Sept. 7, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Twenty-nine Penn State players were on the rosters of 20 National Football League (NFL) teams for NFL Kickoff Week. The Nittany Lions are perennially a top-15 program in producing players in the NFL. In addition to the 29 players on 53-man rosters, the Nittany Lions have two former players on practice squads.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins each boast three former Nittany Lions on their opening day roster. The Jaguars have 10-year veteran and 2013 Pro Bowl linebacker Paul Posluszny, Pro Bowl selection Allen Robinson and seven-year vet Jared Odrick among their 53-man roster, while Miami lays claim to eight-year veteran Cameron Wake, second-year pro Mike Hull and rookie and sixth round draft pick Jordan Lucas.
Five additional NFL squads lay claim to two former Nittany Lions on their opening week rosters: Dallas, Detroit, New Orleans, San Francisco and Tennessee.
Five players from Penn State's 2015 squad made NFL teams as rookies: Christian Hackenberg (N.Y. Jets), Austin Johnson (Tennessee), Jordan Lucas (Miami), Carl Nassib (Cleveland) and Anthony Zettel (Detroit). Additionally, two members of the 2015 team were signed to practice squads: Kyle Carter (Minnesota) and Trevor Williams (San Diego).
Eleven-year veteran and Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro linebacker Tamba Hali is Penn State's elder statesman in the NFL. Paul Posluszny, who is entering his 10th professional season, is second in longevity, followed eight-year professionals Jordan Norwood (Denver) and Cameron Wake (Miami).
There are also two Nittany Lions on NFL rosters that did not play football at Penn State in Chris Hogan (New England) and Ross Travis (Kansas City). Hogan, a wide receiver in his fifth NFL season, played lacrosse for the Nittany Lions and went to play football at Monmouth after earning his Penn State degree. Travis, a tight end, was a standout men's basketball player for the Nittany Lions.
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.
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.
Seven former Nittany Lions are members of NFL coaching staffs: Gary Brown (Dallas, running backs); Bobby Engram (Baltimore, wide receivers); Al Golden (Detroit, tight ends); 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.
The Nittany Lions visit Pitt Saturday for the first time since 2000. The noon kick will be televised on ESPN. Penn State's games will also be available on the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com. Pregame coverage begins at 10:30 a.m.
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 5,500 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.
NFL Kickoff Week Roster (29)
Arizona Cardinals (1): A.Q. Shipley (7)
Baltimore Ravens (1): John Urschel (3)
Cleveland Browns (1): Carl Nassib (1)
Chicago Bears (1): Adrian Amos (2)
Dallas Cowboys (2): Jack Crawford (5), Sean Lee (7)
Denver Broncos (1): Jordan Norwood (8)
Detroit Lions (2): Anthony Zettel (1), Andrew Quarless (7)
Houston Texans (1): Devon Still (4)
Jacksonville Jaguars (3): Jared Odrick (7), Paul Posluszny (10), Allen Robinson (3)
Kansas City Chiefs (1): Tamba Hali (11), Ross Travis (1; former MBB player)
Miami Dolphins (3): Mike Hull (2), Jordan Lucas (1), Cameron Wake (8)
New England Patriots: Chris Hogan (5; former MLAX player)
New Orleans Saints (2): Michael Mauti (4), Nathan Stupar (5)
New York Jets (1): Christian Hackenberg (1)
Oakland Raiders (1): Matt McGloin (4)
Philadelphia Eagles (1): Stefen Wisniewski (6)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1): Jesse James (2)
San Francisco 49ers (2): Navorro Bowman (7), Gerald Hodges (4)
Seattle Seahawks (1): Garry Gilliam (3)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1): Donovan Smith (2)
Tennessee Titans (2): Austin Johnson (1), DaQuan Jones (3)
Practice Squad (2)
Minnesota Vikings (1): Kyle Carter (1)
San Diego Chargers (1): Trevor Williams (1)