Sept. 9, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Twenty-five Penn State players were on the rosters of 19 National Football League (NFL) teams for NFL Kickoff Week, second-most among Big Ten schools. The Nittany Lions are perennially a top-15 program in producing players in the NFL. In addition to the 25 players on 53-man rosters, the Nittany Lions have three former players on practice squads.
Of the 40 National Football Foundation (NFF) Scholar-Athletes to make NFL rosters, Penn State had three to lead all teams. The Nittany Lion NFF Scholar-Athlete in the NFL are: Paul Posluszny (Jacksonville), John Urschel (Baltimore) and Stefan Wisniewski (Jacksonville).
A pair of Nittany Lions have been selected as team captains in Posluszny (Jacksonville) and Robbie Gould (Chicago).
The Jacksonville Jaguars boast a league-high four former Nittany Lions, including nine-year veteran and 2013 Pro Bowl linebacker Paul Posluszny and 2014 second-round pick Allen Robinson. Veterans Jared Odrick (Miami) and Stefan Wisniewski (Oakland) signed with Jacksonville during the offseason as free agents.
Three additional NFL squads laid claim to two former Nittany Lions on their opening week rosters: Chicago, Dallas, Seattle.
Three players from Penn State's 2014 squad made NFL teams as rookies: Adrian Amos (Chicago), Jesse James (Pittsburgh) and Donovan Smith (Tampa Bay). Additionally, three members of the 2014 team were signed to practice squads: Deion Barnes (New York Jets), Brad Bars (New York Giants) and Mike Hull (Miami). Former Penn State basketball standout Ross Travis has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.
Eleven-year veteran and Chicago Bears All-Pro placekicker Robbie Gould is Penn State's elder statesman in the NFL. Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro linebacker Tamba Hali, who is entering his 10th professional season, is second in longevity, followed by Posluszny and seven-year professionals Jordan Norwood (Denver) and Cameron Wake (Miami).
Penn State has had 39 NFL Draft picks since 2006, including 17 in the first three rounds, and at least three NFL Draft picks 17 times since starting Big Ten Conference competition in 1993. A total of 338 Nittany Lions have been selected all-time in the NFL Draft. Eleven-year veteran and Chicago Bears All-Pro placekicker Robbie Gould is Penn State's elder statesman in the NFL. Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro linebacker Tamba Hali, who is entering his 10th professional season, is second in longevity, followed by Posluszny and seven-year professionals Jordan Norwood (Denver) and Cameron Wake (Miami).
For the 44th time in the Super Bowl's 49-game history, at least one Penn State alumnus was a member of one of the participating teams (18 times in last 20 years). Thirty-six former Nittany Lions have earned a total of 53 Super Bowl rings, most recently Jordan Hill and since-retired running back Michael Robinson with Seattle last year. A total of 105 Nittany Lions have been on Super Bowl rosters.
Ten former Nittany Lions are members of NFL coaching staffs: Gary Brown (Dallas, running backs); Bobby Engram (Baltimore, wide receivers); Sam Gash (Green Bay, running backs); Ron Heller (New York Jets, assistant offensive line); John McNulty (Tennessee, quarterbacks); Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Munchak (Pittsburgh, offensive line); Jeff Nixon (Miami, running backs); Paul Pasqualoni (Houston, defensive line); Darren Perry (Green Bay, safeties) and Mike Wolf (Cleveland, assistant strength and conditioning). Pasqualoni is the only Lion with a different team this season, as he was previously the defensive line coach for the Bears.
In addition, former Penn State quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell is in his second season as head coach of the Detroit Lions.
The Nittany Lions open a string of five consecutive home games for the first time since 1922 when they welcome Buffalo to Beaver Stadium for a noon kick on Saturday.
Season, partial season and single game tickets for the 2015 campaign are on sale, with nearly 5,000 new season tickets having been sold. To purchase tickets or for information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2015 season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.
NFL Kickoff Week Roster (25)
Arizona Cardinals (1) -- A.Q. Shipley
Atlanta Falcons (1) -- Nate Stupar
Baltimore Ravens (1) -- John Urschel
Chicago Bears (2) -- Adrian Amos, Robbie Gould
Dallas Cowboys (2) -- Jack Crawford, Sean Lee
Denver Broncos (1) -- Jordan Norwood
Green Bay Packers (1) -- Andrew Quarless
Jacksonville Jaguars (4) -- Jared Odrick, Paul Posluszny, Allen Robinson, Stefen Wisniewski
Kansas City Chiefs (1) -- Tamba Hali
Miami Dolphins (1) -- Cameron Wake
Minnesota Vikings (1) -- Gerald Hodges
New Orleans Saints (1) -- Mike Mauti
Oakland Raiders (1) -- Matt McGloin
Pittsburgh Steelers (1) -- Jesse James
San Diego Chargers (1) -- Johnnie Troutman
San Francisco 49ers (1) -- Navorro Bowman
Seattle Seahawks (2) -- Garry Gilliam, Jordan Hill
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1) -- Donovan Smith
Tennessee Titans (1) -- DaQuan Jones
Practice Squad (4)
Miami Dolphins (1) -- Mike Hull
New York Giants (1) -- Brad Bars
New York Jets (1) -- Deion Barnes
Kansas City Chiefs (1) -- Ross Travis *
* - played basketball at Penn State