Sept. 13, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; September 13, 2012 - Twenty-nine former Penn State players were on the rosters of 20 National Football League teams during NFL Kickoff Week. Penn State traditionally is among the top 15 schools nationally in producing current NFL players.
The Oakland Raiders feature a league-high three former Nittany Lions on its roster, including second-year starting center Stefen Wisniewski and rookies Jack Crawford and Nate Stupar. Stupar is on the practice squad.
Seven NFL teams had two former Nittany Lions on their opening day rosters: Arizona, Cleveland, Dallas, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Miami and the New York Jets. Bryan Scott is the veteran among former Nittany Lions in the NFL, as the Buffalo Bills safety/outside linebacker is entering his 10th professional season. Originally a second round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons, Scott has spent the last five years with Buffalo.
Chicago Bears All-Pro plackicker Robbie Gould is next among Penn Staters in NFL longevity, entering his eighth season.
Three former Nittany Lion All-America offensive linemen made NFL rosters with new teams: Dennis Landolt (Jets), Rich Ohrnberger (Arizona) and A.Q. Shipley (Indianapolis). The 2008 Rimington Trophy winner, Shipley was on the Colts' active roster on opening day and this week is on the Colts' practice squad.
A total of 329 Nittany Lions have been selected all-time in the NFL Draft, including 36 in the first round. In the 2012 NFL Draft, Penn State had at least four players selected for the 39th time in NFL Draft history.
Penn State has had at least one alumnus on a Super Bowl team for 41 of 46 title games. Thirty-four former Nittany Lions have earned a total of 51 Super Bowl rings as players, including tackle Kareem McKenzie and defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy with the New York Giants for Super Bowl XLVI.
Penn State's Andrew Quarless helped the Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl XLV and former Nittany Lions Sean McHugh and Scott Paxson helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII.
Former Nittany Lions on 2012 NFL Season Kickoff rosters (Pro season in parentheses):
Arizona Cardinals - Levi Brown (6-injured reserve), Rich Ohrnberger (4)
Buffalo Bills - Bryan Scott (10)
Chicago Bears - Robbie Gould (8)
Cincinnati Bengals - Devon Still (1)
Cleveland Browns - Jordan Norwood (4), Scott Paxson (5-injured reserve)
Dallas Cowboys - Dan Connor (5), Sean Lee (3)
Detroit Lions - Stephfon Green (1-p.s.)
Green Bay Packers - Andrew Quarless (3)
Indianapolis Colts - Justin King (5), A.Q. Shipley (4-p.s.)
Jacksonville Jaguars - Paul Posluszny (6), Brett Brackett (1-injured reserve)
Kansas City Chiefs - Tamba Hali (7)
Miami Dolphins - Cameron Wake (4), Jared Odrick (3)
New York Jets - Dennis Landolt (3), Aaron Maybin (4)
Oakland Raiders - Jack Crawford (1), Stefen Wisniewski (2), Nate Stupar (1-p.s.)
San Diego Chargers - Johnnie Troutman (1-non injury reserve)
San Francisco 49ers - Navorro Bowman (3)
Seattle Seahawks - Michael Robinson (7)
St. Louis Rams - Josh Hull (3)
Tennessee Titans - Tim Shaw (6)
Washington Redskins - Evan Royster (2)
Note: p.s. - practice squad
--NITTANY LIONS--