UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 39 Penn State alums are populating the rosters of 24 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions are perennially a top-20 program in producing players in the NFL.
As the National Football League playoffs begin this weekend, 19 former Nittany Lions begin their quest to compete for the Super Bowl LV title. Penn State football players dot the rosters of 12 NFL teams.
Among the Nittany Lions on NFL Playoff rosters are: linebacker Marcus Allen (Steelers), safety Adrian Amos (Packers), safety Troy Apke (Football Team), offensive tackle Ryan Bates (Bills), defensive tackle Jack Crawford (Titans), wide receiver Chris Godwin (Buccaneers), cornerback Grant Haley (Saints), defensive end DaQuan Jones (Titans), wide receiver Allen Robinson (Bears), 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 safety Jordan Lucas (Bears) is on the COVID-19 opt out list. Cornerback Trevor Williams (Steelers), defensive tackle Robert Windsor (Colts) and defensive end Anthony Zettell (Saints) are on practice squads of playoff teams.
NFL SUPER WILD CARD WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Saturday
Game 1 (1 p.m. – CBS): Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills
Nittany Lions featured: Ryan Bates (Bills), Robert Windsor (Colts Practice Squad)
Game 2 (4:40 p.m. – FOX): Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
Nittany Lions featured: Nick Scott (Rams)
Game 3 (8:15 p.m. – NBC): Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Football Team
Nittany Lions featured: Troy Apke (Football Team), Chris Godwin (Buccaneers), Donovan Smith (Buccaneers), A.Q. Shipley (Buccaneers Injured Reserve)
Sunday
Game 4 (1 p.m. – ESPN Family of Networks - Megacast): Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans
Nittany Lions featured: Jack Crawford (Titans), DaQuan Jones (Titans), Trace McSorley (Ravens Injured Reserve)
Game 5 (4:40 p.m. – CBS): Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints
Nittany Lions featured: Grant Haley (Saints), Allen Robinson (Bears), Blake Gillikin (Saints Injured Reserve), Jordan Lucas (COVID-19 Opt Out List), Anthony Zettell (Saints Practice Squad)
Game 6 (8:15 p.m. – NBC): Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Nittany Lions featured: Marcus Allen (Steelers), Trevor Williams (Steelers Practice Squad)
Bye Week: Adrian Amos (Packers), Stefen Wisniewski (Chiefs)
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).
