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 13 of the 2010 season include Dallas rookie linebacker Sean Lee notching not only his first two career interceptions but also his first NFL touchdown, Miami linebacker Cameron Wake taking over the NFL lead with 12 sacks for the season, and Kansas City linebacker Tamba Hali recording two sacks and a forced and recovered fumble in a key divisional win. In other news, wide receiver Jordan Norwood was added to the Browns’ active roster but did not see action versus Miami.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 24, Detroit Lions 20
Adams started at nose tackle for the Bears, making one tackle.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
Green Bay Packers 34, San Francisco 49ers 16
Bowman recorded four total special teams tackles in the 49ers’ road loss to the Packers.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
St. Louis Rams 19, Arizona Cardinals 6
Brown started at left tackle in Arizona’s home loss to St. Louis.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks 31, Carolina Panthers 14
Butler tied for the team lead with four receptions, gaining a total of 43 yards.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars 17, Tennessee Titans 6
Collins, the longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion in his 16th professional season, started at quarterback for the Titans, completing 14-of-32 passes for 169 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Seattle Seahawks 31, Carolina Panthers 14
Connor suffered a season-ending hip injury in the first half of Carolina’s week nine loss to New Orleans. He was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 9. Connor had started all eight games in 2010, his first career starts in his third NFL season, and ranked third on the team with 59 tackles.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Atlanta Falcons 28, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24
Gilmore started as part of Tampa’s two tight end set, catching two passes for six yards, including a two-yard touchdown grab from running back Earnest Graham early in the fourth quarter.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 24, Detroit Lions 20
Gould connected on his only field goal attempt, nailing a 54-yarder late in the third quarter, and was 3-for-3 on PATs.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs 10, Denver Broncos 6
Hali was a defensive force for the Chiefs in their divisional win over Broncos, totaling four solo tackles, including two sacks of Denver QB Kyle Orton for a loss of 14 yards. In the critical fourth quarter of the close game, he singlehandedly ended a Broncos drive, forcing and recovering an Orton fumble.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams 19, Arizona Cardinals 6
Hull tore his anterior cruciate ligament during practice on Sept. 15. He was placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of his rookie season.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears 24, Detroit Lions 20
Johnson was inactive for the Lions’ week 13 divisional contest with the Bears.
Ed Johnson (2003-04, 2006), DT, Carolina Panthers
Seattle Seahawks 31, Carolina Panthers 14
Johnson saw time as a back-up on the defensive line for Carolina, making one tackle.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings 38, Buffalo Bills 14
Playing in a reserve role, Kennedy had one tackle in Minnesota’s dominating home win over Buffalo.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams 19, Arizona Cardinals 6
King played but did not have a tackle in St. Louis’ road win over Arizona.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys 38, Indianapolis Colts 35 (OT)
Lee had the best game of his promising young career in the Cowboys’ overtime win, as the rookie reserve linebacker made five total tackles (4 on defense, 1 on special teams) and intercepted Colts QB Peyton Manning twice. In the third quarter, Lee picked Manning off and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown, the first of his NFL career, to give Dallas a 27-14 lead. His second interception came in overtime and set up the Cowboys’ game-winning drive.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), LB, Buffalo Bills
Minnesota Vikings 38, Buffalo Bills 14
Maybin saw action but did not record a tackle.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
New York Giants 31, Washington Redskins 7
McKenzie started at his regular right tackle spot for the Giants, paving the way for 197 yards on the ground and four rushing touchdowns while not allowing a sack of QB Eli Manning, as he threw for 161 yards.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns 13, Miami Dolphins 10
Norwood was added to the Browns’ active roster on Nov. 30 but was on the inactive list for Cleveland’s win over Miami.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
Cleveland Browns 13, Miami Dolphins 10
Odrick was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 22 as a result of a left foot injury he suffered at the end of practice two days earlier. It was unrelated to the right leg injury that had kept the 2010 first-round pick out of the lineup since week one.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
New England Patriots 45, New York Jets 3
Ohrnberger, listed on the depth chart as a back-up at right guard, was inactive for the game against the Steelers.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Buffalo Bills
Minnesota Vikings 38, Buffalo Bills 14
Posluszny totaled a game-high 15 tackles, including 11 solos, and one sack for a loss of 10 yards.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 34, San Francisco 49ers 16
Quarless started at tight end for Green Bay, catching one pass for four yards.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks 31, Carolina Panthers 14
Robinson started at fullback, carrying the ball once for 14 yards and making one reception.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Minnesota Vikings 38, Buffalo Bills 14
Scott had one tackle in the Buffalo loss to Minnesota.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars 17, Tennessee Titans 6
Shaw collected one tackle on defense and one on special teams, forcing a fumble on the first play of the second half, a kickoff return by Jacksonville’s Deji Karim.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08), C, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles 34, Houston Texans 24
Shipley joined the Eagles in the 2010 offseason and spent the entire training camp and preseason with the team before signing to the practice squad.
Mickey Shuler (2007-09), TE, Miami Dolphins
Cleveland Browns 13, Miami Dolphins 10
Shuler was one of eight Dolphins on the inactive list for their home game with the Browns.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
Cleveland Browns 13, Miami Dolphins 10
Wake continued his brilliant season, registering four tackles (three solos) and 1.5 sacks for a loss of 12.5 yards. With 12 for the season, Wake leads the NFL in sacks.
Derrick Williams (2005-08), WR, Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears 24, Detroit Lions 20
Williams played but did not have a reception.
