Dec. 19, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - A total of 28 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 21 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 has provided updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
The thrill of victory and agony of defeat was on full display for the Nittany Lions in Week 15 of the NFL season.
On the good side, a pair of NFL veterans enjoyed career highlights. Robbie Gould turned in another sensational performance for the 49ers, as he successfully converted six field goals, including three in the fourth quarter and the game-winner as time expired. Additionally, 11-year vet Paul Posluszny punched his first career postseason ticket, as his Jaguars clinched the AFC South and a playoff berth.
Posluzny was not the only Nittany Lion alum to see patience pay off, as Kyle Carter and Brandon Bell were both signed to the active roster from their respective practice squads for the first time. Ironically enough, they made their NFL debuts opposite each other in the same game, as Carter's Vikings prevailed over Bell's Bengals. The most competitive Penn State match-up took place in Oakland though, as Linebacker U alums Navorro Bowman and Sean Lee led their respective teams in tackles. Lee's Cowboys prevailed over Bowman's Raiders, 20-17.
Bell and Bowman were not alone in heartbreak. Austin Johnson made his second-career start for the Titans, but was on the wrong end of Gould's game-winning field goal. Additionally, it appeared that former Penn State tight end Jesse James would join Gould in the game-winning highlight reel, but a controversial call overturned his go-ahead touchdown score in the final minute, resulting in one of the most discussed plays of the year.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Lions 20, Bears 10
Amos was inactive against the Lions with a hamstring injury.
Brandon Bell (2013-16) LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Vikings 34, Bengals 7
Bell was activated from the practice squad and made his NFL debut. He saw limited action on defense and extensive action on special teams.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09) LB, Oakland Raiders
Cowboys 20, Raiders 17
Bowman made a team-high nine tackles, including one for loss.
Kyle Carter (2012-15) TE, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 34, Bengals 7
In his second season, Carter was activated from the practice squad for the first time in his career and made his NFL debut. He played on 18 offensive snaps.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 24, Buccaneers 21
Crawford is on injured reserve with a torn bicep.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) T, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 25, Titans 23
Gilliam is on injured reserve with an MCL injury.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons 24, Buccaneers 21
Godwin made one catch for 18 yards and recorded a tackle on special teams.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 25, Titans 23
The pride of Mill Hall, Pennsylvania, accounted for 19 of the 49ers' 25 points and kicked the game-winning 45-yard field goal as time expired in a 25-23 win over the Titans. Gould converted all six of his field goal attempts and an extra point, with four of the six field goals going for 45 yards or longer. Three of his field goal conversions came in the final 8:27 of the game, as he converted from 50 yards, 48 and 45. He also kicked a 48-yarder in the first quarter.
Gould is 36-for-38 on field goals on the year for a 94.7 percent conversion rate that ranks third in the NFL this season (minimum 25 attempts) and the best in his 13-year NFL career (minimum 25 attempts). He has made 46-of-48 attempts over the past two seasons.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, New York Jets
Saints 31, Jets 19
Hackenberg was active against the Saints but did not play.
Tamba Hali (2002-05) LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 30, Chargers 13
Hali played on 19 snaps in a win over the Chargers.
Jordan Hill (2009-12) DT, Detroit Lions
Lions 20, Bears 10
Hill is on injured reserve with a bicep injury.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 27, Steelers 24
Hogan was inactive with a shoulder injury. He has missed five out of the last six games with the injury.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Bills 24, Dolphins 16
Hull made a stop on special teams.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Patriots 27, Steelers 24
James caught two passes for 7 yards in a heartbreaking loss to the Patriots. James appeared to have a game-winning touchdown catch in the final minute, but it was controversially ruled an incompletion after further review.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
49ers 25, Titans 23
Jones was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn bicep muscle in Week 13.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DT, Tennessee Titans
49ers 25, Titans 23
Johnson drew his second consecutive start at defensive end and recorded two tackles.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 20, Raiders 17
Lee made a game-high 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss, and recorded a quarterback hit in a win over the Raiders.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Miami Dolphins
Bills 24, Dolphins 16
Lucas saw limited action on defense and extensive action on special teams.
Michael Mauti (2008-12) LB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 31, Jets 19
Mauti started at linebacker and made one tackle. He also saw extensive action on special teams.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Cleveland Browns
Ravens 27, Browns 10
Nassib started at defensive end for the Browns and tallied two tackles, a quarterback hit and a pass breakup.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06) LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 45, Texans 7
Posluszny saw only limited action, but the Jaguars' win clinched a playoff berth, sending the veteran linebacker to the playoffs for the first time in his 11-year career.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 45, Texans 7
Robinson is on injured reserve with an ACL injury to his left knee.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Redskins 20, Cardinals 15
Shipley started at center for the Cardinals, making his 29th consecutive start, and played on all of the offensive snaps.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons 24, Buccaneers 21
Smith started at left tackle and has started all 44 games of his NFL career.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 31, Jets 19
Stupar is on injured reserve with a torn ACL.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Broncos 25, Colts 13
Travis made a pair of receptions for the Colts, his first with his new team. He totaled 33 yards with a long reception of 20.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Bills 24, Dolphins 16
Wake started at defensive end and tallied a sack and two tackles at Buffalo.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Chiefs 30, Chargers 13
Williams started at cornerback for the Chargers and made two tackles.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 34, Giants 29
Wisniewski was inactive with an ankle injury.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Detroit Lions
Lions 20, Bears 10
Zettel started for the Lions and recorded two tackles and a quarterback hit in a win over the Bears.