NJCAA Football Alumni named 2024 NFL Pro Bowlers

New York City, NY - The NFL announced the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl teams for the AFC and NFC on Wednesday, January 3rd with four former NJCAA student-athletes earning this distinct honor.

Former Hinds Community College (MS) standout Charvarius Ward was named a pro bowler for the first time in his NFL career. During Ward's two-year career at Hinds, he tallied 64 tackles, with four interceptions, and seven pass breakups. Ward transferred to Middle Tennessee State and spent two years playing for the Blue Raiders. He had a stellar performance at his pro day, but would still go undrafted in 2018. Ward would go on to sign with the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. On August 30, 2018, Ward was traded to the Chiefs and spent the next few seasons as a starter, reaching the Super Bowl in 2019 and 2020. In Super Bowl LIV, Ward recorded four tackles en route to helping the Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 and claim the championship. On March 17, 2022, Ward would become a free agent and sign with the 49ers on a three-year $42 million contract. This season with Week 18 still to go, Ward has recorded a career-high five interceptions and 68 tackles for the NFC's No. 1 overall seed.

Tyreek Hill has already put together an illustrious career in the NFL, being named a First-Team All-Pro four times (2016, 2018, 2020, 2022), but his football journey started at Garden City Community College (KS). As a sophomore for the Broncbusters, Hill ran for 659 yards and five touchdowns while catching 67 passes for 532 yards. Hill was named a first-team NJCAA All-America in 2013. He attended Oklahoma State and West Alabama at the four-year level, before being selected in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. With the Chiefs, he helped lead them to a Super Bowl LIV championship and reached the 1,000 receiving yard mark four times. Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins and signed a four-year $120 million extension in 2022. Since being with the Dolphins, Hill has eclipsed 100+ catches and 1,700 receiving yards in both seasons. This year, Hill has 112 catches for a career-high 1,717 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Copiah-Lincoln Community College (MS) was once the home of Chicago Bears star Montez Sweat, who was named the Pro Bowler for the first time this year. Sweat transferred to Co-Lin in 2016 after previously playing at Michigan State for two seasons, including one as a redshirt. As a member of the Wolves, Sweat recorded 39 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles over nine games. he then transferred to Mississippi State and spent the next two seasons and took the SEC by storm. In two seasons for Mississippi State, Sweat recorded 101 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, and 22.5 sacks. He was drafted with the 26th pick of the 2019 NFL draft by the Washington Commanders. Sweat spent four full seasons with Washington and was traded to the Chicago Bears this season at the trade deadline. After being traded, Sweat signed a four-year, $98 million extension to remain with the Bears. 

Lane Johnson has been an anchor at Right Tackle for the Eagles since being drafted in 2013 and was named to his fifth Pro Bowl. Johnson began his college football career at Kilgore College (TX) as a quarterback and tight end. In his lone year for the Rangers, Johnson threw for 584 yards and seven touchdowns. he then transferred to Oklahoma and switched positions a few times before landing as an offensive lineman in the fall of 2011. Offensive line coach Bruce Kittle asked many players if they would switch positions to be a backup offensive lineman and took notice of Johnson's natural ability. He was named the starting Right Tackle for the Sooners two games later. In his senior season for Oklahoma, Johnson was named a third-team All-American and accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Johnson was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and has spent his entire career there. Johnson was a member of the Eagles Super Bowl LII Championship-winning team and also was a part of the Eagles Super Bowl LVII team. On December 11, 2022, Johnson set an NFL record for not allowing a sack in 26 consecutive games.

The NFL Pro Bowl Games will be played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on February 4th.