Sept. 9, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Twenty-six former Penn State players were on the rosters of 18 National Football League teams during NFL Kickoff Week, the second-highest total in the Big Ten Conference. The Nittany Lions annually are among the top 15 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.
The Oakland Raiders feature a league-high three former Nittany Lions on their roster, including third-year starting center/guard Stefen Wisniewski, second-year defensive end Jack Crawford and rookie quarterback Matt McGloin, who made the team as a free agent. Six additional NFL squads boast two former Nittany Lions on their opening week rosters: Atlanta, Jacksonville, Miami, Minnesota, San Diego and San Francisco.
Four seniors from Penn State's 2012 squad made NFL teams: Jordan Hill (Seattle), Gerald Hodges (Minnesota), Michael Mauti (Minnesota) and McGloin (Oakland).
Among the other Nittany Lions who made the active roster of new teams this season were: Brett Brackett (Jacksonville), Dan Connor (New York Giants), Derek Moye (Pittsburgh), Rich Ohrnberger (San Diego), A.Q. Shipley (Baltimore) and Nate Stupar (San Francisco).
Chicago Bears All-Pro placekicker Robbie Gould is the elder statesman among former Nittany Lions, in his ninth season, and Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro linebacker Tamba Hali is second in longevity, in his eighth season. Offensive tackle Levi Brown (Arizona) and linebacker Paul Posluszny (Jacksonville) are in their seventh professional seasons.
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.
Eli Manning (10) runs the ball against Dallas Cowboys inside linebacker Sean Lee (50). |
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Former Penn State players on 2013 NFL Season Kickoff rosters
(pro season in parentheses):
Arizona Cardinals - Levi Brown (7)
Atlanta Falcons - Andrew Szczerba (1, IR), Mickey Shuler (4, PS)
Baltimore Ravens - A.Q. Shipley (4)
Chicago Bears - Robbie Gould (9)
Cincinnati Bengals - Devon Still (2)
Dallas Cowboys - Sean Lee (4)
Green Bay Packers - 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 York Giants - Dan Connor (6)
Oakland Raiders - Jack Crawford (2), Matt McGloin (1), Stefen Wisniewski (3)
Pittsburgh Steelers - Derek Moye (2)
San Diego Chargers - Rich Ohrnberger (5), Johnnie Troutman (2)
San Francisco 49ers - Navorro Bowman (4), Nate Stupar (2)
Seattle Seahawks - Jordan Hill (1)
Washington Redskins - Evan Royster (3)