Seven Former Hurricanes Selected to 2009 NFL Pro Bowl

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The National Football League released its 2009 NFL Pro Bowl selections this week and included on the list are seven former University of Miami standouts. The seven, selected to represent their current NFL team, are the most of any school in the nation.

Those who will head to Hawaii this February include wide receivers Andre Johnson (Houston Texans) and Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts), running back Clinton Portis (Washington Redskins), linebackers Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens) and Jon Beason (Carolina Panthers), safety Ed Reed (Baltimore Ravens) and punter Jeff Feagles (New York Giants).

With seven Pro Bowl players, Miami has as many or more than the representation of three entire BCS-conferences. UM’s seven former players is tied with the entire Big 10 Conference (7) while it leads the total produced by the Pac-10 (6) and the Big East (4).

The Atlantic Coast Conference tops all leagues with 20 representatives from current ACC schools. The Southeastern Conference is second with 13 former players selected.

These former Hurricane greats continue to prove themselves at the professional level. Offensively, Johnson leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,408) and receptions (103) while Wayne is tied for tenth in receptions (74). Portis ranks third in the NFL in both rushing yards (1,337) yards and carries (291) for the Redskins this year.

Defensively, Reed is tied for second in the NFL with five interceptions. Beason is second in the league in tackles (122) for the Panthers while Lewis is tied for 13th with 104. Feagles averages 44-yards per punt for the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.

The NFL Pro Bowl will be played on February 8, 2009 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii and will be televised on NBC.