Penn State Football News

12-20-06

Former Nittany Lion Standouts Gould & Johnson Named All-Pro

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; December 20, 2006 – A pair of former Penn State standouts have been selected to play in the 2007 Pro Bowl.

Placekicker Robbie Gould (Chicago) and tailback Larry Johnson (Kansas City) were selected to play in the February 10, 2007 contest in Honolulu. Johnson, who is second in the NFL in rushing, will be making his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance and Gould will be making his first in his second NFL season.

Johnson, the 2002 Maxwell, Walter Camp and Doak Walker Award winner, has rushed for 1,516 yards and 13 touchdowns, with a long carry of 47 yards, this season for the Chiefs. The former State College Area High School standout also has a career-high 36 receptions for 388 yards and two scores, with a long reception of 78 yards. The ninth player in NCAA history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, Johnson has gained 3,266 yards on 688 carries (4.7) with 33 touchdowns the past two seasons for Kansas City.

Gould has had a breakout season for the Bears, who are 12-2 and will have home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The former Central Mountain High School product is second in the NFL in scoring with 128 points, having made 28 of 32 field goal attempts and all 44 of his PAT attempts this season. Gould is 11 of 13 on field goal attempts from 40-49 yards, connecting on a career-long 49-yarder in a 19-16 win at Minnesota, a game where he made four goals.

Gould and Johnson are among 28 former Penn State players on NFL rosters, among the top 10 totals in the nation. Former Nittany Lions are spread out over 18 teams, with three Penn Staters playing with Cincinnati and the New York Giants. More than 250 Nittany Lions have moved on to the professional ranks since Joe Paterno became head coach in 1966.

Tight end Kyle Brady (Jacksonville), quarterback Kerry Collins (Tennessee) and defensive end Tyoka Jackson (Detroit) lead the former Lions in NFL experience, in their 12th seasons. All-Pro center Jeff Hartings (Pittsburgh), wide receiver Bobby Engram (Seattle) and All-Pro guard Marco Rivera (Dallas) are in their 11th seasons in the NFL.

Penn State has had at least one alumnus on a Super Bowl team in 36 of 40 title games. Hartings earned a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers last season, while Engram and wide receiver Joe Jurevicius helped the Seattle Seahawks win the NFC Championship, squaring off with the Steelers in Super Bowl XL.

Source: Penn State Sports Information Department