A total of 34 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 21 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions are perennially a top-20 program in producing players in the NFL. Each week throughout the year, GoPSUsports.com provides updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
A total of four Nittany Lions made their NFL debuts in the opening week, highlighted by Saquon Barkley's 68-yard touchdown run in his first game with the Giants. Also taking the field for the first time as pros were Troy Apke (Redskins), Mike Gesicki (Dolphins) and DaeSean Hamilton (Broncos).
Barkley was not the only Nittany Lion to find the end zone, as former Nittany Lion wide receiver Chris Godwin caught a 9-yard touchdown pass in a Buccaneers win. Tackle Donovan Smith helped the Bucs' passing total 417 yards, as he and his fellow linemen did not yield a sack on 28 pass attempts.
A total of five Penn State-NFL vets made their debuts with new teams, including Gerald Hodges (Cardinals), Jordan Lucas (Chiefs), Carl Nassib (Buccaneers), Allen Robinson (Bears) and Nate Stupar (Giants).
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 21, Browns 21 F/OT
Allen was inactive for the season opener against the Browns.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Packers 24, Bears 23
Amos started at safety for the Bears and made six tackles between defense and special teams, all solo stops.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Redskins 24, Cardinals 6
Apke made a tackle on special teams in his NFL debut with the Redskins.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Jaguars 20, Giants 15
Barkley started in his NFL debut and had 106 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, including an electric 68-yard touchdown run. He also had a pair of catches for 22 yards. According to NFL Research, Barkley's 68-yard run was the third-longest rush by a running back drafted in the top five in their NFL debut since 1970, behind Earl Campbell (73 yards) and Cadillac Williams (71).
Saeed Blacknall (2014-17) WR, Oakland Raiders
Rams 33, Raiders 13
Blacknall is on the Raiders practice squad.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Oakland Raiders
Rams 33, Raiders 13
Cabinda is on the Raiders practice squad.
Curtis Cothran (2013-17) DT, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 24, 49ers 16
Cothran is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Eagles 18, Falcons 12
Crawford played in the season opener and had one tackle, a solo stop.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 27, Titans 20
Gesicki started at tight end in his NFL debut and was targeted twice, catching one pass for 11 yards.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) T, San Francisco 49ers
Vikings 24, 49ers 16
Gilliam appeared for the 49ers in the season opener, playing nearly half of the offensive snaps and seeing limited action on special teams.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 48, Saints 40
Godwin had three catches for 41 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown reception, to start his second NFL campaign.
Malik Golden (2012-16) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 21, Browns 21 F/OT
Golden is on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Vikings 24, 49ers 16
Gould converted all three field goal attempts, including a long of 42 yards, and an extra point in the season opener.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 34, Colts 23
Hackenberg is on the Bengals practice squad.
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Jaguars 20, Giants 15
Haley is on the Giants practice squad.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24
Hamilton was called upon for 14 offensive snaps and saw action on special teams.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Redskins 24, Cardinals 6
Hodges saw extensive action on special teams in the season opener for the Cardinals.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 27, Texans 20
Hogan had one catch for 11 yards and a fumble recovery in a win over the Texans.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 27, Titans 20
Hull is on injured reserve with an MCL injury.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 21, Browns 21 F/OT
James started at tight end for the Steelers in the season opener and had three catches for 60 yards, including a career long 37-yard reception at the end of the first quarter.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Dolphins 27, Titans 20
Jones started at defensive end and had two tackles against the Dolphins.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Dolphins 27, Titans 20
Johnson started at nose tackle in the 2018 season opener.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Panthers 16, Cowboys 8
A team captain, Lee started at linebacker for the Cowboys and had four total tackles, a quarterback hit, and a pass defended.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kanas City Chiefs
Chiefs 38, Chargers 28
Lucas saw action on special teams in his debut with the Chiefs.
Brendan Mahon (2013-17) OL, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 16, Cowboys 8
Mahon was inactive in the opener against the Cowboys.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 48, Saints 40
Nassib made his debut with the Buccaneers, taking the field on 42 percent of the defensive snaps.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Packers 24, Bears 23
Robinson caught four passes for 61 yards in his first game with the Bears, including a team-long, 33-yard catch.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Redskins 24, Cardinals 6
A.Q. Shipley will miss the 2018 season due to an ACL injury.
Garrett Sickels (2013-16) LB, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 33, Raiders 13
Sickels is on injured reserve.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 48, Saints 40
Smith started at left tackle and has started all 49 games of his NFL career. He helped pave the way for Ryan Fitzpatrick to throw for 417 yards and four touchdowns without throwing an interception or being sacked.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New York Giants
Jaguars 20, Giants 15
Stupar saw action and had a tackle on the opening kickoff in his first game with the Giants.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Bengals 34, Colts 23
Travis is on injured reserve and will miss the season with a torn ACL.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 27, Titans 20
Wake started at defensive end and had four total tackles in the first week.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Chiefs 38, Chargers 28
Williams started at cornerback for the Chargers and made two tackles, both solo stops, and a pass defended.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 18, Falcons 12
Wisniewski started at left guard for the defending Super Bowl champs.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Cleveland Browns
Steelers 21, Browns 21 F/OT
Zettel was inactive for the Browns season opener against the Steelers.
