UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 43 Penn State Football alumni are populating the rosters of 25 National Football League organizations. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.
Following the first weekend of playoff action, Penn State has 15 former players who are a part of eight NFL playoff organizations in the Divisional Round.
Playoff teams with Nittany Lions featured are as follows: 49ers (S Ji'Ayir Brown, DT Kevin Givens), Bills (OL Ran Bates, DL DaQuan Jones, OL Connor McGovern), Buccaneers (WR Chris Godwin), Chiefs (OT Donovan Smith), Lions (FB Jason Cabinda), Packers (QB Sean Clifford, OL Rasheed Walker), Ravens (DE Odafe Oweh, P Jordan Stout, WR Dan Chisena), Texans (S Adrian Amos, OL Juice Scruggs).
NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND SCHEDULE
Saturday
Game 1 (4:30 p.m. – ESPN/ABC/ESPN+): Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens
Nittany Lions featured: S Adrian Amos (Texans), OL Juice Scruggs (Texans), WR Dan Chisena (Ravens) DE Odafe Oweh (Ravens), P Jordan Stout (Ravens)
Game 2 (8:15 p.m. – FOX): Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers
Nittany Lions featured: QB Sean Clifford (Packers), OL Rasheed Walker (Packers), S Ji'Ayir Brown (49ers), DT Kevin Givens (49ers)
Sunday
Game 1 (3 p.m. – NBC): Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
Nittany Lions featured: WR Chris Godwin (Buccaneers), FB Jason Cabinda (Lions)
Game 2 (6:30 p.m. – CBS): Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills
Nittany Lions featured: OT Donovan Smith (Chiefs), OL Ryan Bates (Bills), DL DaQuan Jones (Bills), OL Connor McGovern (Bills)
WILD CARD WEEKEND RECAP
Chris Godwin's late touchdown helped Tampa Bay pull away from Philadelphia as the Buccaneers took down the Eagles on Monday. The wideout finished with four catches for 45 yards and a score. Pat Freiermuth led Pittsburgh's pass catchers with five grabs for 76 yards in their game against Buffalo.
Quarterback Sean Clifford took part in three plays in the waning moments of Green Bay's dominant victory over Dallas on Sunday, seeing postseason action in his first professional campaign.
Here's how these former Nittany Lion greats fared during the first weekend of NFL postseason action.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) S, Houston Texans
Texans 45, Browns 14
- Amos made a solo tackle.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 31, Steelers 17
- Bates saw action on special teams.
Nick Bowers (2018-19) TE, Miami Dolphins
Chiefs 26, Dolphins 7
- Bowers is on Miami's practice squad.
Ji'Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers
49ers Super Wild Card Weekend Bye
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions
Lions 24, Rams 23
- Cabinda saw action on offense and special teams in Detroit's win over the Rams.
Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens Super Wild Card Weekend Bye
- Chisena was signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Packers 48, Cowboys 32
- Clifford entered the game late and took part in three offensive snaps in his first postseason game as the Packers cruised to the win over the Cowboys.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bills 31, Steelers 17
- Freiermuth led the Steelers with five catches for 76 yards.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
49ers Super Wild Card Weekend Bye
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 32, Eagles 9
- Godwin caught four passes for 45 yards and a late touchdown to help the Buccaneers pull away late in their win over the Eagles.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 31, Steelers 17
- Jones assisted on two tackles.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 31, Steelers 17
- McGovern made the start on the offensive line as the Bills earned the win over the Steelers.
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) DE, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens Super Wild Card Weekend Bye
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Packers 48, Cowboys 32
- Parsons posted two tackles (1 solo).
Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bills 31, Steelers 17
- Porter Jr. made two solo tackles.
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bills 31, Steelers 17
- Robinson caught two passes for 12 yards.
Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Texans 45, Browns 14
- Scruggs started in his first postseason game, playing 100 percent of the Texans' offensive snaps in the win.
Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Buccaneers 32, Eagles 9
- Smith is on Philadelphia's practice squad.
Donovan Smith (2012-14) OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 26, Dolphins 7
- Smith started and played 100 percent of the offensive snaps in Kansas City's win over Miami.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens Super Wild Card Weekend Bye
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Packers 48, Cowboys 32
- Walker started and played 100 percent of the offensive snaps as the Packers dominated the Cowboys on Sunday evening.
The 2024 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.