Athletics

Thirty-seven former Nittany Lions on NFL training camp rosters

Credit: Penn State AthleticsAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A total of 37 Penn State football alumni are populating the training camp rosters of 23 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions annually are among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL. In addition, six former Nittany Lions are members of NFL coaching staffs, three of whom coach the running backs.

The Jacksonville Jaguars boast a league-high four former Nittany Lions, including 10-year veteran and Pro Bowl linebacker Paul Posluszny, Pro Bowl wide receiver Allen Robinson, seven-year veteran Jared Odrick and newly-signed kicker Sam Ficken.

The Miami Dolphins ad New York Jets each have three former Penn State players on their rosters, while seven teams — Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans — each have two Penn State alums.

Nine players from Penn State's 2015 squad are vying to make NFL squads as rookies: Tarow Barney (New York Jets), Kyle Carter (Minnesota), Christian Hackenberg (New York Jets), Austin Johnson (Tennessee), Brandon Johnson (Pittsburgh), Jordan Lucas (Miami), Carl Nassib (Cleveland), Trevor Williams (San Diego) and Anthony Zettel (Detroit).

Penn State has had 44 NFL Draft picks since 2006, including 20 in the first three rounds, and at least three NFL Draft picks 18 times since starting Big Ten Conference competition in 1993. A total of 343 Nittany Lions have been selected all-time in the NFL Draft.

Twelve-year veteran and Chicago Bears All-Pro placekicker Robbie Gould is Penn State's elder statesman in the NFL. Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro linebacker Tamba Hali, who is entering his 11th professional season, is second in longevity, followed by Posluszny and eight-year professionals Jordan Norwood (Denver) and Cameron Wake (Miami).

For the 45th time in the Super Bowl’s 50-game history, at least one Penn State alumnus was a member of one of the participating teams (19 times in last 21 years). Thirty-eight former Nittany Lions have earned a total of 55 Super Bowl rings, most recently Jordan Norwood with Denver last year. A total of 106 Nittany Lions have been on Super Bowl rosters.

Six former Nittany Lions are members of NFL coaching staffs: Gary Brown (Dallas, running backs); Bobby Engram (Baltimore, wide receivers); John McNulty (San Diego, tight ends); Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Munchak (Pittsburgh, offensive line); Jeff Nixon (San Francisco, tight ends) and Darren Perry (Green Bay, safeties).

In addition, former Penn State quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell is in his third season as head coach of the Detroit Lions.

Last Updated August 5, 2016