Nov. 29, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - A total of 29 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 21 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions annually are among the top-20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL. Each week throughout the year, GoPSUsports.com has provided updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
DaQuan Jones enjoyed a career day with pair of sacks for the Titans to lead former Nittany Lions in Week 12 of the NFL season. Cameron Wake also found his way to the quarterback, registering his eighth sack of the season for the Dolphins, while Navorro Bowman continued to lead the Raiders defense with an interception and seven tackles. Penn State alums did their part to help quarterbacks too, as offensive linemen A.Q. Shipley (Cardinals), Donovan Smith (Buccaneers) and Stefen Wisniewski (Eagles) and their respective units combined to yield three sacks on a combined 121 passing attempts.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Eagles 31, Bears 3
Amos started at safety for the Bears and made five tackles, all solo stops.
Brandon Bell (2013-16) LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 30, Browns 16
Bell is on the Bengals practice squad.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09) LB, Oakland Raiders
Raiders 21, Broncos 14
Bowman made a team-high seven tackles and an interception in a win over the Broncos. His second-quarter interception set up the Raiders first touchdown drive and was the fifth of his career.
Kyle Carter (2012-15) TE, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 30, Lions 23
Carter is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 34, Buccaneers 20
Crawford is on injured reserve with a torn bicep.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) T, San Francisco 49ers
Seahawks 24, 49ers 13
Gilliam is on injured reserve with an MCL injury.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons 34, Buccaneers 20
Godwin caught one pass for 17 yards and made a tackle on special teams in the loss to the Falcons.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Seahawks 24, 49ers 13
Gould made both his field goal attempts from 38 and 42 yards along with his only extra point opportunity against the Seahawks.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, New York Jets
Panthers 35, Jets 27
Hackenberg was inactive this week.
Tamba Hali (2002-05) LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Bills 16, Chiefs 10
Hali saw action on 13 defensive snaps against the Bills.
Jordan Hill (2009-12) DT, Detroit Lions
Vikings 30, Lions 23
Hill is on injured reserve with a bicep injury.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 35, Dolphins 17
Hogan was inactive with a shoulder injury.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Patriots 35, Dolphins 17
Hull saw action on special teams against the Patriots.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 31, Packers 28
James started at tight end for the Steelers and caught three passes for 32 yards in a win on Sunday Night Football over the Packers.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Titans 20, Colts 16
Jones started at defensive end for the Titans and had two sacks and a tackle for loss among his four tackles on the day. The sacks were his first of the season and marked both his most in a game and most in a season for his NFL career.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DT, Tennessee Titans
Titans 20, Colts 16
Johnson had one solo stop against the Colts.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Chargers 28, Cowboys 6
Lee was ruled out for the Thanksgiving game against the Chargers with a hamstring injury.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Miami Dolphins
Patriots 35, Dolphins 17
Lucas saw action against the Patriots and had a tackle on special teams.
Michael Mauti (2008-12) LB, New Orleans Saints
Rams 26, Saints 20
Mauti saw action on special teams against the Rams.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Cleveland Browns
Bengals 30, Browns 16
Nassib started at defensive end for the Browns and made three tackles against the Bengals.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06) LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Cardinals 27, Jaguars 24
Posluszny made six tackles and deflected a pass for the Jaguars.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Cardinals 27, Jaguars 24
Robinson is on injured reserve with an ACL injury to his left knee.
Evan Schwan (2013-16) DE, New York Giants
Redskins 20, Giants 10
Schwan is on injured reserve with a broken foot.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 27, Jaguars 24
Shipley started at center for the Cardinals, making his 26th consecutive start. He helped protect quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who was sacked just once on 38 pass attempts.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons 34, Buccaneers 20
Smith started at left tackle and has started all 41 games of his NFL career. Smith helped quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick throw for 283 yards on 44 pass attempts with just one sack allowed.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New Orleans Saints
Rams 26, Saints 20
Stupar is on injured reserve with a torn ACL.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Bills 16, Chiefs 10
Travis saw action primarily on special teams against the Bills.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Patriots 35, Dolphins 17
Wake started and made three tackles, all solo stops, including his eighth sack of the season. He also totaled five quarterback hits.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 28, Cowboys 6
Williams started at cornerback for the Chargers and made four tackles in a Thanksgiving Day win over the Cowboys.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 31, Bears 3
Wisniewski started at left guard and helped the offensive line yield just one sack on 39 pass attempts and pave the way for a 176-yard rushing effort.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Detroit Lions
Vikings 30, Lions 23
Zettel started for the Lions and made one tackle and four quarterback hits with an assist on a sack in the Thanksgiving Day game against the Vikings