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There are only two weeks left in the 2017 NFL regular season, and with the playoff picture getting clearer by the day, the 2018 Pro Bowl rosters were announced Tuesday night. With 20 former Ohio State players making the initial Pro Bowl ballot, five were honored with roster spots in the annual contest.
Joey Bosa was the only former Ohio State player voted to be a starter, with the other four designated as second-team players or alternates. Those alternate roster spots often wind up in a starting role as some players decline the invitation due to an extended postseason run or injuries.
Notably, this would have been the case for Steelers LB (and Buckeye legend) Ryan Shazier, who two weeks ago went down with a serious back injury. In the time since, he’s flown from the hospital in Cincinnati to Pittsburgh, underwent spinal stabilization surgery, and yet was still able to attend — from a suite — last weekend’s Steelers-Patriots matchup. Shazier was on pace for a career-best season in 2017, and being voted to the Pro Bowl is absolutely deserved — it’s just a shame he wont be able to participate.
This year’s Pro Bowl will keep with tradition (despite the few-year hiatus) of an AFC vs. NFC matchup, with each team featuring 44 of the best (or in some case most popular) players from their division. Rosters are filled by consensus voting by fans, players, and coaches throughout the league.
Chargers’ DE Joey Bosa was the only Buckeye to land in the top 20 among fan votes (406,873 votes), and Saints CB Marshon Lattimore is the only Buckeye rookie to make the cut.
Here’s the full list of the Ohio State alumni on the Pro Bowl rosters:
Team AFC Buckeyes
| Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Player | Position | Team |
| Joey Bosa | Defensive End | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Ryan Shazier | Inside Linebacker | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Team NFC Buckeyes
| Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Player | Position | Team |
| Malcolm Jenkins | Strong Safety | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Marshon Lattimore | Cornerback | New Orleans Saints |
| Michael Thomas | Wide Receiver | New Orleans Saints |
The NFL will host an entire week of activities in the Orlando area leading up to the big game, including the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge and NFL Pro Bowl Experience (a free football festival). The 2018 Pro Bowl game will kick-off on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. ET, and will be televised on ESPN.