UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With 31 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 three of the 2011 season include another standout performance by Dallas’ Sean Lee, this time on a national Monday Night Football stage, and continued strong play from St. Louis’ Justin King. In other news, Lee’s and Navorro Bowman’s brilliant starts to the 2011 season have them ranked No. 2 and No. 4 in the NFL in tackles, respectively, and Stefen Wisniewski has helped the Raiders’ rushing attack ascend to No. 1 in the NFL.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Green Bay Packers 27, Chicago Bears 17
Adams played as a reserve nose tackle, making one tackle.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers 13, Cincinnati Bengals 8
A starter at inside linebacker, Bowman led the San Francisco defense with 11 tackles (7 solos) and added two stops on special teams in the 49ers’ road win over Cincinnati. Bowman ranks fourth in the NFL with 30 tackles this season.
Brett Brackett (2007-10), TE, Miami Dolphins
Cleveland Browns 17, Miami Dolphins 16
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
Seattle Seahawks 13, Arizona Cardinals 10
Brown made his 62nd career start, anchoring the Cardinals’ offensive line from his left tackle spot.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks 13, Arizona Cardinals 10
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
Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Indianapolis Colts 20
Collins started at quarterback, completing 13-of-29 passes for 93 yards before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with concussion symptoms. Collins is the longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion, playing in his 17th professional season.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers 16, Jacksonville Jaguars 10
Connor started his second consecutive game at middle linebacker, making six tackles (4 solos), including one for a loss.
Lou Eliades (2008-10), OT, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders 34, New York Jets 24
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 40, Houston Texans 33
Gilmore played but did not have a catch in New Orleans’ win over Houston.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Green Bay Packers 27, Chicago Bears 17
Gould remained perfect on the year, connecting on his lone field goal attempt, a 25-yarder, and two PATs.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
San Diego Chargers 20, Kansas City Chiefs 17
Hali had six tackles, including four solos, and sacked Chargers’ QB Philip Rivers once for a loss of five yards.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
Baltimore Ravens 37, St. Louis Rams 7
Hull played but did not have a tackle in the Rams’ loss to Baltimore.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Houston Texans
New Orleans Saints 40, Houston Texans 33
Johnson played did not have a catch in the Houston loss to New Orleans.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, New York Giants
New York Giants 29, Philadelphia Eagles 16
Kennedy, a back-up defensive lineman for the Giants, had one tackle in New York’s key divisional win over the Eagles.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
Baltimore Ravens 37, St. Louis Rams 7
King contributed another strong performance to the Rams’ defense, tying for the team lead with six tackles. He had had two passes defensed and forced a fumble of Ravens’ QB Joe Flacco in the first quarter.
Dennis Landolt (2007-09), OT, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints 40, Houston Texans 33
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 18, Washington Redskins 16
Starting at outside linebacker, Lee added another stellar performance to his outstanding 2011 season, shining under the bright lights of Monday Night Football. Lee led the Cowboys with eight total tackles (4 solos) and had two passes defense, one fumble recovery, and intercepted Redskins’ QB Rex Grossman early in the second quarter. Lee ranks second in the NFL with 31 tackles.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
New York Giants 29, Philadelphia Eagles 16
McKenzie made his 140th start at right tackle for New York on Sunday, paving the way as Giants’ running backs pounded out 4.1 yards per carry and protecting Eli Manning as he threw for 254 yards and four touchdowns.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns 17, Miami Dolphins 16
Norwood did not have a catch in the Cleveland win over Miami but returned one punt for six yards.
Ollie Ogbu (2007-10), DT, Indianapolis Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Indianapolis Colts 20
Ogbu is a member of the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
Cleveland Browns 17, Miami Dolphins 16
Odrick started at left defensive end versus the Browns but did not record a tackle.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
Buffalo Bills 34, New England Patriots 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 17, Miami Dolphins 16
Paxson saw time in the Browns’ defensive line rotation, registering two assisted tackles.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Carolina Panthers 16, Jacksonville Jaguars 10
Posluszny, the Jaguars’ starting middle linebacker, had five tackles (1 TFL) in the loss to Carolina.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 27, Chicago Bears 17
Quarless saw playing time but did not have a catch in Green Bay’s road win over rival Chicago.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks 13, Arizona Cardinals 10
Robinson was on the Seahawks’ inactive list for their game with Arizona.
Evan Royster (2007-10), RB, Washington Redskins
Dallas Cowboys 18, Washington Redskins 16
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 34, New England Patriots 31
Scott started at linebacker, finishing third on the team with 10 total tackles (6 solos) and helping Buffalo to end a 15-game losing streak against the Patriots that dated to 2003. Scott also recorded one of the Bills’ four interceptions on the day, picking off New England QB and reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady in the second quarter.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans 17, Denver Broncos 14
Shaw tallied one special teams tackle in Tennessee’s second consecutive win.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
Cleveland Browns 17, Miami Dolphins 16
Wake posted two quarterback hits in the Dolphins’ loss to Cleveland.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10), OL, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders 34, New York Jets 24
Entrenched as Oakland’s starting left guard just three games into his NFL career, Wisniewski has helped establish the Raiders’ rushing attack as tops in the league, averaging 185 yards per game. The potent Oakland offense is also averaging over 30 points per game.
