UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 46 Penn State Football alumni are populating the rosters of 24 National Football League organizations. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.
In his first game as a Philadelphia Eagle, Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns, including a league-leading two rushing scores. Chris Godwin hauled in a touchdown as Tampa Bay’s leading receiver in its season-opening win. On defense, Micah Parsons posted five quarterback hits and a sack in a disruptive performance, helping Dallas defeat Cleveland on opening weekend.
Multiple Nittany Lions made their NFL debuts in the first week of NFL action, including 2024 first round selections Olumuyiwa Fashanu and Chop Robinson. Additionally, tight end Theo Johnson and offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad saw action in their first professional contests, with Johnson catching his first NFL pass.
Here’s how these former Nittany Lion greats fared in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 34, Packers 29
- Scored three total touchdowns in his Eagles debut.
- Posted 24 carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
- Added two catches for 23 yards and another touchdown through the air.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Chicago Bears
Bears 24, Titans 17
- Appeared in 68% of Chicago’s offensive snaps.
Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Bears 24, Titans 17
- Posted ten tackles (5 solo).
- Started at safety in Chicago’s season opener.
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 20, Jaguars 17
- Brown is on Miami’s practice squad.
Ji’Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 32, Jets 19
- Tallied three tackles (2 solo).
Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Carolina Panthers
Saints 47, Panthers 10
- Saw action on special teams.
Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Arizona Cardinals
Bills 34, Cardinals 28
- Chisena is on Arizona’s practice squad.
Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Eagles 34, Packers 29
- Clifford is on Green Bay’s practice squad.
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 34, Packers 29
- Appeared in 42% of offensive snaps
Arnold Ebiketie (2021) LB, Atlanta Falcons
Steelers 18, Falcons 10
- Made five tackles (4 solo).
Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2020-23) OL, New York Jets
49ers 32, Jets 19
- Made his NFL debut on special teams.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 18, Falcons 10
- Caught four passes for 27 yards.
- Started at tight end after signing a four-year contract extension with the Steelers.
Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Texans 29, Colts 27
- Started at tackle for Indianapolis, playing every offensive snap.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Patriots 16, Bengals 10
- Caught three passes for 18 yards.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals
Steelers 18, Falcons 10
- Punted twice, averaging 39 yards per boot.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 32, Jets 19
- Saw action on defense.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 37, Commanders 20
- Started strong, leading Tampa Bay’s receivers with eight grabs for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 32, Jets 19
- Was inactive.
KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Buffalo Bills
Bills 34, Cardinals 28
- Hamler is on Buffalo’s practice squad.
Daequan Hardy (2019-23) CB, Buffalo Bills
Bills 34, Cardinals 28
- Hardy is on Buffalo’s practice squad.
Adisa Isaac (2019-23) LB, Baltimore Ravens
Chiefs 27, Ravens 20
- Isaac was inactive.
Curtis Jacobs (2020-23) LB, New England Patriots
Patriots 16, Bengals 10
- Jacobs was inactive.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Buffalo Bills
Bills 34, Cardinals 28
- Made one solo tackle.
Theo Johnson (2020-23) TE, New York Giants
Vikings 28, Giants 6
- Caught one pass for 18 yards in his NFL debut.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 34, Cardinals 28
- Assisted on one tackle.
- Started for the Bills on the defensive line, beginning his 11th NFL season.
Kalen King (2021-23) CB, Green Bay Packers
Eagles 34, Packers 29
- King is on Green Bay’s practice squad.
Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Bills 34, Cardinals 28
- Luketa was inactive.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 34, Cardinals 28
- Started and appeared in every offensive snap for Buffalo.
PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, Arizona Cardinals.
Bills 34, Cardinals 28
- Mustipher is on Arizona’s practice squad.
Hunter Nourzad (2022-23) OL, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 27, Ravens 20
- Made his NFL debut, seeing action on special teams.
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 33, Browns 17
- Oruwariye is on Dallas’ practice squad.
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) LB, Baltimore Ravens
Chiefs 27, Ravens 20
- Made four tackles (1 solo).
- Added a quarterback hit.
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 33, Browns 17
- Totaled four tackles (3 solo), including a sack.
- Was a constant disruptor, recording five quarterback hits and a pass defended.
Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 18, Falcons 10
- Made three tackles (2 solo).
Chop Robinson (2022-23) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 20, Jaguars 17
- Made his NFL debut, seeing action on defense and special teams.
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Detroit Lions
Lions 26, Rams 20
- Robinson is on Detroit’s practice squad.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers
Saints 47, Panthers 10
- Gained 22 rushing yards on five carries.
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Carolina Panthers
Saints 47, Panthers 10
- Defended a pass.
- Saw action on both defense and special teams.
Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Texans 29, Colts 27
- Started at center and played in 100 percent of Houston’s offensive snaps.
Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 26, Broncos 20
- Serves as Seattle’s primary long snapper.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Chiefs 27, Ravens 20
- Punted twice for 75 yards, with both kicks landing inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Dolphins 20, Jaguars 17
- Saw action on offense and special teams.
Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders
Buccaneers 37, Commanders 20
- Tinsley is on Washington’s practice squad.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Eagles 34, Packers 29
- Made his first start of the season, playing in 100% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps.
Caedan Wallace (2019-23) OL, New England Patriots
Patriots 16, Bengals 10
- Made his NFL debut for New England, seeing action on offense and special teams.
Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Dolphins 20, Jaguars 17
- Caught one pass for three yards.
- Contributed 44 kick return yards on two returns.
The 2024 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.