UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With 30 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 six of the 2011 season include Linebacker U. flexing its muscles, as Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman continued to perform at a Pro Bowl level while Paul Posluszny recorded a season-high in tackles. In other news, Chicago kicker Robbie Gould maintained his perfect 2011 season.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 39, Minnesota Vikings 10
Adams started at nose tackle, recording two solo tackles.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers 25, Detroit Lions 19
Bowman had another strong outing as the 49ers knocked the Lions from the ranks of the unbeaten. He led San Francisco with 13 tackles (8 solos), including one for a loss, and had one quarterback hit and one pass defensed. Bowman also made a special teams tackle.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
BYE
Brown has made his 64 career starts for the Cardinals, serving as the anchor of Arizona’s offensive line from his left tackle spot.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
BYE
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
Cincinnati Bengals 27, Indianapolis Colts 17
Collins was inactive for the third consecutive game after suffering a concussion in week three. Collins is the longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion, playing in his 17th professional season.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Atlanta Falcons 31, Carolina Panthers 17
Connor finished second on the team with six tackles, including four solo stops, in Carolina’s loss to the Falcons.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26, New Orleans Saints 20
Gilmore played but did not have a catch in New Orleans’ loss to Tampa Bay.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 39, Minnesota Vikings 10
Gould remained perfect on the season, connecting on field goals of 51, 26, and 22 yards and converting on all four of his PATs.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
BYE
Hali ranks third on the team in total tackles with 29 and leads the Chiefs with four sacks through the season’s first five games.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
Green Bay Packers 24, St. Louis Rams 3
Hull recorded one special teams tackle in the Rams’ loss to the Packers.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Houston Texans
Baltimore Ravens 29, Houston Texans 14
Johnson played but did not have a catch in the Texans’ loss to Baltimore.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, New York Giants
New York Giants 27, Buffalo Bills 24
Kennedy was inactive for the Giants’ game with Buffalo.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
Green Bay Packers 24, St. Louis Rams 3
King had four tackles (2 solos) and one pass defensed against the Packers’ potent air attack.
Dennis Landolt (2007-09), OT, New York Jets
New York Jets 24, Miami Dolphins 6
After spending the first four weeks of the 2011 NFL season on the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad, Landolt was added to the New York Jets’ practice squad on October 5. He will wear jersey number 76.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
New England Patriots 20, Dallas Cowboys 16
Lee led Dallas with 12 total tackles (6 solos), including two for a loss, and recorded his third interception of the season, tops among NFL linebackers.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), LB, New York Jets
New York Jets 24, Miami Dolphins 6
Maybin continued his strong play since joining the Jets, registering two tackles and one sack for a loss of four yards. He also forced two fumbles.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
New York Giants 27, Buffalo Bills 24
McKenzie made his 143rd start at right tackle for New York on Sunday, protecting quarterback Eli Manning as he threw for 292 yards and paving the way as running back Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 104 yards and three touchdowns.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Oakland Raiders 24, Cleveland Browns 17
Norwood played but did not have a catch in Cleveland’s loss to Oakland.
Ollie Ogbu (2007-10), DT, Indianapolis Colts
Cincinnati Bengals 27, Indianapolis Colts 17
Ogbu is a member of the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
New York Jets 24, Miami Dolphins 6
Odrick played but did not record a tackle in Miami’s Monday night loss to the Jets.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
New England Patriots 20, Dallas Cowboys 16
Ohrnberger was placed on injured reserve on September 3 and will miss the 2011 season.
Scott Paxson (2003-05), OG, Cleveland Browns
Oakland Raiders 24, Cleveland Browns 17
Seeing action in the Browns’ defensive line rotation, Paxson made one solo tackle.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Pittsburgh Steelers 17, Jacksonville Jaguars 13
Posluszny had a game and season high 16 total tackles, including nine solo stops, in his return to Pennsylvania, as the Jaguars’ fell at Pittsburgh.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 24, St. Louis Rams 3
Quarless was on the inactive list for the second consecutive week as he recovers from a minor knee injury.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
BYE
Robinson, Seattle’s starting fullback, has carried the ball four times and caught one pass five games into the 2011 season.
Evan Royster (2007-10), RB, Washington Redskins
Philadelphia Eagles 20, Washington Redskins 13
Royster, Penn State’s all-time leading rusher, is a member of the Washington Redskins’ practice squad.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
New York Giants 27, Buffalo Bills 24
Scott totaled three tackles in the Bills’ loss to the Giants.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
BYE
A cornerstone of the Tennessee special teams units, Shaw has made two tackles and blocked a punt through five games.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
New York Jets 24, Miami Dolphins 6
Wake made two solo tackles, including one for a loss, in the Dolphins’ Monday night loss to the Jets.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10), OL, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders 24, Cleveland Browns 17
Wisniewski made his sixth consecutive start at left guard in his rookie NFL season, helping the Raiders to their fourth win of the season. Oakland’s offense is ranked No. 2 in the NFL in rushing, averaging 160.0 yards per game.
