FLAGS AND FUN FOR PRO BOWL
Local standouts Neal, Bouye soak in love from fans
About 40 former service members injured in battle played flag football Saturday at Disney’s Wide World of Sports as part of Pro Bowl week. Former Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell and other players supported the Wounded Warriors. “They get on the field, [whether] on the flag football field or the field of battle, they want to win, and that’s what they do,” Brunell said. To see a photo gallery from the game, visit OrlandoSentinel.com. The Pro Bowl, the NFL’s all-star showcase, will be played today at 3 p.m. at Camping World Stadium. Two of today’s players, A.J. Bouye and Keanu Neal, have Central Florida ties.
Remarkably different career paths led to the same destination for two NFL defenders with Central Florida ties.
UCF alum A.J. Bouye and South Sumter High School’s Keanu Neal embraced a return to the area as first-time Pro Bowl selections, where they spent time with family, friends and fans while practicing alongside the best in football.
“There are a lot of people here from Sumter County to support me,” said Neal, a first-round selection by the Atlanta Falcons out of UF two years ago. “It’s for them. It’s for my city. It’s for Atlanta.”
The Pro Bowl will kick off at 3 p.m. today at Camping World Stadium. The game will air on ABC (WFTV- Ch. 9), ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
Neal, 22, visited his high school Tuesday before joining NFC teammates for practices at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex a day later. Despite helping the Falcons reach the Super Bowl as a hard-hitting rookie safety a year ago, he has remained humble.
“You look around and see a lot of big names, some guys that you’ve watched as a younger player, so it’s definitely cool,” he said of the Pro Bowl experience.
Neal (6-0, 211) made 116 total tackles this season.
“He is someone who can really tear up your running game and passing game,” said New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, the NFC’s Pro Bowl coach.
Bouye, unheralded out of high school in Georgia and undrafted out of college, has demanded similar respect at cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The proud UCF alum spent the week looking forward to taking his daughter to Disney, spending time with fans after practices and being in the stadium Sunday when the NFL recognizes the Knights’ unbeaten 2017 football season.
“I might jump out there with them,” Bouye, 26, said with a smile after learning UCF would be honored.
“I was undrafted, but I was also a low-star recruit. UCF took a shot on me, and it’s funny that I’m back here in Orlando this way, and I’m just trying to represent for the school and represent for the team in Jacksonville, too.”
A four-year stretch with the Houston Texans led to a five-year contract worth $67.5 million with the Jaguars. Bouye (6-0, 191) enjoyed a breakout season in 2017 that included a careerbest six interceptions and 56 tackles.
“I always think about all those teams that passed up on me, so it definitely keeps me going, and I feel that’s what we did as a team [in Jacksonville] when we were being overlooked without respect,” Bouye said.
Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who was drafted by the Jaguars with the fifth overall pick in 2016, credited Bouye for sharing his knowledge of the position.
“We worked well together,’’ said Ramsey, who played at FSU.
Bouye arrived in Orlando days after the Jaguars lost 24-20 to the New England Patriots with a berth in Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4 in Minneapolis at stake.
“You gotta take the good out of everything,’’ Bouye said.
He briefly considered skipping the Pro Bowl but is thankful for the change of heart, which led to an inspiring conversation with former San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, one of four honorary captains for the Pro Bowl.
Tomlinson experienced a conference title-game loss and Pro Bowl trip 10 years ago.
“Being around your peers, your family and friends, really having fun and just kind of unwinding and reflecting on the season, it gives you that opportunity to at least take your mind off of it for a little while,’’ Tomlinson said.
Bouye is happy he got the chance to come home.
So is Neal.