With 29 Nittany Lions on National Football League rosters, Penn State is well represented in the professional ranks. Each week throughout the year, www.GoPSUsports.com, will provide updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats. Highlights from week 12 of the 2010 season include Miami linebacker Cameron Wake recording his team-leading 10.5 sack of the season and Andrew Quarless catching three passes as Green Bay’s starting tight end.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 31, Philadelphia Eagles 26
Adams started at nose tackle for the Bears, forcing a Michael Vick fumble while recording a sack for a loss of nine yards in the third quarter.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers 27, Arizona Cardinals 6
Bowman made two special teams tackles in San Francisco’s Monday night win over Arizona.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers 27, Arizona Cardinals 6
Brown started at left tackle in Arizona’s Monday night loss to San Francisco.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
Kansas City Chiefs 42, Seattle Seahawks 24
Butler started at wide receiver, catching two passes for nine yards.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Tennessee Titans
Houston Texans 20, Tennessee Titans 0
Collins, the longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion in his 16th professional season, remained sidelined for the Houston game with a calf injury. Upon his return to the line-up, which could be as soon as week 13, Collins will assume the starting quarterback role for Tennessee, as Vince Young was placed on injured reserve with a thumb injury.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Cleveland Browns 24, Carolina Panthers 23
Connor suffered a season-ending hip injury in the first half of Carolina’s week nine loss to New Orleans. He was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 9. Connor had started all eight games in 2010, his first career starts in his third NFL season, and ranked third on the team with 59 tackles.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baltimore Ravens 17, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10
Gilmore started as part of Tampa’s three tight end set, making one reception for 30 yards.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 31, Philadelphia Eagles 26
Gould was perfect on the day, going 1-for-1 on field goal attempts, making a key 23-yarder late in the third quarter, and 4-for-4 on PATs.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs 42, Seattle Seahawks 24
Hali made four tackles and had a fumble recovery in the Chiefs’ victory over the Seahawks.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams 36, Denver Broncos 33
Hull tore his anterior cruciate ligament during practice on Sept. 15. He was placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of his rookie season.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Detroit Lions
New England Patriots 45, Detroit Lions 24
Johnson caught two passes for 26 yards in Detroit’s Thanksgiving loss to New England.
Ed Johnson (2003-04, 2006), DT, Carolina Panthers
Cleveland Browns 24, Carolina Panthers 23
Johnson saw time as a back-up on the defensive line for Carolina, making two total tackles in its narrow loss to Cleveland.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings 17, Washington Redskins 13
Kennedy played but did not have a tackle in Minnesota’s road win over Washington.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams 36, Denver Broncos 33
King finished fourth on the team with four solo tackles, including two for a loss, and had a quarterback hit.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
New Orleans Saints 30, Dallas Cowboys 27
Lee totaled three tackles in the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving day loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Saints.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), LB, Buffalo Bills
Pittsburgh Steelers 19, Buffalo Bills 16 (OT)
Maybin saw action off the bench, registering one tackle from his outside linebacker spot.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
New York Giants 24, Jacksonville Jaguars 20
McKenzie started at his regular right tackle spot, helping the Giants’ amass 361 yards of total offense while not allowing a sack of quarterback Eli Manning in a come-from-behind win over Jacksonville.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns 24, Carolina Panthers 23
Norwood is a member of the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad. He wears jersey No. 10.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 33, Oakland Raiders 17
Odrick was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 22 as a result of a left foot injury he suffered at the end of practice two days earlier. It was unrelated to the right leg injury that had kept the 2010 first-round pick out of the lineup since week one.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
New England Patriots 31, Indianapolis Colts 28>
Ohrnberger, listed on the depth chart as a back-up at right guard, was inactive for the game against the Steelers.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Buffalo Bills
Pittsburgh Steelers 19, Buffalo Bills 16 (OT)
Posluszny totaled eight tackles, including six solos, and one pass defensed in the Bills’ overtime loss to the Steelers.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Atlanta Falcons 20, Green Bay Packers 17
Quarless started at tight end for Green Bay, catching three passes for 35 yards, with a long of 19, versus Atlanta.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Kansas City Chiefs 42, Seattle Seahawks 24
Robinson was on the Seahawks’ inactive list for the fifth consecutive game.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Pittsburgh Steelers 19, Buffalo Bills 16 (OT)
Scott played but did not have a tackle in the Bills’ overtime loss to the Steelers.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Houston Texans 20, Tennessee Titans 0
Shaw collected one tackle on defense and one on special teams.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08), C, Philadelphia Eagles
Chicago Bears 31, Philadelphia Eagles 26
Shipley joined the Eagles in the 2010 offseason and spent the entire training camp and preseason with the team before signing to the practice squad.
Mickey Shuler (2007-09), TE, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 33, Oakland Raiders 17
Shuler was one of eight Dolphins on the inactive list for their road game with Oakland.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 33, Oakland Raiders 17
Wake registered two solo tackles, both for a loss, and had one sack, giving him a team-high 10.5 for the season.
Derrick Williams (2005-08), WR, Detroit Lions
New England Patriots 45, Detroit Lions 24
Williams started the game as part of Detroit’s three-receiver set, recording one reception for seven yards.
