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.
In Week 11, six Nittany Lions battled in the Giants-Buccaneers game, with three on each side. Bucs defensive end Carl Nassib did his best to corral former teammate Saquon Barkley, totaling a career-high six tackles with three solo takedowns of Barkley, but Barkley was able to lead the Giants to victory with a career day of his own via three touchdowns.
The week also featured a pair of debuts. Saeed Blacknall made his NFL debut with the Raiders after getting promoted from the practice squad last week, while Brandon Bell made his season debut with the Bengals after also getting promoted from the practice squad last week.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 20, Jaguars 16
Allen was inactive.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Bears 25, Vikings 20
Amos tallied an interception and two tackles in a Sunday night win over the Vikings.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Texans 23, Redskins 21
Apke is on injured reserve.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Giants 38, Buccaneers 35
Barkley scored a career-best three touchdowns, rushing for two and catching another, and also set highs for carries (27) and rushing yards (142). With 728 rushing yards this season, he is just 103 yards shy of the team's season rookie rushing record.
Barkley also totaled 100-plus yards from scrimmage for the ninth time in his first 10 games, joining NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson as the second player to ever accomplish the feat. Barkley ranks third in the NFL with 1,268 yards from scrimmage.
Brandon Bell (2013-16) LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Ravens 24, Bengals 21
Bell was signed off the practice squad during the week and made his season debut, seeing action on special teams.
Saeed Blacknall (2014-17) WR, Oakland Raiders
Raiders 23, Cardinals 21
Blacknall was signed to the active roster during the week and made his NFL debut Sunday in a win over the Cardinals.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Oakland Raiders
Raiders 23, Cardinals 21
Cabinda made his second career start at middle linebacker for the Raiders and made two tackles.
Curtis Cothran (2013-17) DT, Minnesota Vikings
Bears 25, Vikings 20
Cothran is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DL, Atlanta Falcons
Cowboys 22, Falcons 19
Crawford forced an Ezekiel Elliott fumble and made two tackles in his fifth start of the season.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Bye Week
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) OL, San Francisco 49ers
Bye Week
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Giants 38, Buccaneers 35
Godwin caught three passes for 50 yards with a long reception of 19 yards.
Malik Golden (2012-16) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 20, Jaguars 16
Golden is on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Bye Week
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Giants 38, Buccaneers 35
Haley made a tackle and broke up a pass in extensive action on defense.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos 23, Chargers 22
Hamilton caught one pass for 4 yards before reinjuring his knee.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Raiders 23, Cardinals 21
Hodges saw action on special teams and defense, making one tackle.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Bye Week
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Bye Week
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 20, Jaguars 16
James saw action at tight end and on special teams in a win over the Jaguars.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Colts 38, Titans 10
Jones started in the Titans' loss to the Colts.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Colts 38, Titans 10
Johnson made a tackle and deflected a pass.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 22, Falcons 19
Lee was not active with a hamstring injury.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Rams 54, Chiefs 51
Lucas saw action on special teams in a Monday night win over the Chiefs.
Brendan Mahon (2013-17) OL, Carolina Panthers
Lions 20, Panthers 19
Mahon was inactive.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Giants 38, Buccaneers 35
Nassib started for the Buccaneers at defensive end for the fourth time in five weeks and made a career-high six tackles, including an assist on a sack and two quarterback hits. He made three solo stops against former Penn State teammate Saquon Barkley and assisted on two others.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Bears 34, Lions 22
Robinson caught one pass for 12 yards.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Raiders 23, Cardinals 21
Shipley is on injured reserve with an ACL injury and will miss the 2018 season.
Garrett Sickels (2013-16) LB, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 54, Chiefs 51
Sickels is on injured reserve.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Giants 38, Buccaneers 35
Smith started at left tackle for the Buccaneers and has started all 58 games of his career.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New York Giants
Giants 38, Buccaneers 35
Stupar saw extensive action on special teams.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 38, Titans 10
Travis is on the injured reserve with an ACL injury.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Bye Week
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Broncos 23, Chargers 22
Williams was inactive for a second-straight game after being sidelined with a knee injury.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Saints 48, Eagles 7
Wisniewski saw extensive action at guard.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Cleveland Browns
Bye Week
