ORLANDO – The Tennessee football program will be well represented at the 2018 Pro Bowl with VFLs Malik Jackson, Alvin Kamara and Jason Witten expected to compete on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Jackson and Kamara will be making their Pro Bowl debuts, while Witten will appear in the all-star game for the 11th time. Overall, Tennessee has had 42 former Vols be selected to Pro Bowl Rosters a total of 132 times.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN and ABC.
Malik Jackson
Career Pro Bowl Selections: 1
2017 Stats: 16 G, 16 GS; Tackles: 31 S, 9 AST, 8.0 SCK; 3 PD, 4 FF
Career Stats: 94 G, 56 GS; Tackles: 159 S, 48 AST, 28.5 SCK, 1 SFTY; 22 PD, 6 FF
With his selection to the 2018 Pro Bowl, Jackson became the 10th defensive lineman from Tennessee to make an all-star roster and the first since Albert Haynesworth appeared in the 2009 game.
The Jaguars earned their way to the postseason for the first time since 2007 because of an opportunistic defense that led the league with 52 sacks and allowed just 173.5 yards passing per game. A key player on the defensive line, Jackson ranked third on the team with 8.0 sacks and second with four forced fumbles in the regular season. The totals set new career highs in both categories for the Northridge, Calif., native. In the playoffs, Jackson recorded a sack and seven combined tackles.
Jackson played in 25 games during his two seasons at Tennessee. The starting defensive lineman recorded 104 tackles, including 22 for a loss of 80 yards total. Jackson forced four fumbles and sacked opposing quarterbacks 7.5 times during his UT career.
Alvin Kamara
Career Pro Bowl Selections: 1
2017 Stats: 16 G, 3 GS; Rushing: 120 ATT, 728 YDS, 6.1 AVG, 74T LNG, 8 TD; Receiving: 81 REC, 826 YDS, 10.2 AVG, 40 LNG, 5 TD; Kick Return: 11 RET, 347 YDS, 31.5 AVG, 106T LNG, 1 TD
A rookie sensation, Kamara set franchise and NFL records en route to a Pro Bowl bid in his first season with the New Orleans Saints. With his selection to the NFC roster, Kamara became the first Tennessee running back to make the Pro Bowl in his rookie season and just the fourth VFL overall (also Bob Johnson in 1969, Eric Berry in 2011 and Cordarrelle Patterson in 2014). The Norcross, Ga., native is the sixth UT running back to make an all-star roster and the first since Arian Foster in 2015.
Kamara burst onto the scene in his rookie campaign, establishing himself as a versatile, productive and electric presence on offense with 728 rushing yards, 826 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns. He ranked first in the NFL with 6.1 yards per carry and was the first player since Herschel Walker to amass more than 500 rushing and receiving yards in his first 11 pro games. Kamara was selected as Pepsi Rookie of the Week seven times and was the overwhelming choice in voting by his fellow players as Sporting News NFL Rookie of the Year.
During his two seasons with the Volunteers, Kamara collected 1,294 rushing yards, 683 receiving yards and 300 yards on special teams. He reached the endzone 13 times in 2016 alone, for a total of 24 touchdowns. Kamara also recorded four games of 100 rushing yards or more. He finished his career at Tennessee averaging 94.9 all-purpose yards per game.
Jason Witten
Career Pro Bowl Selections: 11
2017 Stats: 16 G, 16 GS; Receiving: 63 REC, 560 YDS, 8.9 AVG, 28T LNG, 5 TD
Career Stats: 239, 229 GS; Receiving: 1,152 REC, 12,448 YDS, 10.8 AVG, 69 LNG, 68 TD
Making his 11th appearance on a Pro Bowl Roster (also 2005-2010, 2012-15), Witten is the Dallas Cowboys’ all-time record holder in games played (239), receptions (1,152) and receiving yards (12,448). He finished his 15th NFL season with 560 yards and five touchdowns on 63 catches.
The Elizabethton, Tenn., native’s 11 Pro Bowls are the third-most by a Vol behind only Reggie White (13) and Peyton Manning (14). His mark also ties the Cowboys’ franchise record with Bob Lilly, who was named a Pro Bowler 11 times from 1962 to 1973.
Witten played in 25 games and amassed 797 yards on 68 receptions in three yearswith Tennessee. During a breakout junior campaign, he averaged 12.6 yards per catch and reached the checkerboard five times in 13 games. Witten ranks fifth all-time among Tennessee tight ends in yardage.
-UT Athletics
