UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 47 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.
Penn Staters stood out on defense in week four of the NFL season, as Jaquan Brisker racked up the second-highest single-game tackle total of his career with 12 stops. Brisker also recorded the first interception of his 2024 campaign, helping the Bears take down the Rams with an exceptional defensive effort. In his first game as a Cowboy, Amani Oruwariye recorded an interception in a victory for Dallas. Additionally, Ji’Ayir Brown led the 49ers in tackles with eight, while teammate Kevin Givens posted a career-best 2.5 sacks in San Francisco’s victory over New England. Odafe Oweh posted another sack, giving him 3.5 on the season, a mark that is tied for tenth in the league through the first four games of the 2024 campaign.
Offensively, Chris Godwin continued his strong start to the season, picking up 69 yards on six catches. He currently is seventh in the NFL with 322 receiving yards. Saquon Barkley rushed 10 times for 84 yards, increasing his 2024 season rushing total to 435 yards, which ranks third in the NFL.
Rookie first-round selection Olumuyiwa Fashanu made his first career start for the Jets on the offensive line.
Here’s how these former Nittany Lion greats fared in Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Buccaneers 33, Eagles 16
- Rushed 10 times for 84 yards, including a 59-yard tote.
- Hauled in two passes for 32 yards.
- Is third in the NFL in rushing yards (435) and yards per game (108.8), and is tied for fourth in the league with four rushing scores.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Chicago Bears
Bears 24, Rams 18
- Was active, but did not see action.
Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Bears 24, Rams 18
- Amassed 12 total tackles (8 solo), the second-highest single-game total of his career.
- His tackle total included his first sack of the season and a pair of tackles for loss.
- Also recorded his first interception of the season in a dominant defensive outing.
- Is tied for 15th in the NFL in total tackles (35), and is fourth among safeties in the category.
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, Miami Dolphins
Titans 31, Dolphins 12
- Currently is on injured reserve.
Ji’Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 30, Patriots 13
- Led the team with a career-best eight total tackles (5 solo), including a pair of tackles for loss, also the first of his pro career.
- Defended a pass.
Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Carolina Panthers
Bengals 34, Panthers 24
- Was inactive.
Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Arizona Cardinals
Commanders 42, Cardinals 14
- Is a member of Arizona’s practice squad.
Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Vikings 31, Packers 29
- Is a member of Green Bay’s practice squad.
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Buccaneers 33, Eagles 16
- Hauled in two passes for 11 yards.
Arnold Ebiketie (2021) LB, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 26, Saints 24
- Totaled two tackles (1 solo), including a tackle for loss.
- Added a quarterback hit.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2020-23) OL, New York Jets
Broncos 10, Jets 9
- Made the first 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
Colts 27, Steelers 24
- Caught five passes for 57 yards and his first touchdown of the season.
- Is eighth in the NFL in receiving yards among tight ends with 156.
Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 27, Steelers 24
- Made his fourth start of the season on the offensive line.
- Has played on every offensive snap for the Colts this season.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 34, Panthers 24
- Hauled in one pass.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals
Commanders 42, Cardinals 14
- Punted four times for 192 yards, a 48.0 yards per punt average.
- Landed one punt inside the 20 and posted a long punt of 62 yards.
- Is 12th in the NFL with a 49.2 mark in total punting average.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 30, Patriots 14
- Posted three tackles, including a career-high 2.5 sacks.
- Racked up three quarterback hits in a disruptive outing.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 33, Eagles 16
- Caught six passes for 69 yards.
- Tied for third in the league with three receiving scores. Ranks seventh in the NFL with 322 receiving yards.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 30, Patriots 13
- Made a solo tackle.
KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Buffalo Bills
Ravens 35, Bills 10
- Is a member of Buffalo’s practice squad.
Daequan Hardy (2019-23) CB, Buffalo Bills
Ravens 35, Bills 10
- Is a member of Buffalo’s practice squad.
Adisa Isaac (2019-23) LB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 35, Bills 10
- Totaled three tackles (1 solo), including his first tackle for loss as a pro.
Curtis Jacobs (2020-23) LB, New England Patriots
49ers 30, Patriots 10
- In his second NFL game, saw his first action on defense.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Buffalo Bills
Ravens 35, Bills 10
- Saw action on defense and special teams.
Theo Johnson (2020-23) TE, New York Giants
Cowboys 20, Giants 15
- Caught one pass for six yards.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Ravens 35, Bills 10
- Started his fourth straight game on the defensive line to start the season.
Kalen King (2021-23) CB, Green Bay Packers
Vikings 31, Packers 29
- Is a member of Green Bay’s practice squad.
Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Commanders 42, Cardinals 14
- Active but did not see action.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Ravens 35, Bills 10
- Made his fourth start of the season on Buffalo’s offensive line.
PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, Arizona Cardinals.
Commanders 42, Cardinals 14
- Is a member of Arizona’s practice squad.
Hunter Nourzad (2022-23) OL, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 17, Chargers 10
- Saw action on special teams.
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 20, Giants 15
- Was elevated to Dallas’ active roster and recorded an interception in his first game as a Cowboy.
- Tallied three solo tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) LB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 35, Bills 10
- Made two tackles (1 solo), including a sack.
- Added two quarterback hits.
- Tied for tenth in the NFL with 3.5 sacks.
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 20, Giants 15
- Made two solo tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Colts 27, Steelers 24
- Tallied four tackles (3 solo).
- Defended a pass.
Chop Robinson (2022-23) LB, Miami Dolphins
Titans 31, Dolphins 12
- Assisted on one tackle.
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Detroit Lions
Lions 42, Seahawks 29
- Was active but did not see action.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers
Bengals 34, Panthers 24
- Rushed six times for 32 yards.
- Caught three passes for 14 yards.
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Carolina Panthers
Bengals 34, Panthers 24
- Tallied six tackles (3 solo).
Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Texans 24, Jaguars 20
- Made his third start of the season and played 100 percent of Houston’s offensive snaps.
Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, New York Jets
Broncos 10, Jets 9
- Is on New York's practice squad injured list.
Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks
Lions 42, Seahawks 29
- Serves as Seattle’s primary long snapper.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 35, Bills 10
- Punted four times for 177 yards, averaging 44.3 yards per punt.
- Recorded a long punt of 54 yards.
Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Texans 24, Jaguars 20
- Caught three passes for 19 yards.
Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders
Commanders 42, Cardinals 14
- Is a member of Washington’s practice squad.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Vikings 31, Packers 29
- Made his fourth 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
49ers 30, Patriots 13
- Saw action on offense.
Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Texans 24, Jaguars 20
- Saw action on offense.
The 2024 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.