Dec. 21, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - A total of 31 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 22 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.
Just a year removed from the Blue & White, a trio of Penn Staters enjoyed NFL milestone days. Cornerback Trevor Williams recorded a career-high five tackles for the Chargers, while defensive lineman Austin Johnson recorded a career-high four stops for the Titans. Fellow Wild Dog Anthony Zettel collected his first career sack for the Lions, bringing down Eli Manning. Zettel and Johnson were not the only Nittany Lion D-Line alums to enjoy successful days, as Cameron Wake was a force for the Dolphins with a strip-sack and interception in a rout of the Jets. Wake was selected to the Pro Bowl.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Packers 30, Bears 27
Amos returned to the starting lineup and made five solo tackles.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09) LB, San Francisco 49ers
Falcons 41, 49ers 13
Bowman is out for the season with a torn Achilles.
Kyle Carter (2012-15) TE, Minnesota Vikings
Colts 34, Vikings 6
Carter is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 26, Buccaneers 20
Crawford saw action in the Cowboys win over the Bucs on Sunday night.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) T, Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 24, Rams 3
Gilliam saw time in the Seahawks' Thursday Night win.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, New York Giants
Giants 17, Lions 6
Gould converted a 47-yard field goal and a pair of extra points in a win over the Lions.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, New York Jets
Dolphins 34, Jets 13
Hackenberg was inactive for Week 15.
Tamba Hali (2002-05) LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Titans 19, Chiefs 17
Hali assisted on a tackle against the Titans.
Jordan Hill (2009-12) DT, Jacksonville Jaguars
Texans 21, Jaguars 20
Hill saw action against the Texans.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 16, Broncos 3
Hogan made his 12th start and recorded one reception for 18 yards in a win over the Broncos.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12) LB, San Francisco 49ers
Falcons 41, 49ers 13
Hodges was inactive in Week 15.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 34, Jets 13
Hull assisted on a tackle on defense and on another on special teams.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 24, Bengals 20
James saw time against the Bengals.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Titans 19, Chiefs 17
Jones started and recorded a solo tackle in a win over the Chiefs.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DT, Tennessee Titans
Titans 19, Chiefs 17
Johnson made a career-high four tackles in a win over the Chiefs.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 26, Buccaneers 20
Lee made a team-high 10 tackles (7 solo), including one for loss. Lee ranks second in the NFL with 140 tackles on the year.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 34, Jets 13
Lucas was inactive in Week 15.
Michael Mauti (2008, 2010-12) LB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 48, Cardinals 41
Mauti was placed on a non-football injury list and is out for the season.
Matt McGloin (2010-12) QB, Oakland Raiders
Raiders 19, Chargers 16
McGloin did not play in Week 15.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Cleveland Browns
Bills 33, Browns 13
Nassib made one tackle against the Bills.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08) WR, Denver Broncos
Patriots 16, Broncos 3
Norwood started at wide receiver for the sixth time this season and caught one pass for 12 yards. He also returned two punts for five yards.
Jared Odrick (2006-09) DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Texans 21, Jaguars 20
Odrick was placed on injured reserve prior to Week 14.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06) LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Texans 21, Jaguars 20
Posluszny recorded 11 tackles (eight solo) against the Texans. He ranks tied for eighth in the NFL with 107 tackles this season.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Texans 21, Jaguars 20
Robinson had two receptions for 15 yards against the Texans.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Saints 48, Cardinals 41
Shipley started at center and his offensive line yielded just one sack on 40 pass attempts, as Carson Palmer completed 28 passes for 318 yards.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cowboys 26, Buccaneers 20
Smith started in the Bucs' Sunday Night tilt against the Cowboys.
Devon Still (2007-11) DT, Houston Texans
Texans 21, Jaguars 20
Still is on injured reserve with a foot injury.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 48, Cardinals 41
Stupar made two tackles on defense and one on special teams in a win over the Cardinals.
Ross Travis (men's basketball 2011-14) TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Titans 19, Chiefs 17
Travis was inactive in Week 15.
John Urschel (2011-13) OL, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 27, Eagles 26
Urschel saw action in the Ravens win over the Eagles.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 34, Jets 13
Wake was disruptive against the Jets, forcing a fumble on a sack, totaling three quarterback hits, pulling in an interception and batting down a pass. Wake was selected as a starter in his fifth Pro Bowl appearance on Tuesday.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, San Diego Chargers
Raiders 19, Chargers 16
Williams made his third career start and recorded a career-high five tackles in addition to a pass breakup.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Ravens 27, Eagles 26
Wisniewski started for the Eagles at left guard and helped them gain 169 yards on the ground.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Detroit Lions
Giants 17, Lions 6
Zettel was in on two tackles, including his first career sack.