Sept. 14, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - A total of 29 Penn State football alumni are populating the active rosters of 20 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.
Top performances from Week One include linebacker Navorro Bowman with nine tackles and an interception in a shutout of the Rams and linebacker Sean Lee with 10 stops against the Giants. Offensively, Jesse James earned the start and had five catches for 31 yards.
Four former Nittany Lions were selected as team captains for the 2016 season -- Sean Lee (Dallas), Paul Posluszny (Jacksonville), Cameron Wake (Miami) and Michael Mauti (New Orleans). Mauti, who was the New Orleans Saints 2015 Special Teams Player of the Year, is the special teams captain for the Saints.
Cleveland Browns rookie defensive end Carl Nassib is nominated for the Week 1 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. Fans can vote for Nassib at http://www.nfl.com/voting/rookies/2016/YEAR/1 and the winner will be announced Friday.
Adrian Amos (2011-14), FS, Chicago Bears
Texans 23, Bears 14
Amos started at free safety and made five tackles, including one for a loss, in the Bears' opener.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 28, Rams 0
Bowman led the 49ers to a shutout win over the Rams with nine tackles, including seven solo, and an interception.
Kyle Carter (2012-15) TE, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 25, Titans 16
Carter is on the practice squad for the Vikings.
Jack Crawford (2008-11), DE, Dallas Cowboys
Giants 20, Cowboys 19
Crawford made three tackles in the Cowboys' home opener.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12), T, Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 12, Dolphins 10
Gilliam started at right tackle and played every offensive snap for the Seahawks against the Dolphins. He also registered one tackle.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15), QB, New York Jets
Bengals 23, Jets 22
Hackenberg was inactive for Week 1.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 33, Chargers 27
Hali recorded one tackle in the Chiefs' win against the Chargers.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse 2007-10), WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 23, Cardinals 21
Hogan caught three passes for 60 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown, in his first game for the Patriots.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12), LB, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 28, Rams 0
Hodges started at inside linebacker and made two tackles in shutout win over Rams.
Mike Hull (2011-14), LB, Miami Dolphins
Seahawks 12, Dolphins 10
Hull recorded one tackle on special teams against the Seahawks.
Jesse James (2012-14), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 38, Redskins 16
James earned his third career start at tight end. for the Steelers. He played every offensive snap and pulled in five receptions for 31 yards.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13), DL, Tennessee Titans
Vikings 25, Titans 16
Jones saw time in the season opener against the Vikings.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Giants 20, Cowboys 19
Lee had 10 tackles in the season opener against the Giants.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15), CB, Miami Dolphins
Seahawks 12, Dolphins 10
Lucas played on specials teams for the Dolphins against the Seahawks.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DT, Tennessee Titans
Vikings 25, Titans 16
Johnson had a tackle in NFL debut.
Michael Mauti (2008, 2010-12), LB, New Orleans Saints
Raiders 35, Saints 34
Mauti recorded two tackles in the season opener for the Saints.
Matt McGloin (2010-12), QB, Oakland Raiders
Raiders 35, Saints 34
McGloin did not play in the Raiders' opener.
Carl Nassib (2011-15), DE, Cleveland Browns
Eagles 29, Brown 10
Nassib drew the start at defensive end in his first career game. He recorded three tackles, one sack, a pass deflection and two quarterback hurries in his debut. Nassib was selected as the winner of the Maurice Bassett Award, which is given to the team's most outstanding rookie in training camp as voted by the local media.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos 21, Panthers 20
Norwood returned two punts for an average of 13.0 per punt against the Panthers. He started at wide receiver for the defending Super Bowl Champions.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Packers 27, Jaguars 23
Odrick recorded five tackles, including a sack against the Packers.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Packers 27, Jaguars 23
Posluszny made five tackles, including four solo, against the Packers.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Detroit Lions
Lions 39, Colts 35
Quarless will be eligible to return in Week 3
Allen Robinson (2011-13), WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Packers 27, Jaguars 23
Robinson caught 6 passes for 72 yards against the Packers.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08), C, Arizona Cardinals
Patriots 23, Cardinals 21
Shipley started at center for the Cardinals and helped pave the way for Carson Palmer to throw for 271 yards and two touchdowns against the Patriots.
Donovan Smith (2012-13), OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 31, Falcons 24
Smith started at left tackle and played every offensive snap for the Buccaneers against the Falcons. Smith helped clear the way for Jameis Winston to go 23-for-33 for 281 yards and four touchdowns against Atlanta.
Devon Still (2007-11), DT, Houston Texans
Raiders 35, Saints 34
Still saw time in first game for the Texans.
Nate Stupar (2008-11), LB, New Orleans Saints
Raiders 35, Saints 34
Stupar started at linebacker and had one tackle in his first game with the Saints.
Ross Travis (men's basketball 2011-14), TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 33, Chargers 27
Travis played in first career NFL game.
John Urschel (2011-13), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 13, Bills 7
Urschel was inactive for the game.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Seahawks 12, Dolphins 10
Wake had a quarterback hurry in his first game back from a torn Achilles.
Trevor Wiliams (2012-15) CB, San Diego Chargers
Chiefs 33, Chargers 27
Williams is on the practice squad for the Chargers