Jan. 25, 2010

Greensboro, N.C. (theACC.com) -- For the second straight year, the Atlantic Coast Conference leads all conferences by a wide margin in the number of former football standouts selected from its current schools to play in the National Football League’s Pro Bowl, which will be held this Sunday at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Current ACC schools saw 23 of their former standouts selected to play in this year’s Pro Bowl. The Southeastern Conference was second with 15 selections, with the Big Ten third with 14. The Pac-10 had 13 selections followed by the Big 12 and the Big East with 11 honorees each.

Many of those playing in the Pro Bowl will be performing in their collegiate hometown of Miami, as no fewer than 10 former Miami Hurricane players have been selected to this year’s Pro Bowl team, far and away the most of any single school. Michigan was next with five followed by Texas with four selections. NC State and Virginia had the second-highest amount of selections among ACC schools with three players chosen each, followed by Maryland and North Carolina with two picks apiece; and Boston College, Clemson and Florida State, who each had one former player honored.

Tabbed to play in this year’s Pro Bowl Game from Miami were wide receivers Andre Johnson (Houston) and Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis), running back Frank Gore (San Francisco) offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie (Minnesota), defensive lineman Vince Wilfork (New England), linebackers Ray Lewis (Baltimore) and Jonathan Vilma (New Orleans) and defensive backs Ed Reed (Baltimore), Antrel Rolle (Arizona) and Brandon Meriweather (New England).

Joining them from NC State were quarterback Philip Rivers (San Diego), who will miss the game with an injury, defensive end Mario Williams (Houston) and safety Adrian Wilson (Arizona) while Virginia has quarterback Matt Schaub (Houston), offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson (New York Jets) and tight end Heath Miller (Pittsburgh). Maryland is represented by former tight end Vernon Davis (San Francisco) and long snapper Jon Condo, North Carolina has defensive end Julius Peppers (Carolina) and center Jeff Saturday (Indianapolis), while. Completing the ACC selections are former Boston College offensive lineman Chris Snee (New York Giants), Clemson defensive back Brian Dawkins (Denver) and former Florida State defensive lineman Darnell Dockett (Arizona)