UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 47 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.
Saquon Barkley added 65 rushing yards to his league-leading total in Week 15. The Eagles’ star running back has tallied 1,688 yards on the ground this season, tops in the NFL, and also leads the league with 120.6 rushing yards per game.
Star pass rusher Micah Parsons posted two sacks in Dallas’ win over Carolina. Additionally, 2024 first round draft selection Chop Robinson racked up 1.5 sacks of his own for Miami. Offensively, Jacksonville tight end Brenton Strange recorded a career-high 11 catches for 73 yards while teammate Parker Washington accounted for 54 yards on three catches. Together, the Penn State duo racked up 127 receiving yards on 14 catches for the Jaguars. Also, Pittsburgh’s Pat Freiermuth recorded a receiving touchdown in his third consecutive game.
Here’s how these former Nittany Lion greats fared in Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 27, Steelers 13
- Recorded 65 rushing yards on 19 carries.
- Caught two passes for nine yards.
- Leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,688), rushing yards per game (120.6), is second in yards per carry (5.9, minimum 100 carries), and is tied for seventh in the league in rushing touchdowns with 11.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Chicago Bears
Vikings 30, Bears 12
- Was inactive.
Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Vikings 30, Bears 12
- Is on injured reserve.
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, Miami Dolphins
Texans 20, Dolphins 12
- Is on injured reserve.
Ji’Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers
Rams 12, 49ers 6
- Made six tackles (4 solo).
Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 27, Steelers 13
- Is a member of Philadelphia’s practice squad.
Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Carolina Panthers
Cowboys 30, Panthers 14
- Active but did not see action.
Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Packers 30, Seahawks 13
- Is a member of Green Bay’s practice squad.
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 27, Steelers 13
- Saw action on offense.
Arnold Ebiketie (2021) LB, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 15, Raiders 9
- Assisted on one tackle.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2020-23) OL, New York Jets
Jets 32, Jaguars 25
- Made his fourth-straight start, fifth overall, on the Jets’ offensive line.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Eagles 27, Steelers 13
- Caught three passes for 22 yards and a touchdown.
Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Broncos 31, Colts 13
- Is on injured reserve.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 37, Titans 27
- Caught three passes for 37 yards.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 30, Patriots 17
- Is on injured reserve.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
Rams 12, 49ers 6
- Is on injured reserve.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 40, Chargers 17
- Is on injured reserve.
- At the time of his season-ending injury, led the NFL in yards after catch with 350, was second in the NFL in receiving yards (576), was tied for third with five receiving touchdowns, and was sixth in yards per game (82.3).
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, San Francisco 49ers
Rams 12, 49ers 6
- Posted a quarterback hit.
KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Buffalo Bills
Bills 48, Lions 42
- Is a member of Buffalo’s practice squad.
Daequan Hardy (2019-23) CB, Buffalo Bills
Bills 48, Lions 42
- Is a member of Buffalo’s practice squad.
Adisa Isaac (2019-23) LB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 35, Giants 14
- Was inactive.
Curtis Jacobs (2020-23) LB, New England Patriots
Cardinals 30, Patriots 17
- Is on injured reserve.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Buffalo Bills
Bills 48, Lions 42
- Assisted on a tackle.
Theo Johnson (2020-23) TE, New York Giants
Ravens 35, Giants 14
- Is on injured reserve.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 48, Lions 42
- Recorded a quarterback hit.
Kalen King (2021-23) CB, Green Bay Packers
Packers 30, Seahawks 13
- Is a member of Green Bay’s practice squad.
Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 30, Patriots 17
- Assisted on one tackle.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 48, Lions 42
- Made his 14th start on Buffalo’s offensive line.
PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, Arizona Cardinals.
Cardinals 30, Patriots 17
- Is a member of Arizona’s practice squad.
Hunter Nourzad (2022-23) OL, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 21, Browns 7
- Saw action on special teams.
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 30, Panthers 14
- Made three solo tackles.
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) LB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 35, Giants 14
- Assisted on a tackle.
- Posted a quarterback hit.
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 30, Panthers 14
- Tallied four tackles (3 solo).
- Posted two sacks.
- Tied for 12th in the NFL with 8.5 sacks.
Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Eagles 27, Steelers 13
- Posted five solo stops.
- Defended a pass.
Chop Robinson (2022-23) LB, Miami Dolphins
Texans 20, Dolphins 12
- Posted 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hits.
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Detroit Lions
Bills 48, Lions 42
- Saw action on offense.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers
Cowboys 30, Panthers 14
- Is on injured reserve.
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Carolina Panthers
Cowboys 30, Panthers 14
- Was inactive.
Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Texans 20, Dolphins 12
- Was inactive.
Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, Las Vegas Raiders
Falcons 15, Raiders 9
- Is a member of Las Vegas’ practice squad.
Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks
Packers 30, Seahawks 13
- Serves as Seattle’s primary long snapper.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 35, Giants 14
- Punted twice for 92 yards, a 46.0 yards per punt average.
- Landed both punts inside the 20-yard line.
- Tied for seventh in the NFL in net punting average with a 42.7 mark.
Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jets 32, Jaguars 25
- Hauled in a career-high 11 passes for 73 yards.
Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders
Commanders 20, Saints 19
- Is a member of Washington’s practice squad.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Packers 30, Seahawks 13
- Made his 14th start of the season for the Packers.
- Has played every offensive snap this season for Green Bay.
Caedan Wallace (2019-23) OL, New England Patriots
Cardinals 30, Patriots 17
- Is on injured reserve.
Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jets 32, Jaguars 25
- Caught three passes for 54 yards.
The 2024 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.