Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472993
A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 113 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Marcus Allen (played at Penn State from 2014-17), LB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Allen signed a contract tender with the Steelers in April. If he makes the team's 53-man roster this season, he will earn $2.54 million. Adrian Amos (2011-14), S, Green Bay Packers: Amos had a career-high 93 tackles and 2 interceptions in 2021. The Packers restructured his contract during the offseason to create cap space, but he will be in line for a new deal when his current four-year contract is up after the 2022 season. Saquon Barkley (2015-17), RB, New York Giants: Health issues continued to plague Barkley last season, but he's hoping for a fresh start in 2022, telling report- ers during Giants minicamp in June that he was feeling upbeat. He's entering the option year of the five-year rookie pact he signed in 2018. Ryan Bates (2015-18), OL, Buffalo Bills: Bates came on strong at the end of last season and signed a four-year deal with Buffalo this past April when the Bills matched an offer sheet he received from Chicago. Jaquan Brisker (2019-21), S, Chicago Bears: Chosen in the second round of the April draft by Chicago, Brisker had yet to sign a rookie contract as of early July. Ellis Brooks (2018-21), LB, Green Bay: Brooks is vying with fellow undrafted free agent linebacker Caliph Brice for a spot on the Packers' roster this season. Cam Brown (2016-19), LB, New York Giants: After seeing action on 94 defen- sive snaps as a rookie, Brown was on the field for only 12 in 2021. The Giants took three linebackers in the April draft, so Brown's roster spot might be precarious. Jason Cabinda (2014-17), FB, Detroit Lions: Cabinda's transition to offense — he was a linebacker at PSU and with the Raiders to start his pro career — has gone smoothly. So smoothly, in fact, that the Lions signed him to a two-year con- tract in February after a 2021 season in which he received an 82.3 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21), CB, San Francisco 49ers: Chosen in the sixth round this past April, Castro-Fields signed a four-year rookie contract in June worth $3.8 million, including a $155,000 signing bonus. Jahan Dotson (2018-21), WR, Washington Commanders: The 16th overall selection in the 2022 draft, Dotson signed a four-year, $15 million contract with the Commanders in May with an $8 million signing bonus. Arnold Ebiketie (2021), DE, Atlanta Falcons: A second-round pick in April, Ebiketie had yet to sign with the Falcons as of early July. Pat Freiermuth (2018-20), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers: While Freiermuth will be working with a new quarterback this year now that Ben Roethlisberger has retired, he still appears ready to build on a rookie season in which he caught 60 passes for 497 yards and 7 touchdowns. Nick Shook of NFL.com listed Freiermuth as the Steelers player most likely to be a first-team Pro Bowler in 2022. Mike Gesicki (2014-17), TE, Miami Dolphins: Miami used its franchise tag on Gesicki to keep him out of the free agent market for another year. Dolphins watchers are expecting him to thrive under new head coach Mike McDaniel, who helped George Kittle develop into an All-Pro in San Francisco. Kevin Givens (2016-18), DT, San Francisco 49ers: Givens is set to earn $895,000 this year if he makes the 49ers' 53-man roster. He played in 13 games last season and finished with 17 tackles. Chris Godwin (2014-16), WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Godwin is working his way back from an ACL injury that ended his season last December. He may have to start the 2022 season on the physically unable to perform list, which would keep him out of action for at least six weeks. Blake Gillikin (2016-19), P, New Orleans Saints: Gillikin is looking to build on a 2021 season in which he averaged 47.7 yards on 83 punts, tying for the second- most punting attempts in the league. Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, San Francisco 49ers — The 39-year-old Gould is entering the final season of a 49ers contract that averages $3.6 million per year. He converted 20 of 23 field goal attempts during the 2021 season. Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19), DE, Carolina Panthers: Gross-Matos has missed seven games with injuries in his first two seasons, but last year he had 3.5 sacks and 5 tackles for loss. Panthers defensive coordinator Phil Snow said he wants the former Nittany Lion to see more action this year than in the past. KJ Hamler (2018-20), WR, Denver Broncos: Hamler is on the mend after miss- ing Denver's final 14 games last season with an ACL injury. Austin Johnson (2012-15), DT, Los Angeles Chargers: Johnson signed with the Chargers in March after starting 17 games for the Giants last season. Juwan Johnson (2015-18), TE, New Orleans Saints: Johnson has worked to add muscle as part of his transition from wide receiver to tight end. He's up to 250 pounds heading into his second season with the Saints. DaQuan Jones (2010-13), DT, Buffalo Bills: A free agent signing from the Carolina Panthers this offseason, Jones is expected to become a run-stuffer for the Bills up front. Jesse Luketa (2018-21) DE/LB, Arizona Cardinals: After being selected in the seventh round in April, Luketa signed a four-year rookie contract worth $3.7 mil- lion, including a $77,000 signing bonus. Connor McGovern (2016-18), OL, Dallas Cowboys: McGovern has an opportu- nity to become a starter at left guard for the Cowboys in his fourth season in the league following the departure of Connor Williams. Michal Menet (2017-20), OL, Green Bay Packers: Menet was signed to Green Bay's practice squad in December after being let go by Arizona and is competing for a roster spot this summer. Carl Nassib (2011-15), DE: Nassib is a free agent ahead of the 2022 season, having played in 17 games over the past two seasons for the Las Vegas Raiders. Amani Oruwariye (2014-18), CB, Detroit Lions: Oruwariye is coming off a 2021 season in which he intercepted 6 passes and had a career-best 57 tackles. He's entering the final year of his four-year rookie contract. Odafe Oweh (2018-20), OLB, Baltimore Ravens: Oweh, now listed as an outside linebacker for the Ravens, underwent offseason shoulder surgery and is expected to be fully healthy ahead of his second year in the NFL. He posted 33 tackles and 5 sacks in his debut season. Micah Parsons (2018-19), LB, Dallas Cowboys: Parsons was named NFL De- fensive Rookie of the Year and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2021. Now he's looking to build on his 13 sacks and 84 tackles as the Cowboys' do-it-all defensive player. Allen Robinson II (2011-13), WR, Los Angeles Rams: Robinson bolted from Chi- cago in free agency, determined to bounce back from a down year with the Bears. He's now in line to challenge Cooper Kupp as the Rams' top receiving threat. Miles Sanders (2016-18), RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Sanders drew attention when he said earlier this summer that he felt the Eagles had put together an "all- star" team ahead of the 2022 season. He had 137 carries for 754 yards last year but didn't have any rushing touchdowns. Brandon Smith (2019-21), LB, Carolina Panthers: A fourth-round pick by Carolina, Smith signed a four-year rookie contract in July worth $4.4 million with a $756,000 signing bonus. Jordan Stout (2019-21), P/K, Baltimore Ravens: Stout, a fourth-round selec- tion by the Ravens, signed a four-year rookie deal worth $4.36 million, including a $698,000 signing bonus. Nick Scott (2014-18), S, Los Angeles Rams: Scott earned a Super Bowl ring last season with the Rams and is expected to parlay his performance into a bigger role in 2022. He intercepted Tampa Bay's Tom Brady in the NFC championship game as the team's No. 3 safety. Derrick Tangelo (2021), DT, Atlanta Falcons: Tangelo is beginning his NFL career with the Falcons lining up at end in their 3-4 defense. An undrafted free agent, he'll spend preseason camp working to make the 53-man roster. Rasheed Walker (2018-21), OT, Green Bay Packers: Walker received a four- year rookie contract with the Packers worth $3.7 million, including a $77,000 signing bonus. — Nate Bauer and Matt Herb Former Nittany Lions On NFL Rosters