The 2024 NFL Playoffs start on Saturday, and the Penn State Nittany Lions will be well represented by alumni now in the NFL. Here’s a list of the players competing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy this year.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills 

Joey Porter Jr. – CB Pittsburgh Steelers

Joey Porter Jr. didn’t see the field right away, but he made an impact in the Steelers secondary this season. Porter Jr. allowed only one touchdown this season, which equated to a passer rating allowed of 65.9, according to PFF. 

However, the grabbiness that Porter Jr. showed at Penn State didn’t go away. He was charged with 12 penalties this year despite getting his start in Week 8. That number is second among corners. The Steelers will need his best against the Bills’ dangerous passing attack, led by Stefon Diggs. 

Allen Robinson – WR Pittsburgh Steelers

Allen Robinson is a veteran mentor and stabilizing force in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ young, drama-laden wide receiver room. Gone are the days of his 1,000-yard seasons with sub-par quarterbacks. The former Penn State receiver is now a supplementary pass-catcher on a team with sub-par quarterbacks. He caught 34 passes for 280 yards this season with Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mich Trubisky. 

Despite that, Robinson didn’t drop a pass this season. 

Pat Freiermuth – TE Pittsburgh Steelers 

Former Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth took a step back this season in the Steelers offense for a multitude of reasons. The primary reason was an injury mid-season that shelved him for six weeks. The other was the firing of offensive coordinator Matt Canada, who loved feeding the big tight end targets – to the tune of 96 last season. 

The Bill’s defense is banged up, especially at linebacker, after backup Tyrel Dodson left the team’s Week 18 win with a shoulder injury. He was replacing Matt Milano, who broke his leg earlier in the year. 

Connor McGovern – LG Buffalo Bills

Connor McGovern and the Buffalo Bills are facing off against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday after the Bills won the AFC East against the Dolphins in the final regular season game of the year. McGovern played all but 28 snaps at left guard for the Bills this season and logged the sixth-most offensive snaps at his position this year. McGovern is known as a pass protector more than a run blocker in the NFL, which will be a challenge against the Steeler’s stingy front seven. Even without T.J. Watt this weekend, the cold, wind, and snow on Sunday might force the offensive battle to the ground for the Bills. 

DaQuan Jones – DT Buffalo Bills

Former Penn Stater DaQuan Jones was having a career renaissance in Buffalo and was one of the best defensive tackles in the league this past September. Then he tore his pec in the team’s fateful trip to London, where they also lost Milano. Before his injury, Jones racked up 13 pressures in two games against Washington and Miami. 

Miraculously, Jones returned in week 17 and played the year’s final two games. He’s a strong presence on the ground and holds down the nose tackle position for Buffalo. We’ll see if he can find that same spark as a pass rusher that he had earlier in the year. 

Bonus: Ryan Bates is the interior swing lineman for the Bills, primarily backing up center Mitch Morse.

Note from the author: Go Bills.

Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions

Rasheed Walker – LT Green Bay Packers

Rasheed Walker solidified himself as the Packers’ starting tackle this season after David Bakhtiari’s season ended early in week one. He started all but the first game and became a dependable blind-side protector for quarterback Jordan Love. PFF charged Walker with six sacks this season but the Packers became one of the most aggressive teams in the NFL ths season with Love under center. Love led the NFL with 81 deep passes and a 14.0% deep passing percentage. That mark is the highest percentage for a QB’s overall dropbacks who started all 17 games. 

Walker’s job facing the Dallas Cowboys won’t be easy this week.

Bonus: Former Penn State QB Sean Clifford is the backup in Green Bay.

Micah Parsons – EDGE Dallas Cowboys

If you haven’t, check out this in-depth breakdown of Parsons’ historic regular season. The dynamic edge rusher will face off against Walker and the Packers offensive line this weekend. He’s the type of player that can single-handedly change a game. Parsons only has five games with five or fewer pressures this season. Amazingly, Parsons only has five missed tackles this season. 

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccanneers

Chris Godwin – WR Tampa Bay Buccanneers 

Chirs Godwin had one of the quietest, 123 target seasons that a wide receiver could have. That target number ranked 19th among all NFL receivers and is the third most of his career. 

The issue is that the former Penn State receiver just crested 1,000 yards and only caught two touchdowns from new quarterback Baker Mayfield. However, Godwin could have a chance to go off against the struggling Philadelphia Eagles defense. It’s a very different unit than the one he saw in week three when he caught three passes for 32 yards when the Bucs lost 25-11. 

Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans

Juice Scruggs – LG Houston Texans 

Former Penn State center Juice Scruggs is the Texan’s team’s third left guard of the season. After both Kendrick Green and Tytus Howard suffered season-ending knee injuries, the rookie Penn Stater was thrust into the lineup in week 12. He’s held his own starting 439 snaps in seven weeks. The Cleveland defense is one of the most dangerous in the NFL, and defensive coordinator Jeff Schwartz likes to move All-Pro Myles Garrett around to find favorable matchups. We’ll see if Scruggs is up to the task. 

Adrian Amos – S Houston Texans

Adrian Amos played a reserve role for the New York Jets this year, but they cut him in a surprising move after week 12. He signed with the Texans shortly after and played sparingly in the season’s final month. 

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins 

Donovan Smith – LT Kansas City Chiefs 

Donovan Smith played 13 weeks at left tackle for the Chiefs in 2023 after his eight years in Tampa Bay were up. An injury against Green Bay forced him to the sideline for the rest of the regular season, but he’ll be back to suit up for the playoffs. He’s going up against a decimated pass rush from the Dolphins that has lost Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and Andrew Van Ginkle this year. 

Smith allowed only two sacks all year but did surrender 33 pressures, which is the second most in the last six seasons for him, despite missing games. 

Penn State players on a bye

Ji’Ayir Brown stepped in after an injury in the San Francisco 49ers secondary and started five games down the stretch for the NFC regular season champs. However, a knee sprain forced him out of the lineup for the season’s final two games. Brown was up to his old tricks, getting his hands on the football like he did at Penn State. Brown picked off two passes during his extended playing time with the 49ers. 

Former Penn State defensive tackle Kevin Givens continues to be a presence on the 49ers’ defensive line as a rotational defensive tackle. He tallied 14 pressures and two sacks on 258 pass-rushing snaps this season. Those numbers are almost exactly in line with the last two seasons. 

Over in the AFC, Odafe Oweh has a bye week with the Baltimore Ravens. Oweh put together his best season as a pro, with 51 pressures as a rotational defensive end for the Ravens. He did that on 100 fewer rushing snaps than last season.