UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A total of 33 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.
Miles Sanders started the Penn State highlight reel Thursday night with a 67-yard kickoff return that shifted momentum to the Eagles after Green Bay jumped out to a 10-0 lead and a 30-yard run near the end of the third quarter that led to the game-winning touchdown.
On Sunday, Nittany Lion receivers shined led by Chris Godwin's 12-catch, 172-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Rams. Allen Robinson caught seven passes for 77 yards for the Bears and DaeSean Hamilton totaled a career-high 57 yards receiving for the Broncos.
One rookie Penn Stater made his NFL debut as Amani Oruwariye saw action on special teams for the Detroit Lions.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 27, Bengals 3
Allen is on the Steelers practice squad.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Green Bay Packers
Eagles 34, Packers 27
Amos started at safety against the Eagles and made seven tackles, five of which were solo stops.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Giants 24, Redskins 3
Apke saw time on special teams.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Giants 24, Redskins 3
Barkley was inactive against the Redskins with a high-ankle sprain.
Ryan Bates (2015-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Patriots 16, Bills 10
Bates was active, but did not play against the Patriots.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Detroit Lions
Chiefs 34, Lions 30
Cabinda is on the Lions practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DL, Atlanta Falcons
Titans 24, Falcons 10
Crawford recorded one tackle and one quarterback hit.
Sam Ficken (2011-14) K, New York Jets
Bye Week
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Chargers 30, Dolphins 10
Gesicki started at tight end against the Chargers.
Kevin Givens (2015-18) DL, San Francisco 49ers
Bye Week
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 55, Rams 40
Godwin had a career day, setting career highs in receptions (12) and yards (172) and tying his career mark for touchdowns (2). He hauled in nine receptions for 125 yards and the two touchdowns in the first half. The 55 points scored were the most in Bucs history.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Bye Week
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Giants 24, Redskins 3
Haley started at cornerback and recorded five tackles, three of which were solo stops.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Jaguars 26, Broncos 24
Hamilton had three catches for a career-high 57 yards in the close loss to the Jaguars.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 16, Texans 10
Hogan had one catch for 6 yards and one tackle on special teams against the Texans.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Chargers 30, Dolphins 10
Hull is on the physically unable to perform list.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Detroit Lions
Chiefs 34, Lions 30
James saw action at tight end and special teams against the Chiefs.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Titans 24, Falcons 10
Jones started and made one tackle against the Falcons.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Titans 24, Falcons 10
Johnson saw action on defense and special teams against the Falcons.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Saints 12, Cowboys 10
Lee started at linebacker and had five tackles against the Saints on Sunday Night Football
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 34, Lions 30
Lucas broke up a deep pass with just a few seconds remaining as the Lions attempted to come back against the Chiefs.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Dallas Cowboys
Saints 12, Cowboys 10
McGovern was inactive against the Saints.
Trace McSorley (2014-18) QB, Baltimore Ravens
Browns 40, Ravens 25
McSorley was inactive against the Browns.
Shareef Miller (2015-18) DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 34, Packers 27
Miller was inactive against the Packers.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 55, Rams 40
Nassib started at outside linebacker and had three tackles, including a solo stop.
Amani Oruwariye (2014-18) CB, Detroit Lions
Chiefs 34, Lions 30
Oruwariye made his NFL debut seeing action on special teams against the Chiefs.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Bears 16, Vikings 6
Robinson started at wide receiver and had seven receptions for 77 yards.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 34, Packers 27
Sanders started for the third consecutive week and had 72 yards on 11 carries, and also ran a kickoff back 67 yards, setting up the Eagles' first touchdown drive.
Nick Scott (2014-18) S, Los Angeles Rams
Buccaneers 55, Rams 40
Scott saw action on special teams against the Buccaneers.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Seahawks 27, Cardinals 10
Shipley started at center for the Cardinals.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 55, Rams 40
Smith started at left tackle for the Buccaneers, marking his 68th consecutive start. He helped pave the way for Jameis Winston to throw for 385 yards and four touchdowns as the Buccaneers scored a franchise-record 55 points in a win over the Rams.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New York Giants
Giants 24, Redskins 3
Stupar signed with the Giants September 24.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) OLB, Tennessee Titans
Titans 24, Falcons 10
Wake saw action on defense against the Falcons and had a pair of quarterback hits along with a broken up pass.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 30, Dolphins 10
Williams is on injured reserve.
