Former NC State Punter AJ Cole has been named to the Pro Bowl for the 2nd consecutive year. He was added to the roster because Chiefs Punter Tommy Townsend is headed to the Super Bowl.

Cole is one of three former Wolfpack football players to be named to the Pro Bowl in 2022, joining Joe Thuney and Bradley Chubb.

i’m baaaaaaaaaack 🌭 https://t.co/wwclD0BZ0b

— AJ Cole (@AJCole90) January 30, 2023

tentative plan is lots of encouragement, high fives, and halftime hot dogs https://t.co/5rp9lK9Qos

— AJ Cole (@AJCole90) January 30, 2023

Cole ranked 4th in the NFL (and the AFC) in yards per punt in 2022, averaging 48.9 yards per punt.

This marks the 2nd time that Cole has made the Pro Bowl. Cole is 1 of 15 former NC State players to make the Pro Bowl, and 1 of 13 to earn the honor more than once.

QB Russell Wilson – 9 (2012, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, ‘21)
QB Philip Rivers – 8 (2006, ‘09, ‘10, ‘11, ‘13, ‘16, ‘17, ‘18)
WR Torry Holt – 7 (2000, ‘01 ‘03, ‘04, ‘05, ‘07, ‘08)
S Adrian Wilson – 5 (2006, ‘08, ‘09, ‘10, ‘11)
WR Mike Quick – 5 (1984, ‘85, ‘86, ‘87, ‘88)
DE Mario Williams – 4 (2008, ‘09, ‘13, ‘14)
LB Vaughan Johnson – 4 (1990, ‘91, ‘92, ‘93)
QB Roman Gabriel – 3 (1967, ‘68, ‘69)
WR Haywood Jeffires – 3 (1992, ‘93, ‘94)
OG Darrell Dess – 2 (1962, ‘63)
FB Alex Webster – 2 (1958, ’61)
LB Bradley Chubb – 2 (2020, ’22)
P AJ Cole III – 2 (2021, ’22)
OG Joe Thuney – 1 (2022)
C Jim Ritcher – 1 (1992)

Former NC State All-American Bradley Chubb has been added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster to replace an injured Khalil Mack. Chubb is one of three former Wolfpack football players to be named to the Pro Bowl in 2022, joining Joe Thuney and AJ Cole.

.@astronaut is joining the guys out in Vegas for the Pro Bowl Games!

He will replace Khalil Mack. pic.twitter.com/3F6nDhZaQk

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 31, 2023

Chubb finished the season with 39 tackles, 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 5 tackles for loss and 20 QB Hits, playing 8 games with the Broncos and 8 games with the Dolphins in 2022.

This marks the 2nd time that Chubb has made the Pro Bowl. Chubb is 1 of 15 former NC State players to make the Pro Bowl, and 1 of 13 to earn the honor more than once.

QB Russell Wilson – 9 (2012, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, ‘21)
QB Philip Rivers – 8 (2006, ‘09, ‘10, ‘11, ‘13, ‘16, ‘17, ‘18)
WR Torry Holt – 7 (2000, ‘01 ‘03, ‘04, ‘05, ‘07, ‘08)
S Adrian Wilson – 5 (2006, ‘08, ‘09, ‘10, ‘11)
WR Mike Quick – 5 (1984, ‘85, ‘86, ‘87, ‘88)
DE Mario Williams – 4 (2008, ‘09, ‘13, ‘14)
LB Vaughan Johnson – 4 (1990, ‘91, ‘92, ‘93)
QB Roman Gabriel – 3 (1967, ‘68, ‘69)
WR Haywood Jeffires – 3 (1992, ‘93, ‘94)
OG Darrell Dess – 2 (1962, ‘63)
FB Alex Webster – 2 (1958, ’61)
LB Bradley Chubb – 2 (2020, ’22)
P AJ Cole III – 2 (2021, ’22)
OG Joe Thuney – 1 (2022)
C Jim Ritcher – 1 (1992)

Former NC State Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers has set himself up well to get a big pay day this offseason.

Meyers led the Patriots in receiving yards (804) and touchdown receptions (6) in 2022, and ranked 2nd on the team in receptions (67) behind Running Back Rhamondre Stevenson (69). In 2021, he led New England in receptions (83) and receiving yards (866). In 2020, Meyers did the same thing with 59 receptions for 729 yards.

This year, Meyers was given the Ed Block Courage Award by the Pats as the player on the roster that most exemplified courage, sportsmanship, professionalism and dedication.

Jakobi Meyers is the winner of the Patriots 2022 Ed Block Courage Award, given to the player who exemplifies courage, sportsmanship, professionalism and dedication.

Meyers played through a knee injury at the beginning of the season. Then a concussion and shoulder injury later.

— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) January 12, 2023

Pats head coach Bill Belichick had this to say about Meyers:

“Well he’s a tough kid, mentally, physically,” Bill Belichick said of Meyers on January 6. “He’s shown a lot of leadership and competitiveness like he always does. So, yeah, I’m glad we have him. Glad he’s out there. I know he’s had to fight through some things, so have a lot of other guys. But he’s done a good job of that.” (link)

If it were up to Meyers, he’d like to resign with New England.

Meyers has been one of the best homegrown receivers in Patriots history. His 2,758 receiving yards is the 2nd most by a player in their first 4 years in the league in New England, trailing only the legendary Tight End Rob Gronkowski.

Jakobi Meyers has 2,758 receiving yards in his first four NFL seasons.

The only Patriot with more (through four years) since 2000 is Rob Gronkowski (3,255).

Meyers passed Deion Branch (2,744) on Sunday. He’s one of the best homegrown WRs in the Belichick era.

— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) January 10, 2023

Consider the fact that Meyers signed with the Pats as an undrafted free agent in 2019, and that stat becomes much more impressive.

Through 4 seasons, already ranks in the Top-10 in NC State history in both receptions (9th) and receiving yards (8th).

Meyers was paid $3.986 million this season on a 1-year deal, but he could be looking to make something more in line with $18 million annually, which is the deal that Christian Kirk signed with the Jags this past offseason.

The Wild Card round of the 2023 NFL Playoffs was last weekend, and — former NC State football players were represented.

Linebacker Germaine Pratt had 8 tackles and 1 pass breakup in the Bengals 24-17 victory over the Ravens. His teammate, Defensive Tackle B.J. Hill had 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and 1 QB Hit.

Pratt was a big part of causing Baltimore Quarterback Tyler Huntley to fumble it on the goal line, that led to a 98-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Cincy’s Sam Hubbard.

LOGAN WILSON AND GERMAINE PRATT DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT HERE pic.twitter.com/QyYqCVzAXx

— xz-Patrick Kinman (@Patchman513) January 16, 2023

BJ Hill with a sack of his own pic.twitter.com/I1AeGcOXji

— Mike (@bengals_sans) January 16, 2023

BJ Hill runs down Tyler Huntley on counter read pic.twitter.com/kJYZrE5Erw

— Mike (@bengals_sans) January 16, 2023

Linebacker Bradley Chubb had 1 sack in the Dolphins 31-34 loss to the Bills.

Bradley Chubb with the BIG strip sack on Josh Allen! 🔥🔥 #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/fl0ieNkj4Q

— Ball Brief (@BallBrief_) January 15, 2023

Running Back Nyheim Hines returned 2 kickoffs for an average of 28 yards, and returned 3 punts for an average of 5.7 yards in the Bills’ 34-31 victory over the Dolphins. He also had 1 reception for 7 yards.

Cornerback Nick McCloud had 2 tackles in the Giants 31-23 win over the Giants.

WWWWWWW !!!!!!!!! LFG 🍎 pic.twitter.com/8ITajgHrbr

— Nick McCloud (@NickMcCloud4_) January 16, 2023

Defensive Tackle T.Y. McGill didn’t record any stats in the 49ers 41-23 win over the Seahawks, but he did play in 19 snaps.

Center Garrett Bradbury returned from injury, and played 100% of the snaps in Minnesota’s 24-31 loss to New York.