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.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth had his most productive NFL game on Sunday afternoon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The third-year pro set career highs with nine catches for 120 yards in Pittsburgh's divisional win over the Bengals. On defense, Jaquan Brisker recorded the first interception of his 2023 campaign, while Micah Parsons recorded another 1.5 sacks, bringing his season total to 11.5. Parsons' mark is tied for sixth in the NFL.
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
Dolphins 34, Jets 13
- Made two solo stops.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Giants 10, Patriots 7
- Carried the ball 12 times for 46 yards.
- Caught one pass for six yards.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Eagles 37, Bills 34, OT
- Saw action on special teams.
Nick Bowers (2018-19) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 34, Jets 13
- Bowers is on Miami's practice squad.
Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Bears 12, Vikings 10
- Posted an impressive all-around game, recording three total tackles (2 solo), including a half-sack.
- Defended a pass, recorded a quarterback hit, and hauled in the first interception of his 2023 season.
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Giants 10, Patriots 7
- Made a solo tackle.
Ji'Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 31, Seahawks 13
- Totaled four tackles for the second-straight week.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions
Packers 29, Lions 22
- Is on injured reserve.
Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Washington Commanders
Cowboys 45, Commanders 10
- Saw action on special teams.
Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Arizona Cardinals
Rams 37, Cardinals 14
- Chisena was signed to Arizona's practice squad on Nov. 23.
Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Packers 29, Lions 22
- Active, but did not see action.
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Washington Commanders
Cowboys 45, Commanders 10
- Caught five passes for 52 yards.
Arnold Ebiketie (2021) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 24, Saints 15
- Made one sack in the Falcons win.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 16, Bengals 10
- Hauled in nine-of-11 targets for 120 yards in a career-best outing, leading the Steelers in targets, catches, and yards in the win.
- The game was his first NFL contest with 100-or-more receiving yards.
Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 27, Buccaneers 20
- Made his 11th start of the season on the offensive line, playing 100 percent of the offensive snaps in the Colts' win over Tampa Bay.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, New England Patriots
Giants 10, Patriots 7
- Saw two targets in the passing game.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals
Rams 37, Cardinals 14
- Punted five times for 228 yards, a 45.6 yards-per-punt average.
- Had a long punt of 60 yards.
- Rushed one time for 10 yards to pick up a first down on a perfectly-executed fake punt.
- Sixth in the NFL in yards-per-punt average with 50.0.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 31, Seahawks 13
- Posted a half-sack and a quarterback hit in San Francisco's Thanksgiving victory.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Colts 27, Buccaneers 20
- Caught three passes for 45 yards.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Titans 17, Panthers 10
- Is on injured reserve.
KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 27, Buccaneers 20
- Hamler is on Indianapolis' practice squad.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Chiefs 31, Raiders 17
- Is on Las Vegas' practice squad.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Los Angeles Chargers
Ravens 20, Chargers 10
- Totaled four tackles (2 solo).
- Defended a pass.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Eagles 37, Bills 34, OT
- Is on injured reserve.
Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Rams 37, Cardinals 14
- Assisted on one tackle.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Eagles 37, Bills 34, OT
- Made his 12th start of the year on the Bills' offensive line, playing 100 percent of the offensive snaps in the overtime game.
PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, Denver Broncos
Broncos 29, Browns 12
- Mustipher is on Denver's practice squad.
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 24, Texans 21
- Oruwariye is listed on Jacksonville's active roster.
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) DE, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 20, Chargers 10
- Made two solo tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 45, Commanders 10
- Collected three tackles (2 solo), including 1.5 sacks and a tackle for loss.
- Added three quarterback hits.
- Fifth in the NFL with 13 tackles for loss.
- Tied for sixth in the NFL with 11.5 sacks.
Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 16, Bengals 10
- Made two tackles (1 solo).
- Defended a pass.
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 16, Bengals 10
- Made an 11-yard reception.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers
Titans 17, Panthers 10
- Carried the ball 15 times for 28 yards.
- Saw one target in the passing game.
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Cincinnati Bengals
Steelers 16, Bengals 10
- Totaled three tackles (1 solo).
Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Jaguars 24, Texans 21
- Was activated off injured reserve and played his first game on the Texans' offensive line.
- Played 77 percent of the offensive snaps in the game.
Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 37, Bills 34, OT
- Smith is on Philadelphia's practice squad.
Donovan Smith (2012-14) OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 31, Raiders 17
- Made his 11th start of the year on the offensive line.
Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks
49ers 31, Seahawks 13
- Saw action on special teams as Seattle's primary long snapper.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 20, Chargers 10
- Punted three times for 121 yards, pinning the Chargers inside the 20-yard line on two occasions.
- Landed 55-yard punt for his longest of the day.
- Tied for ninth in the NFL with 21 punts downed inside the 20.
Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 24, Texans 21
- Saw action on offense and special teams.
Jonathan Sutherland (2017-22) S, Seattle Seahawks
49ers 31, Seahawks 13
- Is on Seattle's practice squad.
Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders
Cowboys 45, Commanders 10
- Was inactive.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Packers 29, Lions 22
- Made his ninth start of the season for the Packers in their Thanksgiving win.
Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 24, Texans 21
- Returned a punt for 22 yards.
The Nittany Lions won their final contest of the regular season against Michigan State on Friday by a final score of 42-0 and await a bowl game selection to close out their season.
The 2023 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.