UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 44 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 27 National Football League organizations. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.
Brenton Strange caught his first NFL touchdown in the Jaguars' win over the Colts on Sunday. The game marked Strange's first start in the league as well, as Jacksonville took down Indianapolis 37-20. Saquon Barkley made his return from injury and made an immediate impact in New York's gameplan, registering 24 carries for 93 yards on Sunday. Defensively, Arnold Ebiketie recorded a career-best 1.5 sacks against the Commanders and Micah Parsons posted his fifth sack of the season in the Cowboys' win over the Chargers on Monday night.
On special teams, Jordan Stout pinned the Titans inside the 20-yard line twice and is now in sole possession of third place in the NFL in punts inside the 20-yard line with 13.
Each week throughout the year, GoPSUSports.com provides updates on the feats of these former Nittany Lion greats.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) S, New York Jets
Jets 20, Eagles 14
- Saw action on defense and special teams.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Commanders
Commanders 24, Falcons 16
- Apke began the season on the IR.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Bills 14, Giants 9
- In his return from injury, Barkley toted the ball 24 times for 93 yards.
- Hauled in four passes for 5 yards.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 14, Giants 9
- Saw action on special teams.
Nick Bowers (2018-19) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 42, Panthers 21
- Bowers is on Miami's practice squad.
Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Vikings 19, Bears 13
- Posted six tackles (3 solo), including a half sack.
- Added a quarterback hit.
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Bills 14, Giants 9
- Saw action on special teams.
Ji'Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers
Browns 19, 49ers 17
- Saw action on special teams.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions
Lions 20, Buccaneers 6
- Active, but did not see action.
Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Washington Commanders
Commanders 24, Falcons 16
- Was promoted to the active roster and made a solo tackle on special teams.
Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 19, Bears 13
- Added to Minnesota's practice squad on October 11.
Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Packers bye week
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Washington Commanders
Commanders 24, Falcons 16
- Did not catch his only target.
Arnold Ebiketie (2021) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Commanders 24, Falcons 16
- Totaled two tackles (1 solo), including a career-best 1.5 sacks.
- Added a pair of quarterback hits.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers bye week
Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Jaguars 37, Colts 20
- Made his sixth consecutive start on the offensive line to start the season.
- Played 100 percent of the Colts' offensive snaps for the fifth time this year.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, New England Patriots
Raiders 21, Patriots 17
- Caught three passes for 28 yards.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals
Rams 26, Cardinals 9
- Punted three times for 134 yards, a 44.7 yards-per-punt average.
- Dropped one punt inside the 20.
- Had a long punt of 48 yards.
- Chipped in a solo tackle.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
Browns 19, 49ers 17
- Made four tackles (2 solo).
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lions 20, Buccaneers 6
- Caught six pases for a team-high 77 yards.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Dolphins 42, Panthers 21
- Asisted on three tackles.
KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Indianapolis Colts
Jaguars 37, Colts 20
- Hamler is on Indianapolis' practice squad.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Los Angeles Chargers
Cowboys 20, Chargers 17
- Totaled three solo stops, including a tackle for loss.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 14, Giants 9
- Is on injured reserve.
Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Rams 26, Cardinals 9
- Was inactive.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 14, Giants 9
- Made his sixth start of the year on the offensive line.
- Played 100 percent of the Bills' offensive plays for the third time this season.
Trace McSorley (2014-2018) QB, Chicago Bears
Vikings 19, Bears 13
- McSorley was signed to the Bears' practice squad on Tuesday.
PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, Denver Broncos
Chiefs 19, Broncos 8
- Mustipher is on Denver's practice squad.
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 37, Colts 20
- Signed to Jacksonville's practice squad on Monday.
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) DE, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 24, Titans 16
- Was inactive due to injury.
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 20, Chargers 17
- Pitched in two tackles (1 solo), including one sack.
- Added three quarterback hits.
- Tied for ninth in the NFL with seven tackles for loss on the season.
- Tied for 12th in the NFL with 5.0 sacks this year.
Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers bye week
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers bye week
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers
Dolphins 42, Panthers 21
- Was inactive.
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 17, Seahawks 13
- Made three tackles (2 solo).
Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Texans 20, Saints 13
- Scruggs began the season on IR.
Donovan Smith (2012-14) OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 19, Broncos 8
- Made his sixth start of the year on the offensive line.
- Played 100 percent of the offensive snaps for the fifth time this season.
Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks
Bengals 17, Seahawks 13
- Saw action on special teams as Seattle's primary long snapper.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 24, Titans 16
- Punted three times for 146 yards, a 48.7 average.
- Landed a 56-yard punt for his longest of the day.
- Dropped two punts inside the 20-yard line.
- Third in the NFL with 13 punts landed inside the 20-yard line.
Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Jets 20, Eagles 14
- Smith is on Philadelphia's practice squad.
Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 37, Colts 20
- Caught two passes for 27 yards, including his first NFL touchdown.
Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders
Commanders 24, Falcons 16
- Was inactive.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Packers bye week
Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 37, Colts 20
- On injured reserve.
The No. 7/6 Nittany Lions travel to Columbus, Ohio this weekend for a noon game against Ohio State. The October 21 contest between the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes will air on FOX.
The 2023 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.