A total of 33 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 20 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 alums were hard on quarterbacks in week nine, totaling eight sacks. Jack Crawford of the Falcons and Cameron Wake of the Dolphins led with two each, while Adrian Amos (Bears), Austin Johnson (Titans), Jordan Lucas (Chiefs) and Carl Nassib (Buccaneers) had one each. Crawford's total is a career high, while Johnson's is his first of the season and Lucas' is the first of his career. Amos also added seven tackles and an interception in a rout of the Bills.
It was a newsworthy week for Linebacker U too. Mike Hull saw his first action of the season for the Dolphins after starting the season on IR, but Sean Lee (Cowboys) went down again with another hamstring injury Monday night. Additionally, playing in his second career game, Jason Cabinda made his first career tackles with the Raiders.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 23, Ravens 16
Allen was inactive Sunday against the Ravens.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Bears 41, Bills 9
Amos started at safety for the Bears and had seven tackles, a sack and an interception in a win over the Bills.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Falcons 38, Redskins 14
Apke is on injured reserve.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Bye Week
Saeed Blacknall (2014-17) WR, Oakland Raiders
49ers 34, Raiders 3
Blacknall is on the Raiders practice squad.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Oakland Raiders
49ers 34, Raiders 3
Cabinda accumulated four tackles on 15 defensive snaps in his second career game.
Curtis Cothran (2013-17) DT, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 24, Lions 9
Cothran is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DL, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 38, Redskins 14
Crawford started at defensive tackle for the Falcons and tied his career best with three solo tackles and set a career high with two sacks. He has tallied 4.5 sacks over the last three games.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 13, Jets 6
Gesicki was targeted once in a win over the Jets.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) OL, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 34, Raiders 3
Gilliam saw limited action on offense and special teams.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Panthers 42, Buccaneers 28
Godwin caught two passes for 40 yards, including one for 25 yards.
Malik Golden (2012-16) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 23, Ravens 16
Golden is on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 34, Raiders 3
Gould successfully converted a pair of mid-range field goals and four extra points.
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Bye Week
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Texans 19, Broncos 17
Hamilton did not play due to a knee injury.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Bye Week
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 25, Packers 17
Hogan saw one target in the win over the Packers.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 13, Jets 6
In his first game of the season after being activated from injured reserve, Hull saw extensive action on special teams in a win over the Jets.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 23, Ravens 16
James had a career-long 51-yard reception in a win over the Ravens. He finished the day with 53 receiving yards, which marks his third-highest total of the season and fifth-highest total in his NFL career.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Cowboys 14, Titans 28
Jones started in the Titans Monday night win over the Cowboys.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Cowboys 14, Titans 28
Johnson recorded his first sack of the season in a Monday night win over the Cowboys.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 14, Titans 28
Lee made one tackle before leaving the game with a hamstring injury.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 37, Browns 21
Lucas made his first career sack.
Brendan Mahon (2013-17) OL, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 42, Buccaneers 28
Mahon was listed as inactive Sunday against the Buccaneers.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Panthers 42, Buccaneers 28
Nassib made two tackles and a sack in a loss to the Panthers.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Bears 41, Bills 9
Robinson was inactive against the Bills due to injury.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Bye Week
Shipley is on injured reserve with an ACL injury and will miss the 2018 season.
Garrett Sickels (2013-16) LB, Los Angeles Rams
Saints 45, Rams 35
Sickels is on injured reserve.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Panthers 42, Buccaneers 28
Smith started at left tackle for the Buccaneers and protected quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick as he threw for 243 yards and four touchdowns. Smith has started all 56 consecutive games of his career.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New York Giants
Bye Week
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Bye Week
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 13, Jets 6
Wake started at defensive end and made three tackles and a season-high two sacks.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 25, Seahawks 17
Williams saw extensive time on defense.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Bye Week
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Cleveland Browns
Chiefs 37, Browns 21
Zettel made one tackle in the loss to the Chiefs.
