Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1454229
M A R C H 2 0 2 2 71 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Former PSU Defensive Backs Win Super Bowl Rings Penn State alumni Nick Scott and Grant Haley became the 45th and 46th Nittany Lions to earn Super Bowl rings when the Los Angeles Rams rallied to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, in Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13 in Los Angeles. The Rams' comeback victory over the Bengals concluded a thrilling NFL postseason that involved more than a dozen former Nittany Lions. Here's how each of them performed throughout the playoffs: Marcus Allen (Played at Penn State 2014-17), LB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Allen played 14 snaps on defense and made a pair of tackles for the Steelers in their 42-21 loss to Kansas City in the wild card round. Adrian Amos (2011-14), S, Green Bay Packers: The Packers were upset by San Francisco, 13-10, in the divisional round. But the Green Bay defense did its job, holding the visitors scoreless in the first half and giv- ing up just one touchdown in the game. Amos came down with an interception and also made five tackles. Ryan Bates (2015-18), OL, Buffalo Bills: Bates was another former Penn State player to enjoy a late-season emergence that rolled over into the playoffs. He played every offensive snap for the Bills in their two post- season games, the last of which was a 42-36 overtime loss to Kansas City. Nick Bowers (2015-19), TE, Las Vegas Raiders: Bowers was inactive for the Raiders in their 26-19 loss to Cincinnati in the wild card round. Pat Freiermuth (2018-20), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers: The Penn State rookie standout caught four of his five targets for 25 yards in the Steelers' season-ending loss to the Chiefs. Kevin Givens (2015-18), DT, San Francisco 49ers: Givens played 59 snaps total across three playoff games for San Francisco. His best game came in the wild card round against Dallas, when he picked up four total tackles and half a sack in the 49ers' 23-17 victory. In total, Givens finished the playoffs with six tackles, two quarterback hits and a pass break-up. Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, San Francisco 49ers: Gould's playoff perfection continued this postseason. The former Penn State kicker made it 21 career field goal attempts without a miss in the playoffs, which is an NFL record. He converted all six of his attempts this year, including a game-winner to lock down the 49ers' upset of Green Bay in the divisional round. Grant Haley (2014-17), CB, Los Angeles Rams: A midseason free-agent pickup, Haley contributed primarily on special teams for the Rams down the stretch and into the postseason. The former Penn State cornerback made three tackles in the playoffs, all of which came in a 30-27 victory over Tampa Bay in the divisional round. The Rams' Super Bowl victory was an emotional moment for Haley, who lost his father in a boating ac- cident in July. "He's the reason I'm here today," Haley told WSB-TV in Atlanta before the game. "I'm in this situation, in this position, because of the lessons and values my father taught me." Connor McGovern (2016-18), OL, Dallas Cowboys: McGovern played eight snaps on the offensive line and three snaps on special teams in Dallas' loss to San Francisco. Trace McSorley (2014-18), QB, Arizona Cardinals: McSorley did not play for Arizona in its 34-11 loss to the Rams on wild card weekend. Carl Nassib (2011-15), DE, Las Vegas Raiders: Nassib made three tackles in the Raiders' loss to Cincinnati. Micah Parsons (2018-19), LB, Dallas Cowboys: Parsons took home NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, but his Cowboys suffered an opening-round playoff disappointment, falling to the 49ers at home. Parsons made nine tackles in that game, including one tackle for loss. Miles Sanders (2016-18), RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Sanders rushed seven times for 16 yards in the Eagles' 31-15 loss to Tampa Bay in the wild card round. He also caught three passes for 12 yards. Nick Scott (2014-18), S, Los Angeles Rams: Having started just once during the regular season, Scott got the starting nod in all four playoff games for the Rams during their championship run. He made two tackles in the Super Bowl, finishing with a total of 14 in the postseason. But Scott's biggest moment came in the divisional round, when he intercepted Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady. That was a huge play for the Rams, and it also constituted a bit of NFL history: It was the final interception of Brady's 22-year career. Donovan Smith (2011-14), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Smith played every offensive snap in the playoffs for the Bucs, who opened with a 31-15 victory over Philadelphia, then fell to the Rams in the divisional round. — David Eckert PENN STATE'S SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS GAME PLAYER(S) TEAM I (1966 season) Dave Robinson Green Bay II (1967) Dave Robinson Green Bay III (1968) Ralph Baker N.Y. Jets V (1970) Glenn Ressler Baltimore VIII (1973) Bruce Bannon Miami IX (1974) Jack Ham Pittsburgh Franco Harris X (1975) Jack Ham Pittsburgh Franco Harris XI (1976) Dave Rowe Oakland Ted Kwalick XII (1977) Tom Rafferty Dallas XIII (1978) Jack Ham Pittsburgh Franco Harris XIV (1979) Matt Bahr Pittsburgh Jack Ham, Franco Harris XV (1980) Chris Bahr, Matt Millen Oakland XVI (1981) Pete Kugler San Francisco XVII (1982) Larry Kubin Washington Rich Milot XVIII (1983) Chris Bahr Oakland Matt Millen, Jim Romano XX (1985) Mike Hartenstine Chicago Matt Suhey XXI (1986) Brad Benson N.Y. Giants XXII (1987) Rich Milot Washington XXIII (1988) Pete Kugler San Francisco XXIV (1989) Pete Kugler San Francisco Matt Millen XXV (1990) Matt Bahr N.Y. Giants Bob Mrosko XXVI (1991) Andre Collins Washington Tim Johnson, Matt Millen XXXI (1996) Marco Rivera Green Bay XXXV (2000 ) Sam Gash Baltimore Kim Herring XXXVII (2002) Joe Jurevicius Tampa Bay XXXVIII (2003) Shawn Mayer New England XXXIX (2004) Justin Kurpeikis New England XL (2005) Jeff Hartings Pittsburgh XLII (2007) Jay Alford N.Y. Giants Kareem McKenzie XLIII (2008) Sean McHugh Pittsburgh Scott Paxson XLV (2010) Andrew Quarless Green Bay XLVI (2011) Jimmy Kennedy N.Y. Giants Kareem McKenzie XLVIII (2013) Jordan Hill Seattle Michael Robinson L (2015) Jordan Norwood Denver LI (2016) Chris Hogan New England LII (2017) Stefen Wisniewski Philadelphia LIII (2018) Chris Hogan New England LIV (2019) Stefen Wisniewski Kansas City Jordan Lucas LV (2020) Chris Godwin Tampa Bay Donovan Smith, A.Q. Shipley LVI (2021) Nick Scott L.A. Rams Grant Haley