Jan. 5, 2016
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 17 were Gerald Hodges and Paul Posluszny. Hodges had a career-high 13 tackles as the 49ers topped the Rams, while Posluszny posted his seventh 10-tackle performance with 10 stops for the Jaguars against the Texans.
The Nittany Lions make up three of the top six tacklers in the NFL as Navorro Bowman of the 49ers led the league with 154 stops, followed by Posluszny in fifth place with 133 tackles and Sean Lee is tied for sixth with 128 tackles.
Allen Robinson of the Jaguars ranked sixth in the NFL with 1,400 receiving yards and tied for first with 14 receiving touchdowns. He also led the NFL in receptions of 20 or more yards with 31, which is a Jaguars record. Additionally, his 17.5 yards per reception average is the highest mark in Jaguar season history. Robinson is the youngest player in NFL history with 1,400 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He is also one of four players in NFL history to have 1,400 yards, 14 touchdowns and a 17.5 receiving average since 1970 (Calvin Johnson in 2011, Randy Moss in 2000, Jerry Rice in 1986 and 1989).
Adrian Amos, (2011-14), FS, Chicago Bears
Lions 24, Bears 20
Amos started at safety and recorded one tackle against the Lions. He registered 67 tackles, including 57 solo, and a pair of pass defenses in his rookie season. Amos started all 16 games for the Bears this season.
Deion Barnes, (2012-14), DE, New York Jets
Bills 22, Jets 17
Barnes is on the practice squad for the Jets.
Brad Bars, (2011-14), DE, New York Giants
Eagles 35, Giants 30
Bars had one tackle against the Eagles. He had one tackle in each of his two appearances this season. He was signed off of the practice squad in Week 16.
Navorro Bowman, (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 19, Rams 16 (OT)
Bowman started at linebacker and registered nine tackles, including two TFLs. He also forced his first fumble of the season. He led the NFL with 154 tackles during the regular season. Bowman finished the season with a career-high 154 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Bowman is headed to the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career (2013 and 2014).
Jack Crawford, (2008-11), DT, Dallas Cowboys
Redskins 34, Cowboys 23
Crawford had four tackles against the Redskins. He appeared in all 16 games with one start for the Cowboys. Crawford recorded a career-high 21 tackles on the year.
Garry Gilliam, (2010-12), T, Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 36, Cardinals 6
Gilliam started at right tackle against the Rams. He started all 16 regular season games for Seattle. The Seahawks visit the Vikings in the Wild Card round of the playoffs on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. on NBC.
Robbie Gould, (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Lions 24, Bears 20
Gould connected on field goal attempts from 49 and 34 yards and made a pair of extra points against the Lions. He was 33-for-39 on field goal attempts this season and 28-for-29 in extra points. The 33 field goals are the most for Gould in a season during his 11-year NFL career. Gould's seven field goals of 50 or more yards lead the NFL. He also recorded 39 touchbacks on 82 kickoff attempts.
Tamba Hali, (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 23, Raiders 17
Hali returned to the field despite a broken thumb and had one tackle against the Raiders. He saw time in 15 games with 14 starts en route to 48 tackles, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Hali was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fifth consecutive season. The Chiefs visit the Texans in the Wild Card Playoffs Saturday at 4:35 p.m. on ESPN.
Jordan Hill, (2009-12), DT, Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 36, Cardinals 6
Hill had two tackles in the win over Cardinals. He had a career-high 24 tackles in the regular season despite playing in only 10 games. The Seahawks visit the Vikings in the Wild Card round of the playoffs on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. on NBC.
Gerald Hodges, (2009-12), LB, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 19, Rams 16 (OT)
Hodges started his second consecutive game at inside linebacker and had a game- and career-high 13 tackles against the Rams. He had a career-high 70 tackles in 14 games with the Vikings and 49ers. He started seven games on the year.
Mike Hull, (2011-13), LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 20, Patriots 10
Hull was signed off of the practice squad for the second time this season on Jan. 2. He saw action in the Dolphins' win over the Patriots. Hull played in three games this season and recorded one solo tackle.
Jesse James, (2012-13), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 28, Browns 12
James saw time against the Browns. He played in eight games with two starts this season. James finished the regular season with eight catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers will visit the Bengals in the Wild Card round of the playoffs Saturday at 8:15 p.m. on CBS.
DaQuan Jones, (2010-13), DL, Tennessee Titans
Colts 30, Titans 24
Jones started at defensive end and had three tackles against the Colts. He started all 16 games for the Titans, tallying 45 tackles on the season.
Sean Lee, (2005-07, 2009), MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Redskins 34, Cowboys 23
Lee was inactive against the Redskins. He finished the season tied for sixth in the NFL in total tackles with a career-high 128 stops in just 14 games. Lee also registered 2.5 sacks, five pass defenses and an interception. Lee reached the 100-tackle mark for the second time in his career (105 in 2011).
Michael Mauti, (2008, 2010-12), LB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 20, Falcons 17
Mauti saw time against the Falcons. He played in all 16 games and finished the season with 37 tackles, including 26 solo, and a touchdown on a blocked punt.
Matt McGloin,(2010-12), QB, Oakland Raiders
Chiefs 23, Raiders 17
McGloin did not play against the Chiefs. He saw time in two games this season, going 23-for-32 for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
Jordan Norwood, (2005-08), WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos 27, Chargers 20
Norwood started at wide receiver and had three catches for a season-high 48 yards. He also returned three punts for 33 yards. Norwood appeared in 11 games with five starts this season. He had 22 receptions for 207 yards. Norwood also returned six punts for 51 yards. The Broncos won the AFC West and earned a first round bye. They will host a Divisional Playoff game Sunday, Jan. 17 at 4:40 p.m. on CBS.
Jared Odrick, (2006-09), DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Texans 30, Jaguars 6
Odrick started at defensive end and tallied four tackles, a half-sack and two quarterback hurries against the Texans. He started all 16 games for the Jaguars en route to 29 tackles, a team-high 5.5 sacks, three pass defenses and one forced fumble.
Paul Posluszny, (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Texans 30, Jaguars 6
Posluszny had 10 tackles and two quarterback hurries against the Texans. He finished fifth in the NFL in tackles this season with 133 in just 14 games. Posluszny reached the 100-tackle mark for the seventh time in his nine-year NFL career. The only two times he did not reach 100 stops were seasons that were shortened by injury. Posluszny also tallied one sack, six pass defenses and a career-high three interceptions in 2015.
Andrew Quarless, (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Vikings 20, Packers 13
Quarless saw time against the Vikings in the regular season finale. He had four receptions for 31 yards in just five games this season as he battled a knee injury all season. The Packers will visit the Redskins in the Wild Card Playoffs Sunday at 4:40 p.m. on Fox.
Allen Robinson, (2011-13), WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Texans 30, Jaguars 6
Robinson had five catches for 108 yards versus the Texans. He ranked sixth in the NFL with 1,400 receiving yards and tied for first with 14 receiving touchdowns. Robinson also led the NFL in receptions of 20 or more yards with 31, which is also a Jaguars record. His 17.5 yards per reception average is the highest mark in Jaguar season history. Robinson is the fourth player in NFL history with 1,400 receiving yards in his age-22-or-younger season, joining Josh Gordon, Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald. He is the youngest player in NFL history with 1,400 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He is also one of four players in NFL history to have 1,400 yards, 14 touchdowns and a 17.5 receiving average since 1970 (Calvin Johnson in 2011, Randy Moss in 2000, Jerry Rice in 1986 and 1989). Robinson is an alternate for the Pro Bowl.
A.Q. Shipley, (2005-08), C, Arizona Cardinals
Seahawks 36, Cardinals 6
Shipley saw time against the Seahawks. He played in 12 games for the Cardinals this season with three starts. The Cardinals won the NFC West and earned a first round bye and host the Divisional Playoff game on Sunday, Jan. 17.
Donovan Smith, (2012-14), OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Panthers 38, Buccaneers 10
Smith started at left tackle and blocked for Jameis Winston, who threw for 325 yards against the Panthers. He started all 16 games at left tackle as a rookie.
Nate Stupar, (2008-11), LB, Atlanta Falcons
Saints 20, Falcons 17
Stupar had one tackle against the Saints. He played in all 16 games with three starts this season, tallying a career-high 40 tackles with one sack and two passes defended.
Johnnie Troutman, (2009-11), OG, San Diego Chargers
Broncos 27, Chargers 20
Troutman was placed on the season-ending injured reserve after breaking his forearm in early August.
John Urschel, (2011-13), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Bengals 24, Ravens 16
Urschel started against the Bengals. He appeared in all 16 games for the Ravens, including starts in the last seven contests.
Cameron Wake, (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 20, Patriots 10
Wake tore his Achilles against New England in Week 8 and was 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
Texans 30, Jaguars 6
Wisniewski started at center against the Texans. He started all 16 games for the Jaguars this season and has started all 77 games of his career.