July 30, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; July 30, 2013 - A total of 39 Penn State football alumni are populating the training camp rosters of 25 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions annually are among the top 15 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.
The Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers feature three former Nittany Lions on their rosters, while 10 more NFL teams have two Penn Staters on their rosters. Third-year starting center/guard Stefen Wisniewski, defensive end Jack Crawford and rookie quarterback Matt McGloin are with the Raiders. Wide receiver Deon Butler signed with San Diego in the off-season and is joined by guard Rich Ohrnberger and guard Johnnie Troutman, who missed the 2012 season with an injury.
Deon Butler |
Eight seniors from Penn State's 2012 squad are vying to make NFL squads as rookies:
Mike Farrell (Pittsburgh), Jordan Hill (Seattle), Gerald Hodges (Minnesota), Michael Mauti (Minnesota), Matt McGloin (Oakland), Stephon Morris (New England), Matt Stankiewitch (New England) and Michael Zordich (Carolina).
Bryan Scott is the elder statesman of former Nittany Lions in the NFL, as the Buffalo Bills linebacker is entering his 11th professional season. Originally a second round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons, Scott played with the New Orleans Saints for one year before spending the last six in Buffalo.
Chicago Bears All-Pro placekicker Robbie Gould is entering his ninth NFL season to rank second in longevity among former Penn State players. Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro linebacker Tamba Hali is third in longevity among former Nittany Lions, entering his eighth season. Tackle Levi Brown (Arizona), linebacker Paul Posluszny (Jacksonville) and linebacker Tim Shaw (Tennessee) are in their seventh professional season.
A total of 332 Nittany Lions have been selected all-time in the NFL draft, including 36 in the first round. Thirty-three Penn State football student-athletes have been drafted since 2006, including 15 in the first three rounds.
Penn State has had at least one alumnus on a Super Bowl team in 42 of 47 title games, including last season when All-Pro linebacker Navorro Bowman helped the San Francisco 49ers reach Super Bowl XLVII. Thirty-five former Nittany Lions have earned a total of 51 Super Bowl rings.
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Former Penn State players in 2013 NFL training camps (pro season in parentheses):
Arizona Cardinals - Levi Brown (7), Mickey Shuler (4)
Atlanta Falcons - Andrew Szczerba (1)
Baltimore Ravens - A.Q. Shipley (4)
Buffalo Bills - Bryan Scott (11)
Carolina Panthers - Michael Zordich (1)
Cincinnati Bengals - Aaron Maybin (5), Devon Still (2)
Chicago Bears - Robbie Gould (9)
Cleveland Browns - Jordan Norwood (5)
Dallas Cowboys - Sean Lee (4)
Green Bay Packers - Chaz Powell (2), Andrew Quarless (4)
Jacksonville Jaguars - Brett Brackett (3), Paul Posluszny (7)
Kansas City Chiefs - Tamba Hali (8)
Miami Dolphins - Jared Odrick (4), Cameron Wake (5)
Minnesota Vikings - Gerald Hodges (1), Michael Mauti (1)
New England Patriots - Stephon Morris (1), Matt Stankiewitch (1)
New York Giants - Dan Connor (6)
New York Jets - Dennis Landolt (4)
Oakland Raiders - Jack Crawford (2), Matt McGloin (1),
Stefen Wisniewski (3)
Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Farrell (1), Derek Moye (2)
San Diego Chargers - Deon Butler (5), Rich Ohrnberger (5), Johnnie Troutman (2)
San Francisco 49ers - Navorro Bowman (4), Nate Stupar (2)
Seattle Seahawks - Jordan Hill (1), Michael Robinson (8)
St. Louis Rams - Josh Hull (4)
Tennessee Titans - Tim Shaw (7)
Washington Redskins ->Evan Royster (3)