UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A total of 40 Penn State alums are populating the rosters of 23 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 Cam Brown (Giants), Carl Nassib (Raiders) and DaQuan Jones (Titans) were all impact players on defense. Brown forced his first career fumble, while Nassib and Jones both tallied sacks.
On the other side of the ball, KJ Hamler (Broncos) totaled a career-high 75 yards receiving and Allen Robinson II (Bears) posted his fourth game of the year totaling 80-plus receiving yards.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 24, Cowboys 19
Allen recorded a tackle on defense and saw action on special teams.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) S, Green Bay Packers
Packers 34, 49ers 17
Amos led the Packers with five solo tackles against the 49ers.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Football Team
Giants 23, Washington 20
Apke saw action on special teams.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Giants 23, Washington 20
Barkley is out for the season due to a torn ACL.
Ryan Bates (2015-18) OT, Buffalo Bills
Bills 44, Seahawks 34
Bates saw action on special teams and limited action on offense.
Nick Bowers (2015-19) TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders 31, Chargers 26
Bowers is on the Raiders practice squad.
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Giants 23, Washington 20
Brown recorded a solo tackle and a forced fumble on special teams, leading to a Giants touchdown.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions
Vikings 34, Lions 20
Cabinda saw action in multiple phases with his second career reception for 4 yards and an 11-yard kick return, while recording two assisted tackles on special teams.
Dan Chisena (2015, 18-19) WR, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 34, Lions 20
Chisena saw action on special teams.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DT, Tennessee Titans
Titans 24, Bears 17
Crawford started on defense and recorded an assisted tackle and two quarterback hits.
Sam Ficken (2011-14) K, New York Jets
Patriots 30, Jets 27
Ficken was inactive with an injury.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 34, Cardinals 31
Gesicki started and recorded three receptions for 42 yards.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, New Orleans Saints
Saints 38, Buccaneers 3
Gillikin is on the injured reserve list.
Kevin Givens (2015-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
Packers 34, 49ers 17
Givens recorded one tackle.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saints 38, Buccaneers 3
Godwin recorded three grabs for 41 yards.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Packers 34, 49ers 17
Gould went 1-for-1 on field goals with a 22-yard kick and 2-for-2 on extra points.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Chiefs 33, Panthers 31
Gross-Matos recorded a tackle on defense during his first game back from an injury.
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 38, Buccaneers 3
Haley is on the Saints practice squad.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Falcons 34, Broncos 27
Hamilton recorded two receptions for a total of 12 yards and a fumble recovery.
KJ Hamler (2017-19) WR, Denver Broncos
Falcons 34, Broncos 27
Hamler started on offense and recorded six grabs for 75 yards, a carry for 15 yards and a 24-yard punt return.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New York Jets
Patriots 30, Jets 27
Hogan was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Detroit Lions
Vikings 34, Lions 20
James started on offense and had a reception for no gain.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) NT, New York Giants
Giants 23, Washington 20
Johnson recorded one solo tackle.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Titans 24, Bears 17
Jones had a big day on defense with five solo tackles, two assisted tackles, and a half sack.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) OLB, Dallas Cowboys
Steelers 24, Cowboys 19
Lee recorded a solo tackle on defense.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) SS, Chicago Bears
Titans 24, Bears 17
Lucas opted out of the 2020 season due to Covid-19.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OG, Dallas Cowboys
Steelers 24, Cowboys 19
McGovern saw action on special teams and limited action on offense.
Trace McSorley (2014-18) QB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 24, Colts 10
McSorley was not active against the Colts.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders 31, Chargers 26
Nassib made some key plays with a sack for a loss of 8 yards, a pass breakup and two total tackles.
Amani Oruwariye (2014-18) CB, Detroit Lions
Vikings 34, Lions 20
Oruwariye saw extensive action on defense and some on special teams.
John Reid (2015-19) CB, Houston Texans
Texans 27, Jaguars 25
Reid recorded a solo tackle on special teams.
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Titans 24, Bears 17
Robinson led his team in receptions with seven receptions for 81 yards. Robinson ranks sixth in the NFL with 712 receiving yards and eighth with 57 catches.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Bye Week
Nick Scott (2014-18) S, Los Angeles Rams
Bye Week
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saints 38, Buccaneers 3
Shipley saw limited action on offense.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saints 38, Buccaneers 3
Smith saw every snap on offense and stopped the Saints from advancing on an interception with a solo tackle.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, New York Jets
Patriots 30, Jets 27
Travis played in his first game of the season and saw action on special teams and limited action on offense.
Robert Windsor (2015-19) DT, Indianapolis Colts
Ravens 24, Colts 10
Windsor is on the Colts practice squad.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DE, New Orleans Saints
Saints 38, Buccaneers 3
Zettel is on the Saints practice squad.
