A total of 36 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.
Former Penn State kicker Robbie Gould was selected as the NFL Special Teams Player of the Week after converting all three field goal attempts, including a long of 45 yards, in a three-point win over the Lions. It is Gould's sixth career special teams weekly honor.
Penn State alums made their presence known downfield, as the quartet of Saquon Barkley (Giants), Jesse James (Steelers), Allen Robinson (Bears) and Chris Godwin (Buccaneers) combined for 35 receptions, 357 yards and two touchdowns. James led the way for the former Nittany Lions in yardage, as the tight end recorded a career-high five catches for 138 yards and a touchdown, shattering his previous career high of 87 yards. Barkley (14) and Robinson (10) both posted double digit receptions, and Chris Godwin scored a touchdown in the Buccaneers' win over the Eagles.
A pair of Nittany Lions made debuts as Brendan Mahon played in his first career game with the Panthers and Anthony Zettel suited up and took the field for the Browns for the first time. Additionally, kicker Sam Ficken signed with the Rams Monday following an injury to Greg Zuerlein. Ficken played for the Rams at the end of the 2017 season.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Chiefs 42, Steelers 37
Allen was inactive against the Chiefs.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Bears 24, Seahawks 17
Amos started at safety for the Bears and made four tackles in a win Monday night over the Seahawks.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Colts 21, Redskins 9
Apke was inactive against the Colts.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Cowboys 20, Giants 13
Barkley started for the Giants in his Sunday Night Football debut. He had 14 receptions for 80 yards, including a long of 18 yards, to go along with 28 rushing yards and. He led the Giants for both receiving and rushing yards.
Saeed Blacknall (2014-17) WR, Oakland Raiders
Broncos 20, Raiders 19
Blacknall is on the Raiders practice squad.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Oakland Raiders
Broncos 20, Raiders 19
Cabinda is on the Raiders practice squad.
Curtis Cothran (2013-17) DT, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 29, Packers 29 F/OT
Cothran is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 31, Panthers 24
Crawford saw time in the Falcons victory over the Panthers, playing a third of the defensive snaps and seeing limited time on special teams.
Sam Ficken (2011-14) K, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 34, Cardinals 0
Ficken signed with the Rams on Monday.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 20, Jets 12
Gesicki split time at tight end in the win over the New York Jets.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) T, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 30, Lions 27
Gilliam saw limited action special teams for the 49ers in the win over the Lions.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 27, Eagles 21
Godwin had five catches for 56 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown reception, in a win over the Eagles.
Malik Golden (2012-16) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Chiefs 42, Steelers 37
Golden is on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 30, Lions 27
Gould converted all three field goal attempts, including a long of 45 yards, in a three-point win over the Lions. He was selected as the NFL Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts. It is Gould's sixth career special teams weekly honor.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 34, Ravens 23
Hackenberg is on the Bengals practice squad.
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Cowboys 20, Giants 13
Haley is on the Giants practice squad.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos 20, Raiders 19
Hamilton saw playing time predominantly on special teams in a victory over the Raiders.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Rams 34, Cardinals 0
Hodges started for the Cardinals at linebacker and recorded four solo tackles.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Jaguars 31, Patriots 20
Hogan had three catches for 42 yards, including a team-best long of 29 yards.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 20, Jets 12
Hull is on injured reserve with an MCL injury.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Chiefs 42, Steelers 37
James started at tight end for the Steelers and had a career-high five catches for 138 yards, including a 46-yard reception at the end of the first quarter, and a touchdown. It was the first 100-yard performance of James' career.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Titans 20, Texans 17
Jones started at defensive end and had two tackles against the Texans.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Titans 20, Texans 17
Johnson recorded one tackle in a win over the Texans.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 20, Giants 13
Lee started for the Cowboys and recorded five total tackles, despite missing snaps due to an injury.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kanas City Chiefs
Chiefs 42, Steelers 37
Lucas saw action on special teams.
Brendan Mahon (2013-17) OL, Carolina Panthers
Falcons 31, Panthers 24
Mahon made his NFL debut on special teams.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 27, Eagles 21
Nassib had one quarterback hurry in the win over the Eagles.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Bears 24, Seahawks 17
Robinson caught 10 passes to match a career high and totaled 83 yards receiving in his home debut.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Rams 34, Cardinals 0
Shipley is on injured reserve with an ACL injury and will miss the 2018 season.
Garrett Sickels (2013-16) LB, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 34, Cardinals 0
Sickels is on injured reserve.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 27, Eagles 21
Smith started at left tackle, extending his games-started streak to all 50 games of his NFL career.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New York Giants
Jaguars 20, Giants 15
Stupar saw action and had a tackle on the opening kickoff.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 21, Redskins 9
Travis is on injured reserve and will miss the season with a torn ACL.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 20, Jets 12
Wake started at defensive end and had three tackles, including one tackle for loss.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 31, Bills 20
Williams started at cornerback for the Chargers and recorded one solo tackle.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Buccaneers 27, Eagles 21
Wisniewski started at left guard and played on every snap in the Eagles loss.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Cleveland Browns
Saints 21, Browns 18
Zettel made his debut with the Browns on defense.
