How Many Penn State Players Are In The Nfl?

The answer might surprise you. Check out our blog to see how many Nittany Lions are in the NFL.

Introduction

Penn State has a long and storied tradition of sending players to the NFL. In fact, over 300 Penn State alums have played in the NFL, dating back to the league’s inception in 1920.

While that number may seem like a lot, it’s actually just a fraction of the total number of Penn State players who have been drafted by NFL teams. In total, Penn State has had over 60 players drafted into the NFL since 2000.

And of those 60 drafted players, a handful have gone on to have illustrious careers in the NFL. Players like Aaron Maybin, Jimmy Kennedy, Jared Odrick, and Tamba Hali have all become household names among NFL fans.

So how many active Penn State players are there in the NFL? The answer is 33. As of the 2019-2020 season, there are 33 Penn State alumni playing in the NFL.

History of Penn State Football

Penn State Football has a long and storied history. The program began in 1887 and has been a powerhouse ever since. They have won two National Championships, in 1982 and 1986, and have been crowned Big Ten Champions an astounding 24 times. Penn State has produced some of the greatest players in College Football history, including Heisman Trophy winners John Cappelletti and Mike Reid. The Nittany Lions have also had great success in the NFL, with over 50 Penn State players being drafted into the league since the 1950’s. Some of the most notable Penn State products in the NFL include Hall of Famer Franco Harris, defensive stalwart LaVar Arrington, and Super Bowl champion Daryl Talley.

The Joe Paterno Era

Joe Paterno coached the Nittany Lions from 1966 to 2011, compiling a 409–136–3 record in his 45 seasons at the helm. Under Paterno, Penn State won two national championships (1982 and 1986), four Big Ten Conference titles (in 1994, 2005, 2008, and 2009), and produced 38 first-team All-Americans, 171 first-team All-Big Ten selections, and 18 Academic All-Americans.Paterno was fired by the university on November 9, 2011, in the wake of the child sex abuse scandal involving his former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Because of Paterno’s successes during his time at Penn State, he is often considered one of the greatest coaches of all time by many sportswriters and analysts.

In 2006, Sporting News named Paterno the “greatest coach ever” in college football. In 2007 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor—by President George W. Bush.

The Post-Paterno Era

Since the 2011 season, sixty-six Penn State Nittany Lions have been selected in the NFL Draft. The most recent first-round pick was defensive end Carl Nassib, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2016. In total, fourteen Penn State players have been drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft.

The most successful Penn State player in the NFL is currently safety Malcolm Jenkins, who has been selected to six Pro Bowls and was a member of the New Orleans Saints team that won Super Bowl XLIV. Quarterback Kerry Collins is also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2019.

NFL Penn State Players

There have been sixty-four NFL Penn State Players drafted since the common draft began in 1967. This does not include undrafted free agents, and try-out invitees who did not make the team. Twenty-one of those sixty-four players were drafted in the first round.

Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley is an NFL running back for the New York Giants. He was drafted in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Barkley played college football at Penn State, where he was a two-time consensus All-American.

Mike Gesicki

Mike Gesicki (born October 3, 1995) is an American football tight end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dolphins in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State.

DaeSean Hamilton

DaeSean Hamilton (born January 1, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State, and was drafted by the Broncos in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Troy Apke

Troy Apke (born July 20, 1995) is an American football safety for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State.

Conclusion

As of the 2019 NFL season, there are a total of 42 former Penn State Nittany Lions players on active NFL rosters. While this number may seem small, it is actually tied for the 10th most of any college program in the country.