Penn State in the NFL: Week Six
The Penn State football program has always been known for having great talent. More often than not that great talent carries over into the NFL. Penn State is represented on Sundays by an array of football players especially at the linebacker position. There are currently 25 former Penn State football players on NFL rosters.
Starting San Francisco 49ers linebacker Navorro Bowman, who has been in the league for four seasons, has had a pretty solid year. Through five games he’s had 47 combined tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. The former Penn State Nittany Lion is known as one of the best linebackers to come out of Linebacker U.
Bowman is known for his speed and quickness to the ball as well as his ability to make the tackle. This ability has carried over well into the NFL making him one of the best linebackers for the 49ers, next to Pro Bowl linebacker, Patrick Willis.
Other linebackers Micheal Mauti and Gerald Hodges, who were both drafted in this year’s NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings, have played in a combined three games this season. Mauti has had two tackles, while Hodges has tallied one. The two rookies do have a bright career ahead of them, as they transition into the next level.
In terms of stats he is not amongst the caliber of a Navorro Bowman, but Miami Dolphins defensive end, Cameron Wake remains a constant playmaker. Through four games played this year, Wake has totaled five tackles and two and a half sacks. He has been fighting an MCL sprain this season, which caused him to miss his first game since his debut with the Dolphins.
Kicker Robbie Gould of the Chicago Bears has had one the best NFL careers amongst Penn State football players in the past decade. In his ninth year in the league, he has also been one of the best kickers in the entire NFL. He has played in 128 total games racking up 294 PAT’s, and 218 field goals for a total of 948 points. Through 2013 he has made ten field goals and 16 extra points. He is known to Penn State fans as one the best kickers to ever play inside Beaver Stadium and it has shown on the gridirons of the NFL.
