Oct. 19, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - A total of 28 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.
A pair of Nittany Lion NFL rookies had notable performances. Anthony Zettel was in on four tackles for Detroit in a close win over the Rams, while Trevor Williams made his first career tackle for the Chargers, dropping fellow alum Jordan Norwood on a Denver punt return. Linebacker U continued to wreak havoc, as Sean Lee made 12 tackles for the Cowboys in a win over the Packers and Paul Posluszny made 11 stops for the Jaguars in a one-point win over the Bears. Additionally, Cardinals' center A.Q. Shipley helped spring running back David Johnson for three touchdowns against the Jets.
Adrian Amos (2011-14), FS, Chicago Bears
Jaguars 17, Bears 16
Amos made three solo tackles and deflected a pass.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
Bills 45, 49ers 16
Bowman is out for the season with a torn Achilles.
Kyle Carter (2012-15) TE, Minnesota Vikings
Bye Week
Carter is on the practice squad for the Vikings.
Jack Crawford (2008-11), DE, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 30, Packers 16
Crawford started and assisted on two tackles, playing on half of the defensive snaps.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12), T, Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 26, Falcons 24
Gilliam started at right tackle for the Seahawks and helped protect quarterback Russell Wilson as he threw for 270 yards and was sacked just once in a two-point win over the Falcons.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15), QB, New York Jets
Cardinals 28, Jets 3
Hackenberg was inactive for Week 6.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 26, Raiders 10
Hali had one tackle and recovered a fumble in the red zone in the fourth quarter.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse 2007-10), WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 35, Bengals 17
Hogan started and had one catch for 39 yards, the longest in the game.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12), LB, San Francisco 49ers
Bills 45, 49ers 16
Hodges was credited with one quarterback pressure, but so most of his action on special teams.
Mike Hull (2011-14), LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 30, Steelers 15
Hull recorded two tackles and received a game ball after the Dolphins defeated the Steelers.
Jesse James (2012-14), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Dolphins 30, Steelers 15
James caught two passes for 13 yards.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13), DE, Tennessee Titans
Titans 28, Browns 26
Jones started against the Browns and played more than half of the defensive snaps.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DT, Tennessee Titans
Titans 28, Browns 26
Johnson saw action against the Browns.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 30, Packers 16
Lee recorded a season- and game-high of 12 tackles, including nine solo tackles. His 57 tackles for the season rank fourth in the NFL.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15), CB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 30, Steelers 15
Lucas appeared in his fourth career game, seeing action exclusively on special teams.
Michael Mauti (2008, 2010-12), LB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 41, Panthers 38
Mauti recorded one solo tackle on special teams.
Matt McGloin (2010-12), QB, Oakland Raiders
Chiefs 26, Raiders 10
McGloin did not play against the Chiefs.
Carl Nassib (2011-15), DE, Cleveland Browns
Titans 28, Browns 26
Nassib made his fourth career appearance and had one quarterback pressure.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Denver Broncos
Chargers 21, Broncos 13
Norwood made five receptions for 39 yards to lead Denver. Norwood also had two kickoff returns for 46 yards, including a 27-yard return. He also had two punt returns for 16 yards, and was stopped on one of them by fellow Nittany Lion alum Trevor Williams.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 17, Bears 16
Odrick made his first start and appearance since Week 2, returning from a triceps injury, and made three tackles (two solo) to help the Jaguars defeat the Bears.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 17, Bears 16
Posluszny made a game-high 11 tackles, including 10 solo tackles and one tackle for loss. His 46 tackles rank tied for 19th in the league.
Allen Robinson (2011-13), WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 17, Bears 16
Robinson had three receptions for 49 yards to lead the Jaguars in receiving.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08), C, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 28, Jets 3
Shipley started against the Jets and helped running back David Johnson rush for 111 yards and three touchdowns in Monday Night Football win over the Jets. He also helped protect Carson Palmer, who was not sacked and threw for 213 yards and a touchdown.
Donovan Smith (2012-13), OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bye Week
Smith has started every game for the Buccaneers.
Devon Still (2007-11), DT, Houston Texans
Texans 26, Colts 23
Still was placed on Injured Reserve on Oct. 5 with a foot injury.
Nate Stupar (2008-11), LB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 41, Panthers 38
Stupar made six tackles (three solo) and was credited with a forced fumble on the game's final play.
Ross Travis (men's basketball 2011-14), TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 26, Raiders 10
Travis was inactive against the Raiders.
John Urschel (2011-13), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Giants 27, Ravens 23
Urschel started at offensive guard for his second start and third appearance of the season. He helped Terrence West run for 87 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 307 yards.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 30, Steelers 15
Wake made his first start of the season and had two tackles, including one solo tackle and a half sack. He also had a quarterback hurry.
Trevor Wiliams (2012-15) CB, San Diego Chargers
Chargers 21, Broncos 13
Williams tackled fellow Nittany Lion alum Jordan Norwood on a punt return for his first career tackle.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10), C, Philadelphia Eagles
Redskins 27, Eagles 20
Wisniewski saw action on special teams.
Anthony Zettel, 2012-2015, DL, Detroit Lions
Lions 31, Rams 28
Zettel made his fourth consecutive appearance, which included a career-high four solo tackles, helping the Lions defeat the Rams.