Dec. 30, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - A total of 26 Penn State football alumni are populating the active rosters of 19 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions annually are among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL. Each week throughout the year, GoPSUsports.com will provide updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
Leading the way for the Nittany Lions in week 16 were Allen Robinson and Navorro Bowman. Robinson, who is a Pro Bowl alternate, had six catches for 151 yards and his NFL-leading 14th touchdown of the season. Bowman, who is slated for his third Pro Bowl appearance, had nine tackles to move into first place in the NFL in tackles this season with 145.
Brad Bars was signed to the active roster for the New York Giants after spending the first 15 weeks of the season on the practice squad. He had one tackle against the Vikings.
Adrian Amos, (2011-14), FS, Chicago Bears
Bears 26, Buccaneers 21
Amos started at safety and recorded five tackles against the Buccaneers. He also had a pass defense.
Deion Barnes, (2012-14), DE, New York Jets
Jets 26, Patriots 20 (OT)
Barnes is on the practice squad for the Jets.
Brad Bars, (2011-14), DE, New York Giants
Vikings 49, Giants 17
Bars had a tackle in his NFL debut against the Vikings.
Navorro Bowman, (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
Lions 32, 49ers 17
Bowman recorded nine tackles, including a half-sack, and a quarterback hurry against the Lions. He now leads the NFL with 145 tackles on the season. Bowman is headed to the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career (2013 and 2014).
Jack Crawford, (2008-11), DT, Dallas Cowboys
Bills 16, Cowboys 6
Crawford hah two tackles against the Bills. He combined with former Penn State teammate Sean Lee on a TFL for a 4-yard loss.
Garry Gilliam, (2010-12), T, Seattle Seahawks
Rams 23, Seahawks 17
Gilliam started at right tackle against the Rams. He blocked for Russell Wilson, who threw for 289 yards and two scores.
Robbie Gould, (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Bears 26, Buccaneers 21
Gould made four field goals (26, 27, 39, 50) and two extra points against the Buccaneers.
Tamba Hali, (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 17, Browns 13
Hali was inactive against the Browns after breaking his thumb in Week 15 and having surgery on Dec. 23. Hali was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fifth consecutive season.
Jordan Hill, (2009-12), DT, Seattle Seahawks
Rams 23, Seahawks 17
Hill was inactive against the Rams due to a quad injury.
Gerald Hodges, (2009-12), LB, San Francisco 49ers
Lions 32, 49ers 17
Hodges earned his first start of the season at inside linebacker and tallied nine tackles against the Lions.
Mike Hull, (2011-13), LB, Miami Dolphins
Colts 18, Dolphins 12
Hull is on the practice squad for the Dolphins.
Jesse James, (2012-13), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ravens 20, Steelers 17
James caught one pass for three yards against the Ravens.
DaQuan Jones, (2010-13), DL, Tennessee Titans
Texans 34, Titans 6
Jones had five tackles against the Texans.
Sean Lee, (2005-07, 2009), MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Bills 16, Cowboys 6
Lee had a game-high 15 tackles, including 11 solo, against the Bills. Lee also had a half-sack and two TFLs. He is fifth in the NFL with 128 tackles on the season.
Michael Mauti, (2008, 2010-12), LB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 38, Jaguars 27
Mauti saw time against the Jaguars.
Matt McGloin,(2010-12), QB, Oakland Raiders
Raiders 23, Chargers 20 (OT)
McGloin did not play against the Packers.
Jordan Norwood, (2005-08), WR, Denver Broncos
Bengals 20, Broncos 17 (OT)
Norwood had four catches for 37 yards, including a 14-yard reception, against the Bengals. He also returned one punt for 14 yards.
Jared Odrick, (2006-09), DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Saints 38, Jaguars 27
Odrick started at defensive end, but injured his knee on the first series and did not return against the Saints.
Paul Posluszny, (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Saints 38, Jaguars 27
Posluszny had nine tackles, including a sack for a 10-yard loss, against the Saints. He also had a quarterback hurry and a pass defense. He is seventh in the NFL in tackles this season with 123.
Andrew Quarless, (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Cardinals 38, Packers 8
Quarless returned to the field for the first time since injuring his knee in Week 3 against the Chiefs. He had two catches for 17 yards against the Cardinals.
Allen Robinson, (2011-13), WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Saints 38, Jaguars 27
Robinson had six receptions for 151 yards, including a 90-yard touchdown catch, against the Saints. He is sixth in the NFL with 1,292 receiving yards and is tied for first with 14 receiving touchdowns. He leads the NFL in catches of 20 or more yards with 28.
A.Q. Shipley, (2005-08), C, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 38, Packers 8
Shipley started at center against the Packers. Blocked for Carson Palmer, who threw for 265 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Donovan Smith, (2012-14), OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bears 26, Buccaneers 21
Smith started at left tackle and blocked for Jameis Winston, who threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears.
Nate Stupar, (2008-11), LB, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 20, Panthers 13
Stupar had four tackles as the Falcons handed the Panthers their first loss of the season.
Johnnie Troutman, (2009-11), OG, San Diego Chargers
Raiders 23, Chargers 20 (OT)
Troutman has been placed on the season-ending injured reserve after breaking his forearm in early August.
John Urschel, (2011-13), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 20, Steelers 17
Urschel started against the Chiefs.
Cameron Wake, (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Colts 18, Dolphins 12
Wake tore his Achilles against New England and has been placed on season-ending injured reserve. He ended the season with 7.0 sacks and four forced fumbles.
Stefen Wisniewski, (2007-10), C, Jacksonville Jaguars
Saints 38, Jaguars 27
Wisniewski started at center against the Saints. He recovered a Blake Bortles fumble. He blocked for Bortles, who threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns.