Fresno State Athletics
Two Former Bulldogs Selected to Pro Bowl
12/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 19, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - Former Fresno State football greats and current NFL starters Lorenzo Neal and Logan Mankins were honored by Pro Bowl Voters and selected starters for the 2008 game in Hawai'i, February 10.
Neal, the current San Diego Charger who was honored with his fourth pro bowl selection, his third in a row, was ruled out indefinitely after breaking his right fibula in the December 9th overtime victory over his former team, Tennessee. It is uncertain as to whether or not Neal will be ready to return to the field for the playoffs or the Pro Bowl, as the Chargers clinched the AFC West Title with last Sunday's victory over Detroit.
Neal was the 89th pick in the fourth round of the 1993 draft by the New Orleans Saints. The fullback is in his 15th year in the NFL. He played for the Saints from 1993-96 and has since played for the New York Jets (1997-98), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1998), the Tennessee Titans (1999-00), the Cincinnati Bengals (2001-02) and is currently in his fourth year for the San Diego Chargers.
He is the lead blocker for one of the NFL's great young running backs, LaDainian Tomlinson, and has now served as the lead blocker for 11-consecutive 1,000-yard rushers.
Neal played for the Bulldogs from 1990-92. He was a member of the 1992 Fresno State team which defeated USC 24-7 to win Freedom Bowl IX. He was also a member of the 1991 Big West Conference championship team and the Bulldogs first ever WAC title team in 1992. Neal was an All-American honorable mention selection in 1992 and a first team All-Big West selection.
Mankins is an offensive guard for the 14-0 New England Patriots. This is the first Pro Bowl selection in the three-year career with the Patriots for Mankins. Mankins is one of 18 first-timers on this year's AFC team. He was the 32nd pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Patriots and has played in every game in his career.
He played for the Bulldogs from 2001-04 and helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2004 MPC Computer Bowl victory over Virginia. He was the only offensive lineman in school history to win the MVP award. Mankins was a first-team All-WAC and second-team All-America selection in 2004 and a freshman All-America selection in 2001.
"We are very proud of Logan and Lorenzo," said head coach Pat Hill. "They are both proven blue collar type players and it's nice to see them recognized by their peers and the fans. It says a lot of our program, that there are two starters on the AFC offensive team from Fresno State."
This year's New England Patriots are looking to become the second team in NFL history to go undefeated. The 1972 Miami Dolphins went 17-0 and won Superbowl VI.
Both New England and San Diego had eight pro bowlers selected. The Dallas Cowboys led all teams with 11.
The University of Miami led all colleges with five former Hurricanes selected as Pro Bowl Starters, including the late Sean Taylor who was the first NFL player to be named to the Pro Bowl posthumously. Kent State was second with three, followed by Fresno State, Michigan, Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Texas A&M with two each.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The Fresno State football team will play Georgia Tech in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl on Dec. 31. For ticket information and travel packages click on the icon at the top of the page.
