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.
The final week of the regular season gave Penn State's rookies a chance to see increased action and conclude standout seasons. Trace McSorley (Ravens) and Kevin Givens (49ers) both made their NFL debuts, while Ryan Bates saw extensive action on the Bills' offensive line. Cornerback Amani Oruwariye made his second interception for the Lions, making a leaping catch on an Aaron Rodgers deep ball. Additionally, running back Miles Sanders finished the regular season as the NFL's rookie leader in total yards from scrimmage, making him a strong candidate to follow Saquon Barkley as the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The NFL Playoff picture was solidified, with Mike Gesicki of the Dolphins playing the spoiler role against the Patriots, as his touchdown catch with 24 seconds remaining relegated the Pats to the third seed and a Wild Card game Saturday. A total of 12 Nittany Lions on active rosters are poised to help their respective teams reach Super Bowl LIV: Kevin Givens, Robbie Gould and Anthony Zettel (49ers); Ryan Bates (Bills); Jordan Lucas and Stefen Wisniewski (Chiefs); Shareef Miller and Miles Sanders (Eagles); Adrian Amos (Packers); Austin Johnson and DaQuan Jones (Titans); Trace McSorley (Ravens).
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ravens 28, Steelers 10
Allen made his season debut, seeing action on special teams.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Green Bay Packers
Packers 23, Lions 20
Amos made five tackles, including one for loss, in a win over the Lions.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Cowboys 47, Redskins 16
Apke was inactive with a knee injury.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Eagles 34, Giants 17
Barkley rushed for 92 yards on 17 carries, including a 68-yard touchdown run, and had three receptions for 25 yards. He is the first Giants player to have 1,000 rushing yards in his first two seasons and first Giants running back with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since Brandon Jacobs in 2007-08.
Ryan Bates (2015-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Jets 13, Bills 6
Bates saw the most extensive action of his career, playing 89 percent of the Bills' offensive snaps.
Saeed Blacknall (2014-17) WR, Arizona Cardinals
Rams 31, Cardinals 24
Blacknall is on the Cardinals practice squad.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Detroit Lions
Packers 23, Lions 20
Cabinda saw extensive action on special teams, making one tackle on a kickoff.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DL, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 28, Buccaneers 22
Crawford made one tackle in a season-finale win over the Bucs.
Sam Ficken (2011-14) K, New York Jets
Jets 13, Bills 6
Ficken connected on two field goal attempts and converted his lone extra point try, helping the Jets finish the season with a win.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 27, Patriots 24
Gesicki spoiled the Patriots' hopes for a first-round playoff bye as he scored the game-winning touchdown with 24 seconds remaining. He finished with four catches for 34 yards.
Kevin Givens (2015-18) DL, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 26, Seahawks 21
Givens was activated for the first time and made his NFL debut, tackling Marshawn Lynch.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons 28, Buccaneers 22
Godwin missed the season finale with a hamstring injury but still finished the year ranking third in the NFL with 1,333 receiving yards.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 26, Seahawks 21
Gould was perfect on a pair of field goal attempts and a pair of extra point attempts.
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Eagles 34, Giants 17
Haley saw action on special teams.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos 16, Raiders 15
Hamilton was the Broncos leading receiver for a second consecutive week, catching five passes for 65 yards.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, Carolina Panthers
Saints 42, Panthers 10
Hogan caught two passes for 14 yards and returned a pair of punts.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 27, Patriots 24
Hull is on injured reserve.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Detroit Lions
Packers 23, Lions 20
James started on offense and made two catches for 5 yards.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Titans 35, Texans 14
Johnson made a tackle in a win over the Texans.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Titans 35, Texans 14
Jones started on defense and made one tackle.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 47, Redskins 16
Lee started and made three tackles.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 31, Chargers 21
Lucas saw action on special teams.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 47, Redskins 16
McGovern is on injured reserve.
Trace McSorley (2014-18) QB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 28, Steelers 10
McSorley was active for the first time and made his NFL debut, rushing for 1 yard and a first down on the third play from scrimmage of the game.
Shareef Miller (2015-18) DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 34, Giants 17
Miller was inactive against the Giants.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons 28, Buccaneers 22
Nassib made three tackles, including a tackle for loss, and made one quarterback hit.
Amani Oruwariye (2014-18) CB, Detroit Lions
Packers 23, Lions 20
Oruwariye picked off Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers for his second interception of the season and made four tackles.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Chiefs 26, Bears 3
Robinson started at wide receiver, catching nine passes for 71 yards.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 34, Giants 17
Sanders ran nine times for 52 yards before leaving the game in the second quarter with an injury. He led the NFL this season in yards from scrimmage by a rookie with 1,327, which also set an Eagles franchise rookie record.
Nick Scott (2014-18) S, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 31, Cardinals 24
Scott rushed for 6 yards on a fake punt.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Rams 31, Cardinals 24
Shipley started at center and helped quarterback Kyler Murray attempt 42 passes and throw for 325 yards with just one sack.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons 28, Buccaneers 22
Smith started and played all of the offensive snaps.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, New York Jets
Jaguars 38, Colts 20
Travis was claimed off waivers by the Jets, but was inactive Sunday.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) OLB, Tennessee Titans
Titans 35, Texans 14
Wake is on injured reserve.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) C/G, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 31, Chargers 21
Wisniewski started and played every offensive snap, protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was not sacked at all in the win.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 26, Seahawks 21
Zettel made one tackle in his 49ers debut.
