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.
Both of Penn State’s representatives on the Pittsburgh Steelers contributed to the team’s effort on Sunday. Joey Porter Jr. recorded the second interception of his career, while Pat Freiermuth made a touchdown grab on the ensuing drive. Chris Godwin is tied for seventh NFL in receiving yards, as the wideout added 64 yards to his season total in Week 5 action. Rookie tight end Theo Johnson caught a career-best five passes for 48 yards in the Giants’ win over the Seahawks.
Jaquan Brisker remains fourth among safeties in the NFL in total tackles with 40. Brisker posted five stops, a forced fumble, and a pass defended in Chicago’s dominant victory over Carolina on Sunday. Jesse Luketa recorded the first forced fumble of his career in the fourth quarter of Arizona’s victory over San Francisco. Additionally, Blake Gillikin averaged 53.0 yards per punt on Sunday, and is currently sixth in the NFL in net punting average (44.4).
Here’s how these former Nittany Lion greats fared in Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles bye week
- Is second in the NFL in rushing yards per game (108.8), is third in rushing yards (435), and is tied for fifth in the league with four rushing scores.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Chicago Bears
Bears 36, Panthers 10
- Is on injured reserve.
Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Bears 36, Panthers 10
- Recorded five tackles (3 solo).
- Defended a pass and forced a fumble.
- Is tied for 19th in the NFL in total tackles (40), and is fourth among safeties in the category.
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 15, Patriots 10
- Is on injured reserve.
Ji’Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers
Cardinals 24, 49ers 23
- Tallied five solo tackles.
Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 24, 49ers 23
- Is a member of Arizona’s practice squad.
Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Packers 24, Rams 19
- Is a member of Green Bay’s practice squad.
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles bye week
Arnold Ebiketie (2021) LB, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 36, Buccaneers 30
- Saw action on defense and special teams.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2020-23) OL, New York Jets
Vikings 23, Jets 17
- Made the second start of his NFL career and played 100 percent of New York’s offensive snaps.
- Also played on special teams.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Cowboys 20, Steelers 17
- Caught three passes for 22 yards and a touchdown.
Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Jaguars 37, Colts 34
- Made his fifth start of the season on the offensive line.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Ravens 41, Bengals 38
- Caught two passes for 31 yards.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 24, 49ers 23
- Punted twice for 106 yards, a 53.0 yards per punt average.
- Landed one punt inside the 20 and posted a long punt of 60 yards.
- Is sixth the NFL with a 44.4 net punting average mark.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
Cardinals 24, 49ers 23
- Made a solo tackle.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons 36, Buccaneers 30
- Led the Buccaneers with five catches for 64 yards.
- Added a two-yard carry.
- Tied for seventh in the NFL with 386 receiving yards, tied for sixth in the league with three receiving scores.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, San Francisco 49ers
Cardinals 24, 49ers 23
- Is on injured reserve.
KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Buffalo Bills
Texans 23, Bills 20
- Is a member of Buffalo’s practice squad.
Daequan Hardy (2019-23) CB, Buffalo Bills
Texans 23, Bills 20
- Is a member of Buffalo’s practice squad.
Adisa Isaac (2019-23) LB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 41, Bengals 38
- Was inactive.
Curtis Jacobs (2020-23) LB, New England Patriots
Dolphins 15, Patriots 10
- Saw action on defense and special teams.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Buffalo Bills
Texans 23, Bills 20
- Was inactive.
Theo Johnson (2020-23) TE, New York Giants
Giants 29, Seahawks 20
- Caught a career-best five passes for 48 yards.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Texans 23, Bills 20
- Racked up six tackles (5 solo), including a tackle for loss.
Kalen King (2021-23) CB, Green Bay Packers
Packers 24, Rams 19
- Is a member of Green Bay’s practice squad.
Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 24, 49ers 23
- Assisted on one tackle.
- Recorded a clutch forced fumble in the fourth quarter.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Texans 23, Bills 20
- Made his fifth start of the season on Buffalo’s offensive line.
PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, Arizona Cardinals.
Cardinals 24, 49ers 23
- Is a member of Arizona’s practice squad.
Hunter Nourzad (2022-23) OL, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 26, Saints 13
- Saw action on special teams.
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 20, Steelers 17
- Made his first start as a Cowboy.
- Tallied four tackles (3 solo).
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) LB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 41, Bengals 38
- Made two solo tackles.
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 20, Steelers 17
- Was inactive.
Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Cowboys 20, Steelers 17
- Tallied four tackles (3 solo).
- Hauled in the second interception of his pro career.
Chop Robinson (2022-23) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 15, Patriots 10
- Made three tackles (1 solo).
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Detroit Lions
Lions bye week
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers
Bears 36, Panthers 10
- Rushed two times for six yards.
- Caught two passes for 27 yards.
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Carolina Panthers
Bears 36, Panthers 10
- Totaled five tackles.
Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Texans 23, Bills 20
- Made his fourth start of the season and played 100 percent of Houston’s offensive snaps.
Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, New York Jets
Vikings 23, Jets 17
- Is on New York’s practice squad injured list.
Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks
Giants 29, Seahawks 20
- Serves as Seattle’s primary long snapper.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 41, Bengals 38
- Punted three times for 168 yards, a 56.0 yards per punt average.
- Recorded a long punt of 67 yards and dropped one punt inside the 20-yard line.
Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 37, Colts 34
- Caught four passes for 24 yards and a touchdown, his second score of the season.
Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders
Commanders 34, Browns 13
- Is a member of Washington’s practice squad.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Packers 24, Rams 19
- Made his fifth start of the season on the offensive line.
- Has played in every offensive snap this season for Green Bay.
Caedan Wallace (2019-23) OL, New England Patriots
Dolphins 15, Patriots 10
- Is on injured reserve.
Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 37, Colts 34
- Saw action on offense.
The 2024 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.