UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 44 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.
A pair of rookies made their marks in the NFL this week, as quarterback Sean Clifford completed his first NFL pass and defensive back Tariq Castro-Fields earned his first start in the league. Offensively, Chris Godwin scored his second receiving touchdown of the season, a 47-yard grab. On defense, Yetur Gross-Matos and Odafe Oweh each posted sacks for their respective squads and Micah Parsons collected six total tackles.
Parsons totaled two tackles for loss this week, moving himself into a tie for fifth in the league with 17 tackles for loss. He is tied for eighth in the NFL with 13.0 sacks through week 17 of the NFL season.
Each week throughout the year, GoPSUSports.com provides updates on the feats of these former Nittany Lion greats.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) S, Houston Texans
Texans 26, Titans 3
- Saw action on defense and special teams.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Rams 26, Giants 25
- Rushed 12 times for 39 yards.
- Added three catches for 19 yards.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 27, Patriots 21
- Saw action on offense and special teams.
Nick Bowers (2018-19) TE, Miami Dolphins
Ravens 56, Dolphins 19
- Bowers is on Miami's practice squad.
Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Bears 37, Falcons 17
- Posted five tackles (4 solo).
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Rams 26, Giants 25
- Saw action on special teams.
Ji'Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 27, Commanders 10
- Was inactive.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions
Cowboys 20, Lions 19
- Is on Detroit's practice squad.
Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Washington Commanders
49ers 27, Commanders 10
- Logged his first start in the NFL and played 21 snaps on defense.
- Totaled three tackles (2 solo).
Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 35, Eagles 31
- Is on Arizona's practice squad.
Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Packers 33, Vikings 10
- Completed his first pass attempt in the NFL, a 37-yard toss to Bo Melton that sealed the win for the Packers.
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Washington Commanders
49ers 27, Commanders 10
- Saw one target in the passing game.
Arnold Ebiketie (2021) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Bears 37, Falcons 17
- Made a solo stop.
- Defended a pass.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 30, Seahawks 23
- Caught three passes for 44 yards.
Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 23, Raiders 20
- Made his 16th start of the season on the offensive line.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, New England Patriots
Bills 27, Patriots 21
- Caught a team-high four passes for 35 yards.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 35, Eagles 31
- The Cardinals did not punt in their win over the Eagles.
- Remains fourth in the NFL in yards-per-punt average with 50.6.
- Is eighth in the NFL in net punting with a 43.4 net yards-per-boot.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 27, Commanders 10
- Assisted on one tackle.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saints 23, Buccaneers 13
- Caught three passes for 81 yards and a score, including a 47-yard long touchdown reception.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Jaguars 26, Panthers 0
- Made three tackles (1 solo), including a sack.
- Added two quarterback hits.
KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 23, Raiders 20
- Hamler is on Indianapolis' practice squad.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Los Angeles Chargers
Broncos 16, Chargers 9
- Assisted on one tackle.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 27, Patriots 21
- Assisted on a pair of tackles in his return from injury.
Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 35, Eagles 31
- Saw action on special teams.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 27, Patriots 21
- Made his 16th start of the season on the offensive line in the Bills' fourth consecutive win.
Trace McSorley (2014-2018) QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 30, Seahawks 23
- McSorley is on Pittsburgh's practice squad.
PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, New Orleans Saints
Saints 23, Buccaneers 13
- Made one solo tackle.
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 26, Panthers 0
- Oruwariye is on Jacksonville's practice squad.
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) DE, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 56, Dolphins 19
- Totaled one sack and a quarterback hit in the Ravens' big win.
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 20, Lions 19
- Made six tackles (2 solo), including a pair of tackles for loss.
- Added two quarterback hits.
- Tied for fifth in the NFL with 17 tackles for loss.
- Tied for eighth in the NFL with 13.0 sacks.
Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 30, Seahawks 23
- Made a solo stop.
- Defended a pass.
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 30, Seahawks 23
- Was not targeted in Pittsburgh's win over Seattle.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers
Jaguars 26, Panthers 0
- Toted the ball twice for 10 yards.
- Caught two passes for 12 yards.
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Cincinnati Bengals
Chiefs 25, Bengals 17
- Saw action on defense and special teams.
Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Texans 26, Titans 3
- Made his fifth-straight start, playing 100 percent of the offensive snaps for the Texans.
Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Cardinals 35, Eagles 31
- Smith is on Philadelphia's practice squad.
Donovan Smith (2012-14) OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 25, Bengals 17
- Was inactive.
Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks
Steelers 30, Seahawks 23
- Saw action on special teams as Seattle's primary long snapper.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 56, Dolphins 19
- Punted twice for 71 yards.
Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 26, Panthers 0
- Caught one pass for one yard on two targets.
Jonathan Sutherland (2017-22) S, Seattle Seahawks
Steelers 30, Seahawks 23
- Is on Seattle's practice squad.
Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders
49ers 27, Commanders 10
- Was inactive.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Packers 33, Vikings 10
- Made his 14th start of the season for the Packers on the offensive line, playing 100 percent of the offensive snaps in the win.
Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 26, Panthers 0
- Caught one pass for two yards.
- Returned two punts for 17 total yards.
The 2023 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.