With 32 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. Top performances from week one of the 2011 season include standout defensive back play from Bryan Scott and Justin King, highlight-reel interception returns by Sean Lee and Jared Odrick, and Stefen Wisniewski carrying on a family tradition by earning a starting spot on the Oakland Raiders’ offensive line.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 30, Atlanta Falcons 12
Adams played as a reserve nose tackle, registering two tackles.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers 33, Seattle Seahawks 17
Getting the start at one of the inside linebacker spots in San Francisco’s 3-4 defense, Bowman tied for the team lead in tackles with six, including two for a loss.
Brett Brackett (2007-10), TE, Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots 38, Miami Dolphins 24
After making a successful transition from college wide receiver to pro tight end, Brackett earned a spot on the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals 28, Carolina Panthers 21
In his fifth season with the Cardinals, Brown made his 60th start, anchoring the offensive line from his left tackle spot.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers 33, Seattle Seahawks 17
Butler is currently on Seattle’s physically unable to perform (PUP) list, meaning he will miss the first six weeks of the 2011 season. Butler is still recovering from a broken leg suffered late in 2010.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Indianapolis Colts
Houston Texans 34, Indianapolis Colts 7
The longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion, in his 17th professional season, Collins completed 16-of-31 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown in his first game as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Arizona Cardinals 28, Carolina Panthers 21
Despite not starting, Connor finished second on the team in total tackles with six, including a team-high five solos.
Lou Eliades (2008-10), OT, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders 23, Denver Broncos 20
Signed as an undrafted free agent on July 28, Eliades was placed on injured reserve in late August with an undisclosed injury.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, New Orleans Saints
Green Bay Packers 42, New Orleans Saints 34
Gilmore was on the inactive list for New Orleans’ season opener.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 30, Atlanta Falcons 12
Gould converted on all of his kicking opportunities versus the Falcons, connecting on field goals of 23, 26, and 41 yards and three PATs.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Buffalo Bills 41, Kansas City Chiefs 7
Starting at right outside linebacker in the Chiefs’ defensive 3-4 scheme, Hali made six total tackles, including two TFLs, and had one sack for a loss of seven yards.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
Philadelphia Eagles 31, St. Louis Rams 13
Hull played but did not have a tackle in the Rams’ 2011 season opener.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Houston Texans
Houston Texans 34, Indianapolis Colts 7
Johnson saw action but did not have a catch in his Texans debut.
Larry Johnson (1999-02), RB, Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots 38, Miami Dolphins 24
In his first game as a member of the Miami Dolphins, Johnson played but did not have carry.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, New York Giants
Washington Redskins 28, New York Giants 14
Kennedy, a back-up defensive lineman for the Giants, made one assisted tackle in the season opener.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
Philadelphia Eagles 31, St. Louis Rams 13
King had a big day on defense for the Rams, finishing second on the team with seven solo tackles, including three for a loss and one sack.
Dennis Landolt (2007-09), OT, New Orleans Saints
Green Bay Packers 42, New Orleans Saints 34
A former member of the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Jets, practice squads, Landolt was signed to the New Orleans Saints practice squad on September 5.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
New York Jets 27, Dallas Cowboys 24
Starting at outside linebacker, Lee made plays all over the field for Dallas, registering a team-high 11 tackles, including nine solos. He was also involved in two turnovers. Late in the third quarter, Lee intercepted Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and returned the ball 37 yards to New York’s one-yard line, just missing out on his first career touchdown. Then, in the fourth quarter, Lee recovered a Sanchez fumble.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
Washington Redskins 28, New York Giants 14
McKenzie, in his seventh season with the Giants, made his 138th start at right tackle in New York’s season opening loss to division rival Washington.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals 27, Cleveland Browns 17
Norwood caught one pass for six yards in the Browns’ season opening loss to the in-state rival Cincinnati Bengals.
Ollie Ogbu (2007-10), DT, Indianapolis Colts
Houston Texans 34, Indianapolis Colts 7
Ogbu is a member of the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots 38, Miami Dolphins 24
Odrick earned the start at defensive tackle for Miami, recording two tackles, but it was his first career interception that made the 2011 season opener memorable. Early in the third quarter, Odrick picked off a deflected Tom Brady pass and rumbled 39 yards to the Patriots nine-yard line, setting up a game-tying touchdown.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
Ohrnberger was placed on injured reserve on September 3 and will miss the 2011 season.
Scott Paxson (2003-05), OG, Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals 27, Cleveland Browns 17
Paxson saw time in the Browns’ defensive line rotation but did not record a tackle.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars 16, Tennessee Titans 14
Posluszny totaled four tackles and one pass defensed in his debut as the Jacksonville Jaguars starting middle linebacker.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 42, New Orleans Saints 34
Quarless did not have a catch on offense but was active on special teams, throwing a key block on Randall Cobb’s NFL record-tying 108-yard kickoff return.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers 33, Seattle Seahawks 17
Robinson carried once for two yards in Seattle’s opening weekend loss to San Francisco.
Evan Royster (2007-10), RB, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins 28, New York Giants 14
After running for 110 yards and one touchdown in the preseason, Royster, Penn State’s all-time leading rusher, was signed to the Redskins’ practice squad.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills 41, Kansas City Chiefs 7
Scott started at cornerback in Buffalo’s rout of Kansas City, finishing with a team-high eight tackles, including three for a loss, and one sack.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars 16, Tennessee Titans 14
Shaw saw action on special teams but did not record a tackle.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots 38, Miami Dolphins 24
One of the NFL’s premiere pass rushers, Wake started the 2011 season by sacking Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady once for a loss of one yard and registering three tackles.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10), OL, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders 23, Denver Broncos 20
Earning the start at left guard in his first career NFL game, Wisniewski paved the way for Oakland running back Darren McFadden as he rushed for 150 yards, helping the Raiders’ gain a key win over division rival Denver.