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.
Penn State rookies continued to stand out in Week 8. Saquon Barkley surpassed 100 yards from scrimmage for the seventh time in eight games for the Giants and Mike Gesicki made a career-high four catches for the Dolphins in his third career start.
Barkley was joined by fellow classmate Grant Haley in the starting lineup for the first time, and Haley registered his first pro tackles. Jason Cabinda made his NFL debut with the Raiders, becoming the seventh member of last season's Fiesta Bowl-winning team to take the field. Three of the seven (Cabinda, Haley and Panthers offensive lineman Brendan Mahon) were undrafted free agents.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 33, Browns 18
Allen was inactive Sunday against the Browns.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Bears 24, Jets 10
Amos started at safety and had two tackles in the Bears win over the Jets.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Redskins 20, Giants 13
Apke returned from injury, but reaggravated his hamstring injury and was placed on injured reserve.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Redskins 20, Giants 13
Barkley totaled 111 yards from scrimmage as he rushed for 38 yards on 13 carries and caught nine passes for 73 yards. Barkley has surpassed 100 yards from scrimmage in seven out of his first eight career games and ranks second in the NFL with 1,016 yards from scrimmage on the season.
Saeed Blacknall (2014-17) WR, Oakland Raiders
Colts 42, Raiders 28
Blacknall is on the Raiders practice squad.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Oakland Raiders
Colts 42, Raiders 28
Cabinda made his NFL debut Sunday, playing 17 snaps on defense. He was in on a pair of tackles, but neither counted due to penalties.
Curtis Cothran (2013-17) DT, Minnesota Vikings
Saints 30, Vikings 20
Cothran is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Bye Week
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Texans 42, Dolphins 23
Gesicki made his third career start and caught a career-high four passes, totaling 14 yards.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) OL, San Francisco 49ers
Cardinals 18, 49ers 15
Gilliam saw limited action on special teams.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bengals 37, Buccaneers 34
Godwin caught two passes for 32 yards, a late game-tying two-point conversion and made a tackle on special teams.
Malik Golden (2012-16) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 33, Browns 18
Golden is on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Cardinals 18, 49ers 15
Gould successfully converted a pair of short field goals and an extra point.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 37, Buccaneers 34
Hackenberg is on the Bengals practice squad.
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Redskins 20, Giants 13
Haley, playing in his second career game, made his first career start and made his first four tackles seeing action on defense and special teams.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Chiefs 30, Broncos 23
Hamilton did not play due to a knee injury.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 18, 49ers 15
Hodges saw extensive action on special teams and made one tackle
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 25, Bills 6
Hogan caught two passes for 49 yards in a Monday night win over his former team.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Texans 42, Dolphins 23
Hull is on injured reserve with an MCL injury.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 33, Browns 18
James caught two passes for 9 yards in a win over the Browns.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Bye Week
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Bye Week
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Bye Week
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 30, Broncos 23
Lucas made his third career start at safety and made six tackles.
Brendan Mahon (2013-17) OL, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 36, Ravens 21
Mahon was listed as inactive Sunday against the Ravens.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bengals 37, Buccaneers 34
Nassib started at defensive end for a second consecutive week and registered three tackles, including one for loss.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Bears 24, Jets 10
Robinson was inactive against the Jets due to injury.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 18, 49ers 15
Shipley is on injured reserve with an ACL injury and will miss the 2018 season.
Garrett Sickels (2013-16) LB, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 29, Packers 27
Sickels is on injured reserve.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bengals 37, Buccaneers 34
Smith started at left tackle for the Buccaneers and protected Tampa Bay's quarterbacks as they threw for 470 yards. Smith has started all 55 consecutive games of his career.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New York Giants
Redskins 20, Giants 13
Stupar earned his first start of the season and had three tackles on special teams and defense.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 42, Raiders 28
Travis is on injured reserve and will miss the season with a torn ACL.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Texans 42, Dolphins 23
Wake started at defensive end and made as season-high six tackles.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Bye Week
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 24, Jaguars 18
Wisniewski saw action on offense and special teams.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Cleveland Browns
Steelers 33, Browns 18
Zettel made one tackle in limited action on defense.
