UConn in the NFL: Jones and Sherman Selected to 2019 Pro Bowl

On Tuesday, the NFL announced the 2019 Pro Bowl Rosters. The list included Dallas Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones and Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman, the first two UConn alumni to ever make a Pro Bowl.

If you’ve been following the UConn in the NFL posts throughout the year, this should come as no surprise. Byron Jones has been an integral part of a dominant Cowboys secondary.

On this Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Jones combined for 4 tackles and a deflection, bringing his season-totals up to 55 and 13, respectively. The Cowboys have the fourth stingiest defense in the league, allowing just 19.2 points per game.

This is Jones fourth season in the NFL and his first time playing as a full-time cornerback. Previously, Jones played as a free safety and was doing quite well. To transition to a cornerback and make a Pro Bowl in his first year at the position js not only impressive, it’s almost unheard of.

Jones becomes the first Cowboy to make the pro bowl after a position change since Larry Allen did it in the 1995-96 season, after moving from guard to tackle.

The Kansas City Chiefs have the most explosive offense in football, and it’s really not even close. Through 15 weeks, the Chiefs have recorded 499 points, outscoring the second-best New Orleans Saints by 40 points.

The 2018-19 season marks Anthony Sherman’s sixth year with the Chiefs and eighth in the NFL. While the fullback position seems to be dying off, Sherman continues to be one of the league’s best, and he was finally recognized for his achievement with this year’s Pro Bowl selection.

Many of criticized the inclusion of a fullbacks on the Pro Bowl roster, but that should not undermine Sherman’s accomplishments on the field.

Sherman has been a tremendous asset in the Chiefs’ running game, which is currently top-10 in yards per attempt and touchdowns. He’s even provided a reliable safety blanket in the passing game, causing Andy Reid to lovingly call him the ‘Sausage with Hands’ early in the season.

The Chiefs fell short to the LA Chargers this weekend but still lead the AFC West with an 11-3 record. Their losses have come to the New England Patriots, the LA Rams and the LA Chargers; three of the best teams in the NFL. Therefore, it isn’t unreasonable to hope for a Super Bowl ring in Sherman’s future.

Heck, we could see both of these guys doing their thing on the playoff stage in a few weeks. Though Byron Jones is going to need to keep shutting down offenses if the Cowboys hope to clinch the NFC East. So far, there’s nothing to suggest he’ll stop.