UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — 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. Highlights from week two of the 2011 season include two Linebacker U. products going head-to-head in a tackling showdown and another strong effort from Justin King. In other news, Mike Munchak (1979, 81) won his first game as an NFL head coach, leading the Tennessee Titans to an upset win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
New Orleans Saints 30, Chicago Bears 13
Adams played as a reserve nose tackle, making one assisted tackle.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
Dallas Cowboys 27, San Francisco 49ers 24
Getting the start again at one of the inside linebacker spots in San Francisco’s 3-4 defense, Bowman gave a strong effort versus the Cowboys, recording a game-high 10 tackles, including nine solos, and one pass defensed.
Brett Brackett (2007-10), TE, Miami Dolphins
Houston Texans 23, Miami Dolphins 13
After making a successful transition from college wide receiver to pro tight end, Brackett has earned a spot on the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
Washington Redskins 22, Arizona Cardinals 21
Brown made his 61st career start, anchoring the Cardinals’ offensive line from his left tackle spot.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Seattle Seahawks 0
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
Cleveland Browns 27, Indianapolis Colts 19
The longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion, in his 17th professional season, Collins completed 19-of-38 passes for 191 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in his second game as the Colts’ starting quarterback.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Green Bay Packers 30, Carolina Panthers 23
Connor started at middle linebacker, recording two solo tackles.
Lou Eliades (2008-10), OT, Oakland Raiders
Buffalo Bills 38, Oakland Raiders 35
Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Raiders on July 28, Eliades was placed on injured reserve in late August.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints 30, Chicago Bears 13
Gilmore saw his first game action as a member of the Saints but did not have a catch.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
New Orleans Saints 30, Chicago Bears 13
Gould remained perfect on the year, connecting on both of his field goal attempts, from 38 and 42 yards, and his lone PAT.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Detroit Lions 48, Kansas City Chiefs 3
Hali had six tackles, including three solos, and registered a game-high four quarterback hits from his right outside linebacker spot.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
New York Giants 28, St. Louis Rams 16
Hull played but did not have a tackle in the Rams’ Monday night loss to the Giants.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Houston Texans
Houston Texans 23, Miami Dolphins 13
Johnson caught his first pass as a Houston Texan on Sunday, gaining 16 yards on the reception.
Larry Johnson (1999-02), RB, Miami Dolphins
Houston Texans 23, Miami Dolphins 13
Johnson had one carry for two yards in Miami’s loss to Houston.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, New York Giants
New York Giants, St. Louis Rams
Kennedy, a back-up defensive lineman for the Giants, made one assisted tackle in New York’s Monday night win over St. Louis.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
New York Giants 28, St. Louis Rams 16
King continued his strong start to the 2011 season, finishing second on the team with nine tackles (8 solos).
Dennis Landolt (2007-09), OT, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints 30, Chicago Bears 13
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
Dallas Cowboys 27, San Francisco 49ers 24
Starting at outside linebacker, Lee continued his brilliant early-season play, making a team-high 10 tackles, including eight solos and two for a loss, in the Cowboys’ come-from-behind win over the 49ers.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
New York Giants 28, St. Louis Rams 16
McKenzie made his 139th start at right tackle in New York’s Monday night win over St. Louis.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns 27, Indianapolis Colts 19
Norwood saw action but did not have a catch in the Cleveland win.
Ollie Ogbu (2007-10), DT, Indianapolis Colts
Cleveland Browns 27, Indianapolis Colts 19
Ogbu is a member of the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
Houston Texans 23, Miami Dolphins 13
Odrick saw time as a reserve defensive tackle, notching two solo tackles.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
New England Patriots 35, San Diego Chargers 31
Ohrnberger was placed on injured reserve on September 3 and will miss the 2011 season.
Scott Paxson (2003-05), OG, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns 27, Indianapolis Colts 19
Paxson saw time in the Browns’ defensive line rotation but did not record a tackle.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
New York Jets 32, Jacksonville Jaguars 3
Posluszny, the Jaguars’ starting middle linebacker, led the Jacksonville defense with eight total tackles.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 30, Carolina Panthers 23
Quarless played but did not have a catch in Green Bay’s road win over Carolina.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Seattle Seahawks 0
Robinson was on the Seahawks’ inactive list for their game with Pittsburgh.
Evan Royster (2007-10), RB, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins 22, Arizona Cardinals 21
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 38, Oakland Raiders 35
Scott played as a defensive backfield reserve, making one tackle. He also notched one stop on special teams.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans 26, Baltimore Ravens 13
Shaw saw action on special teams but did not record a tackle.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
Houston Texans 23, Miami Dolphins 13
One of the NFL’s premiere pass rushers, Wake notched his second sack of the season, taking down Houston’s Matt Schaub for a five-yard loss. Wake totaled three tackles on the day.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10), OL, Oakland Raiders
Buffalo Bills 38, Oakland Raiders 35
In his second NFL game as Oakland’s starting left guard, Wisniewski helped the Raiders’ offense rack up a total of 454 yards, including 323 through the air, in a shootout loss to the Bills.
