UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — 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 seven of the 2011 season include standout defensive performances by Dan Connor, Cameron Wake, Jared Odrick, and Aaron Maybin. In other news, Chicago Bears Anthony Adams and Robbie Gould travel overseas to London to pick up a conference win over Tampa Bay and Andrew Quarless and the defending Super Bowl Champions Green Bay Packers head into the bye week with the NFL’s only perfect record.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 18
Adams started at nose tackle, recording two solo tackles, including one for a loss, in the Bears’ win over the Buccaneers at Wimbley Stadium in London.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
BYE
Bowman leads the 49ers defense, which is ranked 11th in the NFL in total yardage, in total tackles (56) and solo tackles (43). San Francisco is 5-1 and in first place in the NFC West.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
Pittsburgh Steelers 32, Arizona Cardinals 20
Brown made his 65th career start for Arizona, anchoring its offensive line from his left tackle spot, as the Cardinals totaled 330 yards against the Pittsburgh defense, including 272 through the air.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
Cleveland Browns 6, Seattle Seahawks 3
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
New Orleans 62, Indianapolis Colts 7
Collins, the longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion, playing in his 17th professional season, was inactive for the fourth straight game.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers 33, Washington Redskins 20
Connor finished second on the team with 10 tackles, including eight solo stops, in Carolina’s win over Washington.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans 62, Indianapolis Colts 7
Gilmore played but did not have a catch in New Orleans’ blowout win over Indianapolis.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 18
Playing at Wimbley Stadium in London, Gould made a 25-yard field goal but missed his first attempt of the season, a 41-yarder, wide right. He was 3-of-3 in PATs in the Bears’ overseas win.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs 28, Oakland Raiders 0
Hali had one tackle and two quarterback hits in Kansas City’s shutout win over Oakland.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
Dallas Cowboys 34, St. Louis Rams 7
Hull saw action but did not have a tackle in the Rams’ loss to the Cowboys.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Houston Texans
Houston Texans 41, Tennessee Titans 7
Johnson had one reception for six yards in Houston’s rout of Tennessee.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, New York Giants
BYE
Heading into the bye week, Kennedy and the Giants are 4-2 and in first place in the NFC East.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
Dallas Cowboys 34, St. Louis Rams 7
King started at left cornerback, making two solo tackles.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys 34, St. Louis Rams 7
Lee made four tackles (two solos), including one for a loss, in the Cowboys’ win over the Rams.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), LB, New York Jets
New York Jets 27, San Diego Chargers 21
Maybin continued his strong play since joining the Jets, registering two tackles (one solo) and one sack for a loss of seven yards.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
BYE
McKenzie and the Giants are 4-2 and in first place in the NFC East. Mackenzie has made 143 starts at right tackle for New York.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns 6, Seattle Seahawks 3
Norwood played but did not have a catch in Cleveland’s win over Seattle.
Ollie Ogbu (2007-10), DT, Indianapolis Colts
New Orleans 62, Indianapolis Colts 7
Ogbu is a member of the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
Denver Broncos 18, Miami Dolphins 15
Odrick made three solo tackles and sacked Denver quarterback Tim Tebow once for a loss of four yards.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
BYE
Ohrnberger was placed on injured reserve on September 3 and will miss the 2011 season.
Scott Paxson (2003-05), OG, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns 6, Seattle Seahawks 3
Seeing action in the Browns’ defensive line rotation, Paxson made one solo tackle.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars 12, Baltimore Ravens 7
Posluszny recorded four solo tackles, helping the Jacksonville defense to hold Baltimore without a first down until late in the third quarter and limit the Ravens’ offense to 148 total yards.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 33, Minnesota Vikings 27
After missing the last two games with a minor knee injury, Quarless returned to the line-up, recording one reception for 21 yards, as the Packers moved to 7-0 entering their bye week.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Cleveland Browns 6, Seattle Seahawks 3
Robinson played but did not have a carry or reception in Seattle’s loss to Cleveland.
Evan Royster (2007-10), RB, Washington Redskins
Carolina Panthers 33, Washington Redskins 20
Royster, Penn State’s all-time leading rusher, is a member of the Washington Redskins’ practice squad.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
BYE
Scott ranks fourth on the Bills in total tackles with 32 (24 solos) and has one sack.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Houston Texans 41, Tennessee Titans 7
Shaw played but did not record a tackle.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
Denver Broncos 18, Miami Dolphins 15
Wake recorded four solos tackles, two sacks for a loss of nine yards, and one pass defensed in Miami’s loss to the Broncos.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10), OL, Oakland Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs 28, Oakland Raiders 0
Wisniewski made his seventh consecutive start at left guard in his rookie NFL season. The Raiders totaled 322 yards of offense, including 155 on the ground, versus the Chiefs but could not put any points on the board.