Big season for Orlando NFL players: Matt Milano, Jalen Carter eye Super Bowl dream | Football Insider
Its been fun to watch the progress of numerous Orlando-area representatives in the NFL this season.
Counting interceptions by Detroits Kerby Joseph, a Jones product, and sacks by Trey Hendrickson, who is from Apopka, have just been part of the fun.
Two Orange County products still have their Super Bowl dreams alive as Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (Apopka) and Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (Dr.
Phillips ) are playing in the NFC and AFC championship games this weekend.
Heres a breakdown of the seasons had by many of Orlandos finest: Kerby Joseph, safety, Detroit Lions (Jones, Illinois): Joseph led the NFL in interceptions in just his third season in the league.
He was inexcusably left off the Pro Bowl roster due to politics with the voting process.
But he proved himself to be the best safety in the league, picking off nine passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
Joseph was third on the Lions in tackles with 83.
Sentinel Super60 rank, 2017: No.
31 Trey Hendrickson, defensive end, Cincinnati Bengals (Apopka, FAU): Hendrickson has improved in each of his eight NFL seasons and this was the best.
He led the NFL in sacks with 17.5 and had the most tackles in a season for his career with 46, including 19 for loss.
Hendrickson was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl.
Sentinel Super60 rank, 2013: No.
29 (as a tight end).
Jalen Carter, defensive tackle, Philadelphia Eagles (Apopka, Georgia): Its been a quick rise to stardom for a second-year player who was selected to his first Pro Bowl this season.
Carter became a full-time starter in Philly and had 42 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
Hes been adorned with honors in every level of his career.
Sentinel Super60 rank, 2020: No.
1.
Matt Milano, linebacker, Buffalo Bills (Dr.
Phillips, Boston College): Milano has established himself as one of the best at his position and, if not for a couple of brutal injuries (broken tibia, torn pectoral muscle) that have slowed him the past two seasons, hed likely be in the mention for Defensive Player of the Year.
He played in four regular season games and the two playoff games.
Despite the broken leg in 23, he was still named as an alternate to his first Pro Bowl.
Sentinel Super60 rank, 2013: No.
3 (as a safety).
Renardo Green, cornerback, San Francisco 49ers (Wekiva, FSU): Dooda, his nickname, had a tremendous rookie season and was sixth on the team in tackles with 61.
He had an interception and 20 pass deflections.
Green played in all 17 games, starting seven.
Sentinel Super60 rank, 2019: No.
7.
Chris Board, linebacker, Baltimore Ravens (Timber Creek, North Dakota State): Board played in all 17 games for the Ravens, as well as two playoff games.
He had 30 regular season tackles, including 1 sack and 2 tackles for loss.
Sentinel Super60 rank, 2013: No.
30.
Jaylon Carlies, linebacker, Indianapolis Colts (West Orange, Missouri): He played 10 games during his rookie season and broke into the starting lineup for four games, ending the regular season as the Colts starting SAM linebacker.
Carlies had 36 tackles and 1 sack.
He blew up in size since his days at West Orange, where he was a 6-2, 185-pound WR-DB.
Hes now 6-3, 227.
Sentinel Super60 rank, 2020: No.
9 (as receiver).
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, wide receiver, Tennessee Titans (Lake Mary, Indiana): Westbrook-Ikhine had his best season in his five years in the NFL.
He caught 32 passes for 432 yards and 9 touchdowns, including a 98-yard TD from quarterback Will Levis.
That was second longest in NFL history (13 players have had 99-yarders, 12 other players with 98-yarders).
Sentinel Super60 rank: No.
18.
Tommy Townsend, punter, Houston Texans (Boone, Tennessee/Florida): In his first season in Houston after spending his first three years with the Kansas City Chiefs, Townsend was third in the NFL in net punting average at 44.6 yards and averaged 48 yards total.
He was No.
2 in the league with punts inside the 20 with 39.
Sentinel Super60 rank: unranked.
Joe Milton III, quarterback, New England Patriots (Olympia, Michigan/Tennessee): He spent most of the season on the Patriots practice squad, but its worth noting that when he did play he shined in the final game of the regular season.
Perhaps a sign of things to come, Milton completed his first 11 passes and was 22-for-29 for 241 yards and a 48-yard touchdown pass.
He also ran for a 1-yard touchdown.
Sentinel Super60 rank, 2018: No.
21.
Tyler Davis, defensive tackle, Los Angeles Rams (Wekiva, Clemson): Davis had a decent rookie season with the Rams, playing in 16 games and recording 29 tackles and assisting on 1 sack.
Told by many college coaches as high schooler that he was too short to play FBS football at 6 feet, he continues to prove them wrong.
Hes now 6-2.
Sentinel Super60 rank, 2019: No.
1.
Temple picked up defensive back Deontae Grant earlier this month when the Evans safety signed with the Owls.
Grant was a key player for Evans, playing both sides of the ball.
On defense he had 34 tackles and 2 interceptions.
On offense he was the teams leading receiver with 43 catches for 631 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Apopka junior defensive end Kingston Shaw has committed to play for Illinois.
The 6-4, 228-pounder, who has converted from a linebacker, had 42 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks this season for the Darters.
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays ..
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