UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 45 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.
Chris Godwin continued his string of impressive performances with an 11-125-2 game in Tampa Bay’s explosive 51-27 win over New Orleans. The former Nittany Lion standout leads the NFL in yards after catch (324), is tied for the league lead with five receiving touchdowns, and is top six in both receiving yards (511, third) and yards per game (85.2, sixth). Also among the league leaders at his position is running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley is third in the NFL in rushing yards per game (96.4) and fourth in rushing yards (482) through the first six weeks of the season.
Veteran DaQuan Jones posted his first sack of the season on Monday night in the Bills’ win over the Jets. On Sunday, Ji’Ayir Brown highlighted former Nittany Lion athletes on defense, tying his career high with eight tackles in San Francisco’s victory over Seattle. Rookie Curtis Jacobs posted his first NFL tackle on special teams for New England. Additionally, Cardinals punter Blake Gillikin averaged 52.8 yards per punt on four kicks. He is tenth in the NFL with a 50.4 yards-per-punt mark this season.
Here’s how these former Nittany Lion greats fared in Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 20, Browns 16
- Tallied 47 rushing yards on 18 carries.
- Caught two passes for seven yards.
- Is third in the NFL in rushing yards per game (96.4), is fourth in rushing yards (482), and is tied for eighth in the league with four rushing scores.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Chicago Bears
Bears 35, Jaguars 16
- Is on injured reserve.
Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Bears 35, Jaguars 16
- Was inactive.
- Is 12th among safeties in the NFL with 40 total tackles.
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins bye week
- Is on injured reserve.
Ji’Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 36, Seahawks 24
- Racked up a career-high-tying eight tackles (6 solo), including one stop for loss.
Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Packers 34, Cardinals 13
- Is a member of Green Bay’s practice squad.
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 20, Browns 16
- Caught one pass for 10 yards.
- Recorded a 13-yard carry.
Arnold Ebiketie (2021) LB, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 38, Panthers 20
- Posted two tackles (1 solo).
- Defended a pass and added two quarterback hits.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2020-23) OL, New York Jets
Bills 23, Jets 20
- Saw action on special teams.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 32, Raiders 13
- Caught two passes for 16 yards.
Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 20, Titans 17
- Is on injured reserve.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 17, Giants 7
- Saw action on offense.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals
Packers 34, Cardinals 13
- Punted four times for 211 yards, a 52.8 yards per punt average.
- Landed one punt inside the 20 and posted a long punt of 58 yards.
- Is tenth in the NFL with a 50.4 punting average mark.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 36, Seahawks 24
- Made two tackles (1 solo).
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 51, Saints 27
- Led the Buccaneers with 11 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns.
- Leads the NFL in yards after catch with 324.
- Is tied for the league lead with five receiving touchdowns, is third in receiving yards (511), and is sixth in yards per game (85.2).
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 36, Seahawks 24
- Is on injured reserve.
KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Buffalo Bills
Bills 23, Jets 20
- Is a member of Buffalo’s practice squad.
Daequan Hardy (2019-23) CB, Buffalo Bills
Bills 23, Jets 20
- Is a member of Buffalo’s practice squad.
Adisa Isaac (2019-23) LB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 30, Commanders 23
- Was inactive.
Curtis Jacobs (2020-23) LB, New England Patriots
Texans 41, Patriots 21
- Tallied the first tackle of his NFL career.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Buffalo Bills
Bills 23, Jets 20
- Posted three tackles (1 solo).
Theo Johnson (2020-23) TE, New York Giants
Bengals 17, Giants 7
- Caught three passes for 30 yards.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 23, Jets 20
- Recorded two solo tackles, including a sack.
- Added a quarterback hit.
Kalen King (2021-23) CB, Green Bay Packers
Packers 34, Cardinals 13
- Is a member of Green Bay’s practice squad.
Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Packers 34, Cardinals 13
- Tallied three tackles (2 solo).
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 23, Jets 20
- Made his sixth start of the season on Buffalo’s offensive line.
PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, Arizona Cardinals.
Packers 34, Cardinals 13
- Is a member of Arizona’s practice squad.
Hunter Nourzad (2022-23) OL, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs bye week
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Dallas Cowboys
Lions 47, Cowboys 9
- Tallied five tackles (4 solo).
- Defended a pass.
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) LB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 30, Commanders 23
- Posted a solo tackle and a quarterback hit.
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Lions 47, Cowboys 9
- Was inactive.
Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 32, Raiders 13
- Tallied four tackles (3 solo).
Chop Robinson (2022-23) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins bye week
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Detroit Lions
Lions 47, Cowboys 9
- Was elevated from Detroit’s practice squad ahead of Week 6.
- Saw action on offense.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers
Falcons 38, Panthers 20
- Rushed three times for one yard.
- Caught one pass for 12 yards.
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Carolina Panthers
Falcons 38, Panthers 20
- Totaled five tackles (4 solo).
Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Texans 41, Patriots 21
- Made his fifth start of the season and played 100 percent of Houston’s offensive snaps.
Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, New York Jets
Bills 23, Jets 20
- Is on New York’s practice squad injured list.
Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks
49ers 36, Seahawks 24
- Serves as Seattle’s primary long snapper.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 30, Commanders 23
- Punted once for 50 yards.
Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bears 35, Jaguars 16
- Hauled in one pass for 11 yards.
Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders
Ravens 30, Commanders 23
- Is a member of Washington’s practice squad.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Packers 34, Cardinals 13
- Made his sixth 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
Texans 41, Patriots 21
- Is on injured reserve.
Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bears 35, Jaguars 16
- Returned two punts for 27 total yards, with his longest return going for 14 yards.
- Also saw action on offense.
The 2024 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.