Jan. 29, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. -
By Leigh Torbin
UCFAthletics.com
UCF will be one of just six schools in the nation to have multiple alumni starting in Sunday night's Pro Bowl at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens as Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel will take to the field right from the first AFC offensive snap.
UCF is in very elite company as Miami (5), California (3), Texas (2), NC State (2) and Kent State (2) are the only other schools that can boast about having two or more starters in the 2010 Pro Bowl.
Samuel tied for the NFL lead with his nine interceptions and was named a starter when the teams were first announced last month. Jarius Byrd of Buffalo, Darren Sharper of New Orleans and Charles Woodson of Green Bay also made nine interceptions this fall to match Samuel for the top spot. Additionally, Samuel's 25 passes defended ranked seventh in the NFL this season.
It is the third straight year that Samuel has been selected for the Pro Bowl. He was also named to the All-Pro second team as he helped the Eagles to a playoff berth. Samuel did not play in the 2009 Pro Bowl due to an injury. In 2008, as a member of the New England Patriots, Samuel started the contest and made four tackles, all solos, with a pass defense.
Marshall was initially named to the team as a backup but was recently added to the starting lineup as a replacement for Reggie Wayne who will miss the game while preparing for Super Bowl XLIV with the Indianapolis Colts. It is Marshall's second-straight Pro Bowl appearance. He started the 2009 game and made five catches for 44 yards for the AFC.
The fourth-year pro just recorded his third consecutive 100-reception season, making him one of five players in NFL history to ever hit the century mark for three straight years. Marshall made 101 catches in his 15 games played this year for 1,120 yards and 10 touchdowns. Unquestionably the highlight of his year came on Dec. 13 at Indianapolis when he set an NFL record by making 21 receptions, good for an even 200 yards and both of Denver's touchdowns.
Before they were Pro Bowlers, they were Knights and Marshall and Samuel became Knights on the first Wednesday of February of their respective senior years. This upcoming Wednesday, some very prominent recruits from around the southeast will be following in the footsteps of Marshall, Samuel and hundreds of others by signing a National letter of Intent to attend UCF. The best place to learn about this is right from the source on Wednesday. As letters are received and approved, the news will be immediate sent out to the @UCF_FootballSID Twitter account and bios will be posted at UCFAthletics.com. In addition, John Denton's Knights Insider will be on hand all day long for running commentary and behind the scenes glimpses at what goes on during one of the most crucial days of the year for a college football team.
At 6 p.m. that night, the public is invited to a free event at the UCF Arena where UCF head coach George O'Leary and his coaching staff will talk about each of the latest additions to an all ready strong UCF team that went 8-5 last fall and earned a berth in the St. Petersburg Bowl. For more details on that event, click here.