UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A program record total of 47 Penn State football alumni are competing for roster spots around the National Football League as teams continue to prepare for the 2021 season at training camp.
Penn State has now compiled 40 or more representatives on training camp rosters in four consecutive seasons. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 college football programs in producing players in the NFL, as Penn State ranked sixth among FBS programs with 32 alumni on active rosters to open the 2020 regular season.
The program is also represented on the sidelines, with seven former Nittany Lions on coaching staffs around the league. The group is headlined by Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule, who played linebacker at Penn State from 1994-97.
Penn State alumni can be found on 25 NFL teams, with seven members of PSU's 2020 squad vying for roster spots. Among those rookies heading into their first pro seasons are 2021 NFL Draft first round picks Micah Parsons (Dallas) and Odafe (Jayson) Oweh (Baltimore). The Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers each have three Nittany Lions on their rosters.
Seventeen-year veteran and San Francisco All-Pro placekicker Robbie Gould is Penn State's elder statesman in the NFL. Former Penn State men's lacrosse player Chris Hogan has played in back-to-back Super Bowls and signed with the New Orleans for his ninth season in the NFL. Additionally, former men's basketball player Ross Travis joined the Arizona Cardinals ahead of his sixth season.
Penn State's season opener on Sept. 4 at Wisconsin will kick off at noon on FOX. The Nittany Lions will make their return to Beaver Stadium on Sept. 11 vs. Ball State, a 3:30 p.m. ET start on FS1. Penn State's 2021 schedule with updated kick times and TV designations can be found here: https://bit.ly/3fVFuhc.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and reserving new season tickets for the 2021 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
The 2021 Penn State Football season is presented by PSECU.
Former Penn State players on 2021 NFL training camp rosters (pro season in parentheses):
Arizona Cardinals (3): Jack Crawford (10), Michal Menet (R), Ross Travis (6, former MBB player)
Atlanta Falcons (1): Shareef Miller (3)
Baltimore Ravens (2): Trace McSorley (3), Odafe (Jayson) Oweh (R)
Buffalo Bills (2): Ryan Bates (3), Steven Gonzalez (R)
Carolina Panthers (2): Yetur Gross-Matos (2), DaQuan Jones (8)
Chicago Bears (3): Jesse James (7), Jordan Lucas (6), Allen Robinson II (8)
Dallas Cowboys (2): Connor McGovern (3), Micah Parsons (R)
Denver Broncos (2): DaeSean Hamilton (4), KJ Hamler (2)
Detroit Lions (2): Jason Cabinda (4), Amani Oruwariye (3)
Green Bay Packers (1): Adrian Amos (7)
Houston Texans (1): John Reid (2)
Indianapolis Colts (2): Will Fries (R), Robert Windsor (2)
Las Vegas Raiders (2): Nick Bowers (2), Carl Nassib (6)
Los Angeles Rams (1): Nick Scott (3)
Miami Dolphins (1): Mike Gesicki (4)
Minnesota Vikings (1): Dan Chisena (2)
New Orleans Saints (3): Blake Gillikin (2), Grant Haley (4), Chris Hogan (9; former MLAX player)
New York Giants (3): Saquon Barkley (3)C, Cam Brown (2), Austin Johnson (6)
Philadelphia Eagles (1): Miles Sanders (3)
Pittsburgh Steelers (3): Marcus Allen (4), Pat Freiermuth (R), Lamont Wade (R)
San Francisco 49ers (2): Kevin Givens (3), Robbie Gould (17)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2): Chris Godwin (5), Donovan Smith (7)
Tennessee Titans (2): Sam Ficken (5), Jan Johnson (2)
Washington Football Team (2): Troy Apke (4), Shaka Toney (R)
C Team Captain
SEVEN FORMER LIONS ON NFL COACHING STAFFS
Six former Nittany Lions are patrolling the sidelines as part of NFL coaching staffs in 2021.
Matt Rhule (Carolina, head coach)
Bobby Engram (Baltimore, tight ends)
Al Golden (Cincinnati, linebackers)
D'Anton Lynn (Baltimore, defensive backs)
Mike Munchak (Denver, offensive line)
Jeff Nixon (Carolina, senior offensive assistant/RBs)
