Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/730644
Twenty-nine Penn State players were on the rosters of 20 National Football League teams for NFL Kickoff Week. The Nittany Lions are perennially a top-15 program in producing pro players. In ad- dition to the 29 players on 53-man ros- ters, the Nittany Lions have two former players on practice squads. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins each boasted three former Nit- tany Lions on their opening day roster. The Jaguars have 10-year veteran and 2013 Pro Bowl linebacker Paul Posluszny, Pro Bowl selection Allen Robinson and seven-year vet Jared Odrick among their 53-man roster, while Miami lays claim to eight-year veteran Cameron Wake, sec- ond-year pro Mike Hull and rookie and sixth-round draft pick Jordan Lucas. Five additional NFL squads laid claim to two former Nittany Lions on their open- ing week rosters: Dallas, Detroit, New Or- leans, San Francisco and Tennessee. Five players from Penn State's 2015 squad made NFL teams as rookies: Chris- tian Hackenberg (N.Y. Jets), Austin John- son (Tennessee), Jordan Lucas (Miami), Carl Nassib (Cleveland) and Anthony Zettel (Detroit). Additionally, two mem- bers of the 2015 team were signed to prac- tice squads: Kyle Carter (Minnesota) and Trevor Williams (San Diego). There are also two Nittany Lions on NFL rosters who did not play football at Penn State: Chris Hogan (New England) and Ross Travis (Kansas City). Hogan, a wide receiver in his fifth NFL season, played lacrosse for the Nittany Lions and went to play football at Monmouth after earning his Penn State degree. Travis, a tight end, was a standout men's basketball player for the Lions. Penn State has had 44 NFL Draft picks since 2006, including 20 in the first three rounds, and at least three NFL Draft picks 18 times since starting Big Ten Confer- ence competition in 1993. Seven former Lions are members of NFL coaching staffs: Gary Brown (Dallas, run- ning backs); Bobby Engram (Baltimore, wide receivers); Al Golden (Detroit, tight ends); John McNulty (San Diego, tight ends); Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Munchak (Pittsburgh, offensive line); Jeff Nixon (San Francisco, tight ends) and Dar- ren Perry (Green Bay, safeties). In addition, former Penn State quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell is in his third season as head coach of the Detroit Lions. ■ Former Nittany Lions abundant on NFL rosters TEAM PLAYER (SEASONS) Arizona Cardinals A.Q. Shipley (7) Baltimore Ravens John Urschel (3) Cleveland Browns Carl Nassib (1) Chicago Bears Adrian Amos (2) Dallas Cowboys Jack Crawford (5), Sean Lee (7) Denver Broncos Jordan Norwood (8) Detroit Lions Anthony Zettel (1), Andrew Quarless (7) Houston Texans Devon Still (4) Jacksonville Jaguars Jared Odrick (7), Paul Posluszny (10), Allen Robinson (3) Kansas City Chiefs Tamba Hali (11), Ross Travis (1; former PSU basketball player) Miami Dolphins Mike Hull (2), Jordan Lucas (1), Cameron Wake (8) New England Patriots Chris Hogan (5; former PSU lacrosse player) New Orleans Saints Michael Mauti (4), Nathan Stupar (5) New York Jets Christian Hackenberg (1) Oakland Raiders Matt McGloin (4) Philadelphia Eagles Stefen Wisniewski (6) Pittsburgh Steelers Jesse James (2) San Francisco 49ers NaVorro Bowman (7), Gerald Hodges (4) Seattle Seahawks Garry Gilliam (3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Donovan Smith (2) Tennessee Titans Austin Johnson (1), DaQuan Jones (3) PRACTICE SQUAD Minnesota Vikings Kyle Carter (1) San Diego Chargers Trevor Williams (1) * As of opening day P E N N S T A T E R S I N T H E N F L EXPERIENCED VETERAN A 2010 draft pick, Lee has just begun his seventh NFL season, all with the Cowboys. Photo courtesy of the Dallas Cowboys