Jan. 3, 2018
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - A total of 30 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 has provided updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
In the NFL's final week of regular season action, Chris Godwin shined for a second-consecutive week, concluding his rookie campaign with a game-winning 39-yard touchdown catch. It was his first career touchdown grab and highlighted a career day. Defensively, Adrian Amos made a career-high 11 tackles in the Bears finale, while Navorro Bowman made a season-high 13 tackles in the Raiders' finale. Additionally, Garrett Sickels made his NFL debut with the LA Rams, as he was signed from the practice squad.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Vikings 23, Bears 10
Amos made a career- and game-high 11 tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage in the Bears finale. Amos made 69 tackles, broke up three passes and had one interception in 13 games and 10 starts on the season.
Brandon Bell (2013-16) LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 31, Ravens 27
Playing in his third career game, Bell registered a career-high seven tackles, with six coming on just 26 defensive snaps and one on special teams.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09) LB, Oakland Raiders
Chargers 30, Raiders 10
Bowman made a season-high 13 tackles and assisted on a sack in the season finale. He made 127 tackles for the season to rank tied for ninth in the NFL.
Kyle Carter (2012-15) TE, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 23, Bears 10
Carter played in his third career game for the playoff-bound Vikings with action on special teams and limited action on offense.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 22, Panthers 10
Crawford played through the first four weeks, but suffered a torn bicep and finished the season on injured reserve.
Sam Ficken (2011-14 K, Los Angeles Rams)
49ers 34, Rams 13
Ficken was perfect in his second career game, converting a pair of field goals and an extra point in the regular season finale for the playoff-bound Rams.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) T, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 34, Rams 13
Gilliam played through the first nine weeks of the season, but suffered an MCL injury and finished the season on injured reserve.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 31, Saints 24
Godwin was the hero, catching a game-winning, 39-yard touchdown pass with just nine seconds remaining. It was his first career touchdown, and he finished with career highs of seven catches and 111 yards. He was named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. In his rookie campaign, Godwin totaled 34 receptions for 525 yards and one touchdown.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 34, Rams 13
Gould converted on a pair of field goals and made four extra points. He went 39-for-41 on field goals on the year to lead the league in field goals made, and posted a 95 percent conversion rate that ranked second in the NFL (minimum 25 attempts) and the best in his 13-year NFL career (minimum 25 attempts). He has made 49-of-51 attempts over the past two seasons.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, New York Jets
Patriots 26, Jets 6
Hackenberg was active against the Patriots but did not play.
Tamba Hali (2002-05) LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 27, Broncos 24
Hali was active but did not play for the playoff-bound Chiefs. Hali was limited to five games during the regular season.
Jordan Hill (2009-12) DT, Detroit Lions
Lions 35, Packers 11
Hill spent the entire season on injured reserve with a bicep injury.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 26, Jets 6
Hogan was inactive with a shoulder injury. He has missed seven of the last eight games with the injury, but will look to return to the field when the Patriots return to action during the NFL's Divisional playoff round.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Bills 22, Dolphins 16
Hull made six tackles at linebacker and played extensively on special teams. For the season, he made 36 tackles in 16 games with three starts at linebacker.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 28, Browns 24
James caught two passes for 9 yards for the playoff-bound Steelers. He finished his third NFL season with career highs of 43 receptions for 372 yards and three touchdowns.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Titans 15, Jaguars 10
Jones was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn bicep muscle in Week 13. He had 31 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 12 games during the regular season.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Titans 15, Jaguars 10
Johnson started at defensive end and assisted on a tackle and had a pass deflection. For the season, he appeared in all 16 games with three starts, 24 tackles and a sack. He and the Titans will face the Chiefs during Wildcard Weekend.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 6, Eagles 0
Lee made a game-high eight tackles, including seven solo stops and one tackle for loss, as the Cowboys shutout the playoff-bound Eagles.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Miami Dolphins
Bills 22, Dolphins 16
Lucas made a tackle on special teams. He appeared in 11 games during the season with six tackles.
Michael Mauti (2008-12) LB, New Orleans Saints
Buccaneers 31, Saints 24
Mauti made a tackle on special teams for the playoff-bound Saints. Mauti appeared in 11 games with two starts this season. He had 11 tackles and a forced fumble on the year.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Cleveland Browns
Steelers 28, Browns 24
Nassib started at defensive end for the Browns and registered a sack. Nassib made 31 tackles and three sacks for the year, appearing in all 16 games with 12 starts.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06) LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Titans 15, Jaguars 10
Posluszny made six tackles in the Jaguars' regular season finale. He will make his first a playoff appearance Sunday against the team that originally drafted him out of Penn State, the Buffalo Bills. Posluszny made 61 tackles in 16 games with 11 starts.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Titans 15, Jaguars 10
Robinson missed the majority of the season after suffering an ACL injury in the season opener.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 26, Seahawks 24
Shipley started at center for the Cardinals, making his 31st consecutive start, and played on all of the offensive snaps.
Garrett Sickels (2013-16) LB, Los Angeles Rams
49ers 34, Rams 13
Sickels made his NFL debut after getting signed to the Rams active roster from the practice squad. He saw action on defense and special teams.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 31, Saints 24
Smith started at left tackle and has started all 48 games of his NFL career.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New Orleans Saints
Buccaneers 31, Saints 24
Stupar appeared in four games before suffering a torn ACL and finishing the regular season on injured reservee.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 22, Texans 13
Travis appeared in the Colts finale. Playing for the Chiefs (11 games) and Colts (4 games), he appeared in 15 games during the season with three starts and seven receptions for 76 yards.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Bills 22, Dolphins 16
Wake started at defensive end and was in on two sacks. He finished the season with 10.5 sacks to rank tied for 15th in the NFL.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 30, Raiders 10
Williams started at cornerback for the Chargers and made three tackles. He played in all 16 games and started the last 15, making 48 tackles, 13 pass breakups and two interceptions.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Cowboys 6, Eagles 0
Wisniewski returned to the lineup from injury and started at left guard for the playoff-bound Eagles.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Detroit Lions
Lions 35, Packers 11
Zettel started for the Lions at defensive end and recorded three tackles. He started all 16 games for the season and made 31 tackles and 6.5 sacks.