UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 44 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 24 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.
Saquon Barkley rushed 18 times for 87 yards in the Giants' victory over the Commanders. In the same game, Jahan Dotson posted his first career 100-yard receiving game in a strong outing. Defensively, Micah Parsons recorded a sack against the Jaguars, giving him 13.0 on the season which ties the mark from his rookie season last year. Additionally, Nick Scott had a big day on defense as he racked up nine tackles for the Rams.
Each week throughout the year, GoPSUSports.com provides updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 24, Panthers 16
- Saw action on special teams.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) S, Green Bay Packers
Packers 24, Rams 12
- Posted two solo tackles, including a tackle for loss.
- Defended a pass.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Giants 20, Commanders 12
- Ran 18 times for 87 yards and a touchdown.
- Added five catches for 33 yards.
- Sits at fourth in the NFL rushing yardage leaderboard (1,170). Is third in attempts (269). Tied for tenth in touchdowns with nine.
- Has over 1,000 rushing yards in a season for the third time in his NFL career, and the first time since his 2019 campaign.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bils 32, Dolphins 29
- Was inactive.
Nick Bowers (2018-19) TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 34, Buccaneers 23
- Bowers is on Cincinnati's practice squad.
Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Eagles 25, Bears 20
- Racked up six tackles (5 solo).
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Giants 20, Commanders 12
- Saw action on special teams.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions
Lions 20, Jets 17
- Saw action on offense and special teams.
Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Washington Commanders
Giants 20, Commanders 12
- Is on injured reserve.
Dan Chisena (2019) WR, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 39, Colts 36
- Chisena is on Minnesota's practice squad.
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Washington Commanders
Giants 20, Commanders 12
- Led the team with 105 yards on four catches, including his sixth touchdown of the year.
- Reached the 100-yard plateau for the first time in his career, and averaged 26.3 yards per catch, including a career-best 61-yard reception.
Arnold Ebiketie (2021) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Saints 21, Falcons 18
- Made a solo stop.
Sam Ficken (2014) K, Detroit Lions
Lions 20, Jets 17
- Ficken is on Detroit's practice squad.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 24, Panthers 16
- Saw action on offense.
- Currently fourth in the NFL in receiving yards, among tight ends, with 630.
Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Vikings 39, Colts 36
- Made his fifth consecutive start, and sixth overall.
- Played 100 percent of the snaps in the fifth consecutive game.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Bills 32, Dolphins 29
- Made one grab for five yards.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, New Orleans Saints
Saints 21, Falcons 18
- Punted four times for 181 yards, averaging 45.3 yards per boot.
- Had a long punt of 53 yards.
- Dropped one punt inside the 20-yard line.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 21, Dolphins 13
- Was inactive.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bengals 34, Buccaneers 23
- Led the team with eight grabs for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Robbie Gould (2016-18) K, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 21, Seahawks 13
- Drilled three extra points.
- Currently 10th on the NFL's all-time points scored leaderboard with 1,927 points.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Steelers 24, Panthers 16
- Assisted on five tackles.
Grant Haley (2014-17) S, Los Angeles Rams
Packers 24, Rams 12
- Is on injured reserve.
DaeSean Hamilton (2013-17) WR, Miami Dolphins
Bills 32, Dolphins 29
- Is on the Dolphins practice squad.
KJ Hamler (2018-19) WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos 24, Cardinals 15
- Is on injured reserve.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Cleveland Browns
Browns 13, Ravens 3
- Is on injured reserve.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 17, Titans 14
- Is on injured reserve.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 32, Dolphins 29
- Picked up three total tackles (1 solo).
- Added a half sack and a quarterback hit.
Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Broncos 24, Cardinals 15
- Saw limited action on defense.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Dallas Cowboys
Jaguars 40, Cowboys 34
- Made his 12th start of the season.
- Played 100 percent of the offensive snaps for the fourth time this season.
Trace McSorley (2015-18) QB, Arizona Cardinals
Broncos 24, Cardinals 15
- Came in relief for injured starter Colt McCoy and set career highs in attempts, completions, and yards.
- Posted a 7-for-15 effort for 95 yards and also threw two interceptions.
Carl Nassib (2013-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bengals 34, Buccaneers 23
- Was inactive.
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Detroit Lions
Lions 20, Jets 17
- Saw action on defense and special teams.
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) DE, Baltimore Ravens
Browns 13, Ravens 3
- Assisted on two tackles, including a half sack.
- Added a quarterback hit.
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Jaguars 40, Cowboys 34
- Made two tackles (1 solo).
- Added a sack and two quarterback hits.
- Recovered a fumble.
- Fourth in the NFL with 13.0 sacks.
John Reid (2015-19) CB, Tennessee Titans
Chargers 17, Titans 14
- Made his first start as a member of the Titans and posted five solo tackles.
- Added a quarterback hit.
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Los Angeles Rams
Packers 24, Rams 12
- Is on injured reserve.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 25, Bears 20
- Carried 11 times for 42 yards.
- Added one reception.
- Is currently fifth in the NFL with 1,110 rushing yards.
- Sanders has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his NFL career.
- Tied for fifth in the league with 11 rushing scores.
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Los Angeles Rams
Packers 24, Rams 12
- Led the teams with nine total tackles, including seven solo stops.
Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, Carolina Panthers
Steelers 24, Panthers 16
- Is on injured reserve.
Donovan Smith (2012-14) OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bengals 34, Buccaneers 23
- Made his 12th start.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Browns 13, Ravens 3
- Punted once for 41 yards and pinned the Browns inside the 20 on his lone attempt.
Derrick Tangelo (2021) DT, Atlanta Falcons
Saints 21, Falcons 18
- Tangelo is on Atlanta's practice squad.
Shaka Toney (2017-20) DE, Washington Commanders
Giants 20, Commanders 12
- Saw action on special teams.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Packers 24, Rams 12
- Was inactive.
No. 11/9/7 Penn State will travel to Pasadena, California to take part in the Rose Bowl Game against No. 8/7/10 Utah on Jan. 2, 2023. The game will kick off at 5 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.
The 2022 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.