UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Former Penn State men's lacrosse midfield standout and current New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan and his team claimed the Lombardi trophy on Sunday night, as the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI, 34-28.
Penn State has had at least one representative in 46 of 51 Super Bowls and 101 appearances overall. Thirty-nine Nittany Lions have now claimed 56 Super Bowl rings, with Hogan being the most recent player to do so. Hogan is also the first and only Penn State men's lacrosse player to compete in the Super Bowl. Thirty-six of the 51 all-time Super Bowl winners have had at least one Penn State player on the roster.
Hogan hauled in four receptions for 57 yards in the NFL's championship game.
Hogan, a three-year starter at midfield for the Nittany Lions' men's lacrosse team, played in 43 career games, amassing 57 career goals and 14 assists for 71 career points. After a strong freshman campaign, Hogan's sophomore season was cut short due to injury and he was granted a medical redshirt. Hogan returned for his junior season in what would prove to be his strongest statistical year of collegiate lacrosse, leading the team with 29 goals and earning first team All-ECAC honors in 2009. The Wyckoff, New Jersey, native finished his Penn State career with 15 goals and nine assists in his final season, garnering second-team All-CAA recognition.
Hogan completed his bachelor's degree in communications arts and sciences, graduating from Penn State in May 2010.
Following his graduation, Hogan used his final year of eligibility as a wide receiver and defensive back for Monmouth University in his home state of New Jersey. Hogan played in 11 games during the 2010 season. On offense, he totaled 12 receptions for 147 yards and three touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, Hogan logged a team-high three interceptions and made 28 tackles.
Following his time at Monmouth, Hogan had stints on the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants and Miami Dolphins' practice squads before earning a spot on the Buffalo Bills' active roster on Dec. 18, 2012. Hogan hauled in six touchdown catches in 48 games played for the Bills before signing with the Patriots last spring.
Hogan has 955 receiving yards on 51 receptions this season (regular season and postseason combined), while logging six touchdowns. All three are career-bests.
Penn State is the nation's only college or university with two non-football student-athletes on NFL rosters. Former Nittany Lion basketball forward Ross Travis is a tight end with the Kansas City Chiefs. UC-Irvine, Kent State, LSU, Miami (Fla.), UTSA and UW-Milwaukee have one non-football athlete on active rosters, according to the NFL.