July 29, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - A total of 37 Penn State football alumni are populating the training camp rosters of 23 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions annually are among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL. In addition, six former Nittany Lions are members of NFL coaching staffs, three of whom coach the running backs.
The Jacksonville Jaguars boast a league-high four former Nittany Lions, including 10-year veteran and Pro Bowl linebacker Paul Posluszny, Pro Bowl wide receiver Allen Robinson, seven-year veteran Jared Odrick and newly-signed kicker Sam Ficken.
The Miami Dolphins ad New York Jets each have three former Penn State players on their rosters, while seven teams - Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans ââ'¬" each have two PSU alums.
Nine players from Penn State's 2015 squad are vying to make NFL squads as rookies: Tarow Barney (New York Jets), Kyle Carter (Minnesota), Christian Hackenberg (New York Jets), Austin Johnson (Tennessee), Brandon Johnson (Pittsburgh), Jordan Lucas (Miami), Carl Nassib (Cleveland), Trevor Williams (San Diego) and Anthony Zettel (Detroit).
Penn State has had 44 NFL Draft picks since 2006, including 20 in the first three rounds, and at least three NFL Draft picks 18 times since starting Big Ten Conference competition in 1993. A total of 343 Nittany Lions have been selected all-time in the NFL Draft.
Twelve-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 11th professional season, is second in longevity, followed by Posluszny and eight-year professionals Jordan Norwood (Denver) and Cameron Wake (Miami).
For the 45th time in the Super Bowl's 50-game history, at least one Penn State alumnus was a member of one of the participating teams (19 times in last 21 years). Thirty-eight former Nittany Lions have earned a total of 55 Super Bowl rings, most recently Jordan Norwood with Denver last year. A total of 106 Nittany Lions have been on Super Bowl rosters.
Six former Nittany Lions are members of NFL coaching staffs: Gary Brown (Dallas, running backs); Bobby Engram (Baltimore, wide receivers); John McNulty (San Diego, tight ends); Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Munchak (Pittsburgh, offensive line); Jeff Nixon (San Francisco, tight ends) and Darren Perry (Green Bay, safeties).
In addition, former Penn State quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell is in his third season as head coach of the Detroit Lions.
Penn State opens the 2016 campaign against Kent State at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, September 3. Single game and season tickets for the 2016 campaign, which includes five Big Ten home games for the first time, are on sale with more than 4,000 new season tickets having been sold. There will not be any increase in the price of Penn State football season tickets or Nittany Lion Club donation levels for next season. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2016 season tickets, the Recent Graduate program (35 percent discount on season tickets) as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 9 a.m-4:30 p.m.
Former Penn State players on 2016 NFL training camp rosters (pro season in parentheses):
Arizona Cardinals: A.Q. Shipley (7)
Baltimore Ravens: John Urschel (3)
Cleveland Browns: Carl Nassib (1)
Chicago Bears: Adrian Amos (2), Robbie Gould (12)
Dallas Cowboys: Jack Crawford (5), Sean Lee (7)
Denver Broncos: Jordan Norwood (8)
Detroit Lions: Anthony Zettel (1)
Houston Texans: Devon Still (4)
Jacksonville Jaguars: Sam Ficken (1), Jared Odrick (7), Paul Posluszny (10), Allen Robinson (3)
Kansas City Chiefs: Tamba Hali (11), Ross Travis (1; former MBB player)
Miami Dolphins: Mike Hull (2), Jordan Lucas (1), Cameron Wake (8)
Minnesota Vikings: Kyle Carter (1)
New Orleans Saints: Michael Mauti (4), Nathan Stupar (5)
New York Giants: Brad Bars (2)
New York Jets: Deion Barnes (2), Tarow Barney (1), Christian Hackenberg (1)
Oakland Raiders: Matt McGloin (4)
Philadelphia Eagles: Stefen Wisniewski (6)
Pittsburgh Steelers: Jesse James (2), Brandon Johnson (1)
San Diego Chargers: Trevor Williams (1)
San Francisco 49ers: Navorro Bowman (7), Gerald Hodges (4)
Seattle Seahawks: Garry Gilliam (3), Jordan Hill (4)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Donovan Smith (2)
Tennessee Titans: Austin Johnson (1), DaQuan Jones (3)