Dec. 16, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. - Former UCF football players Brandon Marshall and Asante Samuel were named to the annual AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, the National Football League announced on Tuesday afternoon. Representing the Denver Broncos, Marshall will start for the AFC at wide receiver while Samuel, in his first season as a Philadelphia Eagle, will be a reserve cornerback. The 2009 Pro Bowl will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 8 and be broadcast live on NBC.
This marks the first time in school history that UCF has had multiple alumni make the Pro Bowl in the same year and it is just the second time that UCF has had at least one Pro Bowl selection in consecutive seasons.
Marshall will make his first Pro Bowl appearance following this, his third year in the NFL. He presently ranks fifth in the NFL with 88 receptions on the year. A fourth-round pick in 2006, Marshall has started 13 games for Denver, catching a team-high 88 passes for 1,081 yards (12.3 avg.) with six touchdowns. His 18 receptions (good for 166 yards and a touchdown) against San Diego on Sept. 14 tied for the second-highest single-game total in NFL history. The wide receiver is on pace to join Rod Smith (2000-01) as the second Bronco in club annals to record consecutive 100-catch seasons.
"It means a lot to be voted in by your peers and the coaches from around the league," Marshall said. "For me, it means a lot more to lead the fan vote because it shows me that they support the guys who have their heads on straight and try to do the right things. I've worked hard this season to prove that day in, day out, both on and off the field. I'm very thankful for this honor. I've called everyone in my phone."
Samuel has been named to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season after earning the honor with the New England Patriots last year. Samuel has evolved into one of the league's top cover men, recording an NFL-best 23 interceptions since the start of the 2006 season. This season he is tied for second in the NFC in interceptions and tied for the NFL lead in passes defensed with 24. Just last night he contributed a critical play for the Eagles as he returned a Ken Dorsey pass 50 yards for a touchdown to help seal Philadelphia's 30-10 win over Cleveland that kept the Eagles alive in the playoff chase.
Pro Bowl selections are based on an equally-weighted vote of NFL players, coaches and fans. In addition to Marshall's selection for 2009 and Samuel's for both 2008 and 2009, UCF has previously been represented in the annual showcase by quarterback Daunte Culpepper (2001, 2004, 2005) of the Minnesota Vikings.
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