UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 45 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 25 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.
Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders performed well as their respective squads recorded big wins, and both backs sit inside the top four in the NFL in rushing yardage following week 6. Mike Gesicki exploded for two fourth-quarter touchdowns against the Vikings, and Jaquan Brisker continued to be a disruptor on defense as he recorded his second career sack this week.
Each week throughout the year, GoPSUSports.com provides updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 20, Buccaneers 18
- Assisted on one tackle.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) S, Green Bay Packers
Jets 27, Packers 10
- Totaled seven tackles (5 solo).
- Added one tackle for loss.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Commanders
Commanders 12, Bears 7
- Apke is on Washington's practice squad.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Giants 24, Ravens 20
- Had 22 carries for 83 yards and a score.
- Added three receptions for 12 yards.
- First in the NFL in carries (119), second in rushing yardage (616), and tied for sixth in rushing touchdowns (4) following week 6.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 24, Chiefs 20
- Started at right guard in the win over the Chiefs.
- Has started every game this season.
Nick Bowers (2018-19) TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 30, Saints 26
- Bowers is on Cincinnati's practice squad.
Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Commanders 12, Bears 7
- Made 5 tackles (2 solo).
- Recorded his second sack of the season.
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Giants 24, Ravens 20
- Picked up one solo tackle.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions
Lions bye week
- Cabinda is on the physically unable to perform list.
Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Washington Commanders
Commanders 12, Bears 7
- Saw action on special teams.
Dan Chisena (2019) WR, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 24, Dolphins 16
- Chisena is on Minnesota's practice squad.
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Washington Commanders
Commanders 12, Bears 7
- Dotson was inactive due to injury.
- With four touchdown receptions this year, he is tied for fifth in the league.
Arnold Ebiketie (2021) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 28, 49ers 14
- Totaled three tackles (two solo).
- Picked up two QB hits.
Sam Ficken (2014) K, Detroit Lions
Jets 27, Packers 10
- Ficken is on Detroit's practice squad
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 20, Buccaneers 18
- Freiermuth was inactive due to injury.
Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 34, Jaguars 27
- Saw action on special teams.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Vikings 24, Dolphins 16
- Picked up 69 yards and two scores on six catches.
- Tied for the team lead with three touchdown grabs on the season.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, New Orleans Saints
Bengals 30, Saints 26
- Punted three times for 149 yards.
- Averaged 49.7 yards per punt.
- His longest punt was 61 yards.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
Falcons 28, 49ers 14
- Made one solo tackle.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Steelers 20, Buccaneers 18
- Led the team with six catches for 95 yards.
Robbie Gould (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
Falcons 28, 49ers 14
- Converted both extra point attempts.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Rams 24, Panthers 10
- Totaled 4 tackles (2 solo).
Grant Haley (2014-17) S, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 24, Panthers 10
- Picked up one solo tackle.
KJ Hamler (2018-19) WR, Denver Broncos
Chargers 19, Broncos 16
- Hauled in two passes for 44 yards.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Cleveland Browns
Patriots 38, Browns 15
- James was inactive.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 19, Broncos 16
- Collected four tackles (3 solo), including a tackle for loss.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 24, Chiefs 20
- Picked up two solo tackles.
- Added a QB hit.
John Lovett (2021) RB, Carolina Panthers
Rams 24, Panthers 10
- Lovett is on Carolina's practice squad.
Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Seahawks 19, Cardinals 9
- Luketa is on Arizona's practice squad.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Dallas Cowboys
Eagles 26, Cowboys 17
- Made his fourth start of the season.
Trace McSorley (2015-18) QB, Arizona Cardinals
Seahawks 19, Cardinals 9
- Was inactive.
Carl Nassib (2013-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Steelers 20, Buccaneers 18
- Picked up one sack.
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Detroit Lions
Lions bye week
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) DE, Baltimore Ravens
Giants 24, Ravens 20
- Recorded two solo tackles.
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Eagles 26, Cowboys 17
- Totaled 7 tackles (3 solo), including a tackle for loss.
- Added two passes defended.
John Reid (2015-19) CB, Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 19, Cardinals 9
- Reid is on injured reserve.
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 24, Panthers 10
- Caught five balls for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 26, Cowboys 17
- Ran the ball 18 times for 71 yards and a touchdown.
- Caught one pass for one yard.
- Sits at fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (485), and is tied for sixth in rushing touchdowns (4).
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 24, Panthers 10
- Totaled 2 tackles (1 solo).
- Also defended one pass.
Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, Carolina Panthers
Rams 24, Panthers 10
- Saw action on special teams.
Donovan Smith (2012-14) OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Steelers 20, Buccaneers 18
- Made his fourth start of the season.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Giants 24, Ravens 20
- Punted twice for 95 yards.
- Had a long punt of 53 yards.
Derrick Tangelo (2021) DT, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 28, 49ers 14
- Tangelo is on Atlanta's practice squad.
Shaka Toney (2017-20) DE, Washington Commanders
Comanders 12, Bears 7
- Saw action on special teams and limited snaps on defense.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Jets 27, Packers 10
- Walker was inactive
No. 16/16 Penn State returns home to Beaver Stadium on Saturday, October 22, where it will host Minnesota for this year's White Out game. The contest will kick off at 7:30 and will be televised on ABC.
The 2022 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.