
Odrick started at right defensive end, recording one solo tackle in Miami's narrow loss to New England.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
New England Patriots 27, Miami Dolphins 24
Ohrnberger was placed on injured reserve on September 3 and will miss the 2011 season.
Scott Paxson (2003-05), OG, Cleveland Browns
Baltimore Ravens 20, Cleveland Browns 14
Playing in Cleveland's defensive line rotation, Paxson made two solos tackles, as the Browns fell to the rival Ravens.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans 23, Jacksonville Jaguars 17
Posluszny had five total tackles and one pass defended in Jacksonville's loss to Tennessee.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 35, Chicago Bears 21
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
San Francisco 49ers 21, Seattle Seahawks 19
Robinson made one assisted special teams tackle in the Seahawks narrow loss to the 49ers.
Evan Royster (2007-10), RB, Washington Redskins
Minnesota Vikings 33, Washington Redskins 26
In his first NFL start, Royster, Penn State's all-time leading rusher, carried 19 times for 132 yards (6.9 avg.) and caught two passes for 15 yards in a Washington loss to Minnesota.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills 40, Denver Broncos 14
Scott had one solo tackle in Buffalo's dominating win over Denver.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans 23, Jacksonville Jaguars 17
Shaw saw action but did not have a tackle in Tennessee's victory over Jacksonville.
Mickey Shuler (2007-09), TE, Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings 33, Washington Redskins 26
Shuler received a late Christmas present, earning a promotion from the Vikings' practice squad to the active roster on December 26.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots 27, Miami Dolphins 24
Wake registered two solo tackles, one sack for a loss of three yards, and had a total of three quarterback hits as Miami dropped a narrow loss to New England.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10), OL, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders 16, Kansas City Chiefs 13 (OT)
Wisniewski started his 15th consecutive game at left guard in his rookie campaign, as the Raiders remained alive for a playoff berth with an overtime win over the Chiefs.