UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 40 Penn State alums are populating the rosters of 25 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions are perennially a top-20 program in producing players in the NFL.
As the National Football League Divisional Weekend takes place this weekend, 11 former Nittany Lions continue their quest to compete for the Super Bowl LV title. Penn State football players dot the rosters of seven NFL teams still alive in the playoffs.
Among the Nittany Lions on NFL Playoff rosters are: safety Adrian Amos (Packers), offensive tackle Ryan Bates (Bills), wide receiver Chris Godwin (Buccaneers), cornerback Grant Haley (Saints), safety Nick Scott (Rams), offensive tackle Donovan Smith (Buccaneers), and offensive guard Stefen Wisniewski (Chiefs). Additionally, punter Blake Gillikin (Saints), quarterback Trace McSorley (Ravens) and center A.Q. Shipley (Buccaneers) are on injured reserve while defensive end Anthony Zettell (Saints) is on the practice squad.
Additionally, Penn State alum Bobby Engram is the tight ends coach for the Baltimore Ravens.
NFL PLAYOFFS DIVISIONAL ROUND WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Saturday
Game 1 (4:35 p.m. – FOX): Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers
Nittany Lions featured: Adrian Amos (Packers) and Nick Scott (Rams)
Game 2 (8:15 p.m. – NBC): Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
Nittany Lions featured: Ryan Bates (Bills) and Trace McSorley (Ravens Injured Reserve)
Sunday
Game 3 (3:05 p.m. – CBS): Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs
Nittany Lions featured: Stefen Wisniewski (Chiefs)
Game 4 (6:40 p.m. – FOX): Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
Nittany Lions featured: Chris Godwin (Buccaneers), Grant Haley (Saints), Blake Gillikin (Saints Injured Reserve), A.Q. Shipley (Buccaneers Injured Reserve), Donovan Smith (Buccaneers), Anthony Zettell (Saints Practice Squad)
On 49 different occasions, Penn State has been represented in the Super Bowl. Last season, the Nittany Lions had a league-high five alumni on the 53-man rosters of the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. The five alumni in the Super Bowl are the most for the Nittany Lions since Super Bowl XXXV (2001). Former Penn State offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski and defensive back Jordan Lucas earned the victory in last year's game. Forty-one Nittany Lions have claimed 60 Super Bowl rings (including non-Penn State football players).
