Florida's 5 Greatest NFL Linebackers Ever?

[OldSchoolLion]

Of the following 15 great FL hs linebackers who also played that position in the NFL, only 5 of them earned Pro Bowl honors 3 or more times.  Who are they? 

 

*****Astronaut-Wilber Marshall/Florida/NFL

*****Chaminade-Madonna-Jon Beason/UM/NFL

Columbia-Kendyll Pope/FSU/NFL

Ely-Henri Crockett/FSU/NFL

Glades Central-Johnny Rutledge/Florida/NFL

*****Kathleen-Ray Lewis/UM/NFL

Lake Mary-Keith Rivers/USC/NFL

Madison County-Geno Hayes/FSU/NFL

Miami Jackson-David Little/UF/NFL

Northwestern-Marvin Jones/FSU/NFL

Ocala Forest-Scott Brantley/Florida/NFL

*****Pensacola Washington-Derrick Brooks/FSU/NFL

Pompano Beach-Barry Krauss/Alabama/NFL

*****South Miami-Derrick Thomas/Alabama/NFL

Wakulla-Nigel Bradham/FSU/NFL

[Miamidade92]

Thomas, Beason, Lewis, Brooks, and not sure who the fifth one is. 

[OldSchoolLion]

13X Pro Bowler Ray Lewis, who played for Kathleen High and the Canes in the 90's.  He was an LB, RB and KR for the Red Devils.  In addition to being a standout on the football field, he was also an individual state champion wrestler in his senior year and a runner-up in his junior year.   After high school, he played 3 years at the University of Miami, finishing with 393 career tackle.

Lewis is best known for his successful professional career with the Baltimore Ravens. During his career, Lewis won two Super Bowls with the Ravens and competed in 13 Pro Bowls.

 

 

 

[OldSchoolLion]

11X Pro Bowler Derrick Brooks, who played for Pensacola Washington and FSU. 

https://www.fhsaa.org/departments/special-programs/hall-of-fame/members/derrick-brooks

 

[OldSchoolLion]

3X Pro Bowler Jon Beason, who played for Chaminade-Madonna and the Canes.

 

[OldSchoolLion]

9X Pro Bowler Derrick Thomas, who played for South Miami and Alabama.

 

 

[OldSchoolLion]

one to go, he was an old school player

[Perspective]

I'll go with Wilbur Marshall.  UF.  Drafted by the Bears, but I think he also played with the Redskins (and maybe another team or two).

[OldSchoolLion]

5 minutes ago, Perspective said:

I'll go with Wilbur Marshall.  UF.  Drafted by the Bears, but I think he also played with the Redskins (and maybe another team or two).

Correct!  Wilber Marshall, played linebacker, running back, tight end, qb, returned punts and even kicked field goals and extra points for Coach Jay Donnelly at Titusville Astronaut.  Heavily recruited, Marshall committed to the then lowly Gators, coached by Charley Pell.  He started his Gator career at tight end, before switching to linebacker.  He became the core of a ferocious Florida defense in 1981, setting school records for sacks with 11 and tackles for loss with 27, and was named first team All-SEC and honorable mention All-American.  He was a consensus first team All-American and finalist for the Lombardi Award as a Junior in ’82 and a senior in ’83, when he was again a Lombardi Award finalist and also named National Defensive Player of the Year by ABC Television.  He finished his college career with 343 tackles-58 for a loss, and 23 sacks.  In 12 NFL seasons as a linebacker, Marshall had 45 sacks, 23 interceptions, and 16 fumble recoveries.  He is one of only a few players who have recorded 20 sacks and 20 interceptions in their career.  He was a 3-time All-Pro, 2-time Super Bowl champion, and NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 1992.