UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 44 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 27 National Football League organizations. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.
Saquon Barkley posted a career-high 36 carries, gaining 128 yards on the ground in a close contest with the Jets. Jahan Dotson showed out for the Commanders, racking up career-bests in catches and yards in his eight-grab, 108-yard performance. The second-year wideout also caught his second touchdown of the year in Washington's tilt with Philadelphia.
On defense, Micah Parsons returned to form, recording three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, and a sack in the Cowboys' dominant showing.
In Arizona, Blake Gillikin and Jordan Stout put on outstanding performances as the primary punters for their respective teams. Gillikin averaged a whopping 51.8 yards-per-punt while Stout pinned Arizona inside its own 20-yard line four times.
Each week throughout the year, GoPSUSports.com provides updates on the feats of these former Nittany Lion greats.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) S, New York Jets
Jets 13, Giants 10
- Saw action on defense and special teams.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Commanders
Eagles 38, Commanders 31
- Apke began the season on the IR.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Jets 13, Giants 10
- Set a career high with 36 carries, totaling 128 yards on the ground, his season-best mark.
- Caught three passes in the game.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 24, Buccaneers 18
- Saw action on special teams.
Nick Bowers (2018-19) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 31, Patriots 17
- Bowers is on Miami's practice squad.
Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Chargers 30, Bears 13
- Inactive due to injury.
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Jets 13, Giants 10
- Assisted on one tackle.
Ji'Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers
Bengals 31, 49ers 17
- Saw action on special teams.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions
Lions 26, Raiders 14
- Is on injured reserve.
Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Washington Commanders
Eagles 38, Commanders 31
- Is on Washington's practice squad.
Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 24, Packers 10
- Chisena is on Minnesota's practice squad.
Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Vikings 24, Packers 10
- Active, but did not see action.
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Washington Commanders
Eagles 38, Commanders 31
- Led the team with career-bests in catches (8) and yards (108).
- Hauled in his second touchdown of the season.
Arnold Ebiketie (2021) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Titans 28, Falcons 23
- Totaled two solo tackles, including sack number 2.5 on the season.
- Added a quarterback hit.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaguars 20, Steelers 10
- Inactive due to injury.
Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Saints 38, Colts 27
- Made his eighth-consecutive start on the offensive line to start the season.
- Played 100 percent of the Colts' offensive snaps for the seventh time this year.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, New England Patriots
Dolphins 31, Patriots 17
- Caught two passes for 11 yards.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals
Ravens 31, Cardinals 24
- Punted four times for 207 yards, a 51.8 yards-per-punt average.
- Boomed a 66-yard punt for his longest of the day.
- Sixth in the NFL with a 50.0 yards-per-punt average.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
Bengals 31, 49ers 17
- Assisted on one tackle.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bills 24, Buccaneers 18
- Posted five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
- Added one carry for 14 yards.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 15, Texans 13
- On injured reserve.
KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Indianapolis Colts
Saints 38, Colts 27
- Hamler is on Indianapolis' practice squad.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 30, Bears 13
- Assisted on three tackles.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 24, Buccaneers 18
- Is on injured reserve.
Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Ravens 31, Cardinals 24
- Assisted on a pair of tackles.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 24, Buccaneers 18
- Made his eighth start of the year on the offensive line.
- Played 100 percent of the Bills' offensive plays for the fourth-straight game.
Trace McSorley (2014-2018) QB, Chicago Bears
Chargers 30, Bears 13
- McSorley is on the Bears' practice squad.
PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, Denver Broncos
Broncos 24, Chiefs 9
- Mustipher is on Denver's practice squad.
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 20, Steelers 10
- Active but did not see action.
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) DE, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 31, Cardinals 24
- Assisted on a tackle.
- Added a quarterback hit.
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 43, Rams 20
- Posted two solo tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss.
- Made his presence felt all over the field with a pass defended and three quarterback hits.
- Tied for sixth in the NFL with nine tackles for loss.
Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaguars 20, Steelers 10
- Totaled five tackles (4 solo).
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaguars 20, Steelers 10
- Saw one target in the passing game.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 15, Texans 13
- Carried the ball twice for no gain.
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 31, 49ers 17
- Made three tackles (2 solo).
Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Panthers 15, Texans 13
- Scruggs began the season on IR.
Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 38, Commanders 31
- Smith is on Philadelphia's practice squad.
Donovan Smith (2012-14) OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Broncos 24, Chiefs 9
- Made his eighth start of the year on the offensive line.
- Played 100 percent of Kansas City's offensive snaps for the sixth time this season.
Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 24, Browns 20
- Saw action on special teams as Seattle's primary long snapper.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 31, Cardinals 24
- Punted five times for 242 yards, a 48.4 yards-per-punt average.
- Landed a 59-yard punt for his longest of the day.
- Dropped four punts inside the 20-yard line.
- Tied for third in the NFL with 17 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 20, Steelers 10
- Saw action on offense and special teams.
Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders
Eagles 38, Commanders 31
- Was inactive.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Vikings 24, Packers 10
- Started his sixth game of the season.
Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 20, Steelers 10
- On injured reserve.
The No. 9/9 Nittany Lions travel to College Park, Md. on Saturday for a Big Ten tilt against the Terrapins. The game is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. and will air on FOX.
The 2023 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.