UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A total of 34 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.
It was a big week for several recent alums, highlighted by Chris Godwin being named to his first Pro Bowl prior to the Week 16 games. He still ranks second in the league with 1,333 yards receiving yards despite missing Saturday's game with a hamstring injury.
Second-year players Saquon Barkley, Mike Gesicki and DaeSean Hamilton all enjoyed career days, as they led their teams to nail-biting wins Sunday. In overtime wins, Barkley totaled a Giants-record 279 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns, while Gesicki enjoyed his first two-touchdown game and helped move the chains in overtime for the Dolphins. Additionally, Hamilton scored his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Lions to give the Broncos a lead they would not relinquish.
A pair of Penn Staters stood out in the battle for the NFC East Division, as Miles Sanders' 156 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown were enough to overcome Sean Lee's 17 tackles for the Cowboys.
Penn State's kicking duo shined again for the second time in three weeks, as Robbie Gould kicked a game-winning field goal is time expired for the 49ers and Sam Ficken kicked a career-long 54-yard field goal for the Jets.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jets 16, Steelers 10
Allen was signed to the active roster from the practice squad, but was inactive against the Jets.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Green Bay Packers
Packers 23, Vikings 10
Amos made two tackles in a Monday night win over the Vikings.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Giants 41, Redskins 35
Apke made a pair of tackles on special teams and saw action on defense.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Giants 41, Redskins 35
Barkley had career day, totaling 279 yards from scrimmage, setting a Giants franchise record and the highest total by an NFL player this season. He rushed for a career-high 189 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, becoming the fourth player in NFL history to rush for at least 175 yards, total 90 yards through the air and score two touchdowns in a single game.
Ryan Bates (2015-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Patriots 24, Bills 17
Bates saw time on offense and special teams. The Bills scored a touchdown on one of the plays Bates was in the game for on offense.
Saeed Blacknall (2014-17) WR, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 27, Seahawks 13
Blacknall is on the Cardinals practice squad.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Detroit Lions
Broncos 27, Lions 17
Cabinda saw action on special teams.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DL, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 24, Jaguars 12
Crawford assisted on a sack in a win over the Jaguars.
Sam Ficken (2011-14) K, New York Jets
Jets 16, Steelers 10
Ficken was perfect on three field goal attempts, including a career-long 54-yard field goal.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 38, Bengals 35
Gesicki caught six passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns, including a 14-yard gain in overtime to help setup the game-winning field goal. It was his first multi-touchdown game and his six receptions matched his career high.
Kevin Givens (2015-18) DL, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 34, Rams 31
Givens is on the 49ers practice squad.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Texans 23, Buccaneers 20
Godwin was named to the NFC's Pro Bowl roster, but was missed the game against the Texans with a hamstring injury.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 34, Rams 31
Gould kicked his second game-winning field goal in the last three weeks, converting a 33-yard attempt as time expired to eliminate the Rams from playoff contention.
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Giants 41, Redskins 35
Haley saw action on special teams.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos 27, Lions 17
Hamilton was the Broncos leading receiver in a career day, catching six passes for 65 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter in a win over the Lions.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, Carolina Panthers
Colts 38, Panthers 6
Hogan caught two passes for 16 yards.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 38, Bengals 35
Hull is on injured reserve.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Detroit Lions
Broncos 27, Lions 17
James started on offense and made one reception for 12 yards.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Saints 38, Titans 28
Jones started on defense and assisted on one tackle.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Saints 38, Titans 28
Johnson started at nose tackle and made three tackles.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Eagles 17, Cowboys 9
Lee was in on 17 tackles, including nine solo, for his most stops since making 18 combined against the Giants in 2017. He dragged down fellow Penn Stater Miles Sanders six times.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 26, Bears 3
Lucas saw time on special teams and defense, registering a quarterback hit.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Dallas Cowboys
Eagles 17, Cowboys 9
McGovern is on injured reserve.
Trace McSorley (2014-18) QB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 31, Browns 15
McSorley was not active against the Browns.
Shareef Miller (2015-18) DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 17, Cowboys 9
Miller was inactive against the Cowboys.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Texans 23, Buccaneers 20
Nassib made two tackles and sacked Houston's Deshaun Watson.
Amani Oruwariye (2014-18) CB, Detroit Lions
Broncos 27, Lions 17
Oruwariye saw action on defense and special teams.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Chiefs 26, Bears 3
Robinson started at wide receiver, catching six passes for 53 yards.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 17, Cowboys 9
Sanders totaled 156 yards from scrimmage, rushing 20 times for 79 yards and a touchdown and catching five passes for 77 yards in a crucial win over the Cowboys.
Nick Scott (2014-18) S, Los Angeles Rams
49ers 34, Rams 31
Scott saw extensive action on special teams against the 49ers, recording a tackle on special teams.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 27, Seahawks 13
Shipley started at center and helped clear the way for 253 rushing yards as the Cardinals defeated the Seahawks.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Texans 23, Buccaneers 20
Smith returned from injury to start and play on all of the offensive snaps.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 38, Panthers 6
Travis caught one pass for 19 yards in a win over the Panthers.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) OLB, Tennessee Titans
Saints 38, Titans 28
Wake is on injured reserve.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) C/G, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 26, Bears 3
Wisniewski started for the first time since last season when he was with the Eagles and played every offensive snap, protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was sacked just once.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, San Franciso 49ers
Zettel was signed by the 49ers Monday.
