The Sunshine State has the most alums in the NFL.
Video: Way Back When - Joey Bosa
Check out the St. Thomas Aquinas star when he was a high-schooler.Who's got the ultimate bragging rights when it comes to sending players to the NFL from the high school ranks in Florida?
To
find out, MaxPreps and Lateral Sports teamed up and found the alma
mater of every player on an NFL roster as of opening day (we included
suspended and injured reserve players). Then we broke it all down by
state and came up with the table below.
You will find that Florida has sent 239 players to the league this season, and that more come from St. Thomas Aquinas than any other school in the state, with 13. Second place is a tie with Northwestern and Central in Miami with seven each, followed by six for Glades Central and five for Dwyer.
Want some more fun facts? How about these:
- 144 different Florida schools have alums in the NFL.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers had the most Florida players on their opening day roster with 14. To put that in perspective, more than a quarter of the roster was made up of players from Florida. Next-most were the Colts (13), Bills (12), Chargers (11) and Bears (11).
- Florida players don't get much love from the home-state Miami Dolphins, with just three Florida players. No other team has less than that. The Jacksonville Jaguars had seven and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had 10.
- The 239 players from Florida beat the 220 from California.
- Colts teammates Dezmen Southward and Phillip Dorsett played on the
2008 St. Thomas Aquinas team that went 15-0 and was ranked No. 1 in the
MaxPreps Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
- Glades Central has two sets of alums playing together on NFL teams. Cre'Von LeBlanc and Deonte Thompson were on the Bears' roster and Jatavis Brown and Travis Benjamin were on the Chargers' roster.
- Artie Burns and Eli Rogers, teammates on the Steelers, both played on the 2010 Northwestern (Miami) team that went 9-3.
- There are more pairs of alums playing on the same NFL teams: Giovani Bernard and Geno Atkins (Bengals) are from St. Thomas Aquinas, Orlando Franklin and Brandon Flowers (Chargers) are from Atlantic Community, Marquis Lucas and John Miller (Bills) are both offensive linemen from Miami Central and Louis Murphy and Bernard Reedy (Buccaneers) are both wide receivers from Lakewood.
2016 NFL players from Florida high schools
Graphic by SocialRecluse Graphx
| Alonso |
Anthony
Chickillo |
LB |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Alonso |
Leger Douzable |
DT |
Buffalo
Bills |
| American |
Olivier Vernon |
DE |
New
York Giants |
| American |
D'Joun Smith |
CB |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| Apopka |
Kyle Wilber |
OLB |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| Apopka |
K.J. Dillon |
SAF |
Houston
Texans |
| Armwood |
Matt Jones |
RB |
Washington
Redskins |
| Atlantic |
Dadi Nicolas |
LB |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| Atlantic |
Brandon Flowers |
CB |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Atlantic |
Orlando Franklin |
OG |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Barron
Collier |
Jeff Heuerman |
TE |
Denver
Broncos |
| Bay |
Khyri Thornton |
DT |
Detroit
Lions |
| Blake |
Mike McFarland |
TE |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| Blanche
Ely |
Jabari Price |
CB |
Minnesota
Vikings |
| Blanche
Ely |
J.T. Thomas |
OLB |
New
York Giants |
| Blanche
Ely |
Patrick Peterson |
CB |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| Blanche
Ely |
Rashard Robinson |
CB |
San
Francisco 49ers |
| Boca
Ciega |
Josh Bellamy |
WR |
Chicago
Bears |
| Bolles |
Javontee Herndon |
WR |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Bolles |
John Theus |
OT |
San
Francisco 49ers |
| Booker |
Sam Shields |
CB |
Green
Bay Packers |
| Booker
T. Washington |
Ladarius Green |
TE |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Booker
T. Washington |
Quinton Dunbar |
CB |
Washington
Redskins |
| Boyd
Anderson |
Josh Bynes |
OLB |
Detroit
Lions |
| Bradford |
Letroy Guion |
DE |
Green
Bay Packers |
| Brekeley
Preparatory |
Nelson Agholor |
WR |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Cape
Coral |
Jaylen Watkins |
DB |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Cape
Coral |
Nate Allen |
SS |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Cardinal
Gibbons |
Blair Walsh |
K |
Minnesota
Vikings |
| Carol
City |
Rannell Hall |
WR |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Carol
City |
Ricky Jean Francois |
DE |
Washington
Redskins |
| Carol
City |
Allen Hurns |
WR |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| Carol
City |
Tourek Williams |
OLB |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Central |
Marquis Lucas |
OT |
Buffalo
Bills |
| Central |
John Miller |
OG |
Buffalo
Bills |
| Central |
Devonta Freeman |
RB |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Central |
Travaris Cadet |
RB |
New
Orleans Saints |
| Central |
Kevin Pamphile |
OT |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Central |
Durell Eskridge |
FS |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| Central |
Stanley Jean-Baptiste |
CB |
Seattle
Seahawks |
| Central |
DuJuan Harris |
RB |
San
Francisco 49ers |
| Chaminade-Madonna |
Kamar Aiken |
WR |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Charlotte |
Marcus Hardison |
DT |
Cincinnati
Bengals |
| Clay |
Nolan Carroll |
CB |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Clay |
Cliff Avril |
DE |
Seattle
Seahawks |
| Coconut
Creek |
Jonathan Freeny |
MLB |
New
England Patriots |
| Cocunut
Grove |
Johnny Holton |
WR |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Columbia |
Timmy Jernigan |
DE |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Columbia |
Laremy Tunsil |
OT |
Miami
Dolphins |
| Columbus |
Deon Bush |
DB |
Chicago
Bears |
| Coral
Gables |
Frank Gore |
RB |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| Coral
Gables |
Denzel Perryman |
ILB |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Coral
Springs Charter |
Darius Butler |
CB |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| Coral
Springs Christian |
Demetrius Rhaney |
OG |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| Cypress
Lake |
De'Vondre Campbell |
OLB |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Deerfield
Beach |
Jason Pierre-Paul |
DE |
New
York Giants |
| Deerfield
Beach |
Denard Robinson |
RB |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| DeLand |
Mike Gillislee |
RB |
Buffalo
Bills |
| Dillard |
Pat Sims |
DT |
Cincinnati
Bengals |
| Dunnellon |
Lerentee McCray |
LB |
Buffalo
Bills |
| Dunnellon |
Terrence Brooks |
DB |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Dwyer |
Matt Elam |
SS |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Dwyer |
Nick O'Leary |
TE |
Buffalo
Bills |
| Dwyer |
Jacoby Brissett |
QB |
New
England Patriots |
| Dwyer |
Curt Maggitt |
OLB |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| Dwyer |
Tommylee Lewis |
WR |
New
Orleans Saints |
| East
lake |
Tyler Higbee |
TE |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| Edgewater |
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix |
FS |
Green
Bay Packers |
| Edgewater |
Karl Joseph |
SAF |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Escambia |
Ahtyba Rubin |
DT |
Seattle
Seahawks |
| Estero |
Matt Prater |
K |
Detroit
Lions |
| Evans |
Darrell Williams |
T |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| First
Coast |
Tavaris Barnes |
DE |
Seattle
Seahawks |
| Fort
Walton Beach |
Akeem Spence |
DT |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Frostproof |
Nickell Robey |
DB |
Buffalo
Bills |
| Glades
Central |
Cre'von LeBlanc |
CB |
Chicago
Bears |
| Glades
Central |
Deonte Thompson |
WR |
Chicago
Bears |
| Glades
Central |
Clive Walford |
TE |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Glades
Central |
Travis Benjamin |
WR |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Glades
Central |
Kelvin Benjamin |
WR |
Carolina
Panthers |
| Glades
Central |
Jatavis Brown |
OLB |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Gulf
Breeze |
Doug Baldwin |
WR |
Seattle
Seahawks |
| Gulliver
Prep |
Patrick Robinson |
DB |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| Hagerty |
Jeff Driskel |
QB |
Cincinnati
Bengals |
| Haines
City |
Jah Reid |
OT |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| Haines
City |
Rodney Gunter |
NT |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| Hialeah |
Corey Lemonier |
LB |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Hialeah |
Corey Liuget |
DE |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Hialeah-Miami
Lakes |
Thad Lewis |
QB |
San
Francisco 49ers |
| Hillsborough |
Charley Hughlett |
LS |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Hillsborough |
Anthony Brown |
CB |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| Hollywood
Hills |
Jabaal Sheard |
DE |
New
England Patriots |
| Hollywood
Hills |
Thurston Armbrister |
LB |
Detroit
Lions |
| Homestead |
John Brown |
WR |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| Immokalee |
Mackensie Alexander |
CB |
Minnesota
Vikings |
| Island
Coast |
Aaron Lynch |
OLB |
San
Francisco 49ers |
| Jackson |
Elvis Dumervil |
OLB |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Jackson |
Robenson Therezie |
FS |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Jesuit |
Garrison Sanborn |
LS |
Buffalo
Bills |
| Jones |
Jaye Howard |
DE |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| Jupiter |
Matt Bosher |
P |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Kathleen |
Albert McClellan |
OLB |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Killian |
Stephen Tulloch |
LB |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Killian |
Lamar Miller |
RB |
Houston
Texans |
| Killian |
Keith Reaser |
CB |
San
Francisco 49ers |
| King's
Academy |
Emmanuel Lamur |
LB |
Minnesota
Vikings |
| Lake
Brantley |
Patrick DiMarco |
FB |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Lake
Gibson |
Bilal Powell |
RB |
New
York Jets |
| Lake
Gibson |
Adarius Glanton |
OLB |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Lake
Howell |
Brandon Marshall |
WR |
New
York Jets |
| Lake
Howell |
Christian Jones |
ILB |
Chicago
Bears |
| Lake
Worth |
Joe Looney |
C |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| Lakeland |
Maurkice Pouncey |
C |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Lakeland |
Mike Pouncey |
C |
Miami
Dolphins |
| Lakeland |
Darryl Roberts |
CB |
New
York Jets |
| Lakewood |
Dante Fowler |
DE |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| Lakewood |
Louis Murphy |
WR |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Lakewood |
Bernard Reedy |
WR |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Lakewood
Ranch |
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie |
CB |
New
York Giants |
| Lakewood
Ranch |
Austin Reiter |
C |
Washington
Redskins |
| Leesburg |
Danny Trevathan |
LB |
Chicago
Bears |
| Lely |
Makinton Dorleant |
DB |
Green
Bay Packers |
| Leonard |
Pierre Garcon |
WR |
Washington
Redskins |
| Lincoln |
Javorius Allen |
RB |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Lincoln |
Antonio Cromartie |
DB |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| Maclay |
Seth Roberts |
WR |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Madison
County |
Chris Thompson |
RB |
Washington
Redskins |
| Mainland |
Leonard Williams |
DT |
New
York Jets |
| Mainland |
Ricardo Allen |
FS |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Mandarin |
Charles James |
DB |
Houston
Texans |
| Mandarin |
Tony Carter |
DB |
New
Orleans Saints |
| Martin
County |
Justin Simmons |
FS |
Denver
Broncos |
| Miami |
Andre Johnson |
WR |
Tennessee
Titans |
| Miami
Beach |
Ricardo Louis |
WR |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Miami
Springs |
T.Y. Hilton |
WR |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| Middleburg |
Gary Barnidge |
TE |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Miramar |
Geno Smith |
QB |
New
York Jets |
| Miramar |
Tracy Howard |
CB |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Monsignor
Pace |
Kayvon Webster |
CB |
Denver
Broncos |
| Monsignor
Pace |
DeMarcus Van Dyke |
DB |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Mulberry |
Justin Forsett |
RB |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Norland |
Duke Johnson |
RB |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Norland |
Antonio Brown |
WR |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Norland |
Xavier Rhodes |
CB |
Minnesota
Vikings |
| Norland |
Ereck Flowers |
OT |
New
York Giants |
| North
Broward |
Brandon Doughty |
QB |
Miami
Dolphins |
| North
Fort Myers |
Tre Boston |
FS |
Carolina
Panthers |
| North
Marion |
Cortez Allen |
DB |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| North
Miami |
Randell Johnson |
OLB |
Buffalo
Bills |
| North
Miami Beach |
Johnathan Cyprien |
SS |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| North
Miami Beach |
Kemal Ishmael |
SS |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Northwestern |
Artie Burns |
CB |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Northwestern |
Kenbrell Thompkins |
WR |
New
York Jets |
| Northwestern |
Teddy Bridgewater |
QB |
Minnesota
Vikings |
| Northwestern |
Sean Spence |
LB |
Tennessee
Titans |
| Northwestern |
Amari Cooper |
WR |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Northwestern |
Lavonte David |
OLB |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Northwestern |
Eli Rogers |
WR |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Nova |
Nile Lawrence-Stample |
DT |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Olympia |
Trevor Siemian |
QB |
Denver
Broncos |
| Olympia |
Chris Johnson |
RB |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| Oviedo |
Blake Bortles |
QB |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| Pace |
Stephen Morris |
QB |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| Pahokee |
Pernell McPhee |
OLB |
Chicago
Bears |
| Pahokee |
Anquan Boldin |
WR |
Detroit
Lions |
| Pahokee |
Janoris Jenkins |
DB |
New
York Giants |
| Palm
Bay |
Reggie Nelson |
DB |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Palm
Beach |
Jordan Dangerfield |
DB |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Palm
Beach Central |
Pat O'Donnell |
P |
Chicago
Bears |
| Palm
Beach Central |
Jon Bostic |
LB |
Detroit
Lions |
| Palm
Beach Gardens |
Willie Young |
OLB |
Chicago
Bears |
| Palm
Harbor University |
Ted Larsen |
C |
Chicago
Bears |
| Parker |
Ricardo Mathews |
DT |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Parker |
Sam Barrington |
LB |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| Pasco |
Josh Johnson |
CB |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| Pensacola |
Damarious Randall |
CB |
Green
Bay Packers |
| Pensacola |
Terrell McClain |
DT |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| Pensacola |
D.J. Pettway |
DE |
New
Orleans Saints |
| Pensacola
Catholic |
Josh Sitton |
G |
Chicago
Bears |
| Pine
Forest |
Alfred Morris |
RB |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| Piper |
Nevin Lawson |
CB |
Detroit
Lions |
| Plant |
James Wilder Jr. |
RB |
Buffalo
Bills |
| Plant |
Orson Charles |
TE |
Detroit
Lions |
| Plantation |
Ryan Shazier |
ILB |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Plantation |
Jeremy Cash |
LB |
Carolina
Panthers |
| Plantation |
Josh Robinson |
DB |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Port
St. Joe |
Calvin Pryor |
SS |
New
York Jets |
| Port
St. Lucie |
Albert Wilson |
WR |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| Rickards |
William Gay |
CB |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Ridge
Community |
Vince Williams |
ILB |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Ridge
Community |
Mike James |
RB |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Riverview |
Jahleel Addae |
SS |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Sandalwood |
Daryl Richardson |
RB |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Santa
Fe |
Linval Joseph |
DT |
Minnesota
Vikings |
| Santaluces |
Vince Wilfork |
NT |
Houston
Texans |
| Seabreeze |
Sebastian Janikowski |
K |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Seabreeze |
Eric Weems |
WR |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Seminole |
Ray-Ray Armstrong |
OLB |
San
Francisco 49ers |
| Seminole |
D'Qwell Jackson |
ILB |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| South
Dade |
Ed Stinson |
DE |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| South
Fort Myers |
Sammy Watkins |
WR |
Buffalo
Bills |
| South
Fort Myers |
Jayron Kearse |
SAF |
Minnesota
Vikings |
| South
Lake |
Jonotthan Harrison |
C |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| South
Lake |
Roberto Aguayo |
K |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| South
Plantation |
Robby Anderson |
WR |
New
York Jets |
| South
Plantation |
Alex Collins |
RB |
Seattle
Seahawks |
| South
Sumter |
Keanu Neal |
SS |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Southeast |
Jonathan Dowling |
DB |
Buffalo
Bills |
| Southeast |
Brian Poole |
DB |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Southeast |
Mike Jenkins |
DB |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| Southridge |
Branden Oliver |
RB |
San
Diego Chargers |
| St.
Augustine |
Caleb Sturgis |
K |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| St.
Joseph Academy |
Cairo Santos |
K |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| St.
Thomas Aquinas |
Lamarcus Joyner |
CB |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| St.
Thomas Aquinas |
Geno Atkins |
DT |
Cincinnati
Bengals |
| St.
Thomas Aquinas |
Giovani Bernard |
RB |
Cincinnati
Bengals |
| St.
Thomas Aquinas |
Marcus Gilbert |
T |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| St.
Thomas Aquinas |
James White |
RB |
New
England Patriots |
| St.
Thomas Aquinas |
Bobby Hart |
OT |
New
York Giants |
| St.
Thomas Aquinas |
Phillip Dorsett |
WR |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| St.
Thomas Aquinas |
Dezmen Southward |
FS |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| St.
Thomas Aquinas |
Brandon Linder |
C |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| St.
Thomas Aquinas |
Cody Riggs |
CB |
Tennessee
Titans |
| St.
Thomas Aquinas |
Joey Bosa |
DE |
San
Diego Chargers |
| St. Thomas Aquinas |
Vernon Harris |
DB |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| St.
Thomas Aquinas |
Gabe Holmes |
TE |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Suncoast |
Devin Hester |
WR |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Tampa
Catholic |
Chaz Green |
OT |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| Tate |
Graham Gano |
K |
Carolina
Panthers |
| Taylor
County |
LeGarrette Blount |
RB |
New
England Patriots |
| Thomas
Jefferson School |
Chris Moore |
WR |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Trinity
Christian Academy |
Paxton Lynch |
QB |
Denver
Broncos |
| Union
County |
C.J. Spiller |
RB |
New
Orleans Saints |
| Vanguard |
P.J. Williams |
CB |
New
Orleans Saints |
| Venice |
Trey Burton |
TE |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Wakulla |
Nigel Bradham |
LB |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Westwood |
Khalil Mack |
DE |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Wharton |
Vernon Hargreaves |
CB |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Yulee |
Derrick Henry |
RB |
Tennessee
Titans |
