Running backs lead parade of Southern Nevada players in NFL
Just call Las Vegas the home of running backs.
Of the 16 players listed on NFL rosters with Las Vegas ties as of Monday night, three of them are in the offensive backfield.
DeMarco Murray of Bishop Gorman, who gained 1,287 yards last season, will again be the lead back for the Tennessee Titans.
The all-Las Vegas backfield also includes Valley High’s Kerwynn Williams, who will back up Arizona’s David Johnson, and Canyon Springs’ Donnel Pumphrey, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Overall, Bishop Gorman has the most local players in the NFL (three). No other area high school has more than one.
UNLV has four players in the NFL, including Joe Hawley. The Buccaneers center is starting his eighth season and second with Tampa Bay. That number includes one practice squad player.
The local players provide the NFL with three defensive backs, three defensive linemen and three linebackers.
Players on NFL rosters from either UNLV or Southern Nevada high schools:
UNLV
— Brett Boyko, OL, Los Angeles Chargers (practice squad)
— Joe Hawley, C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
— Torry McTyer, DB, Miami Dolphins
— Jeremiah Valoaga, DE, Detroit Lions
Southern Nevada high schools
— Xavier Grimble, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers, Bishop Gorman
— Lawrence Guy, DT, New England Patriots, Western
— Ben Jacobs, LB, Carolina Panthers, Silverado
— Miles Killebrew, SS, Detroit Lions, Foothill
— Brandon Marshall, OLB, Denver Broncos, Cimarron-Memorial
— DeMarco Murray, RB, Tennessee Titans, Bishop Gorman
— Donnel Pumphrey, RB, Philadelphia Eagles, Canyon Springs
— LeShaun Sims, CB, Tennessee Titans, Agassi Prep
— Ronnie Stanley, OT, Baltimore Ravens, Bishop Gorman
— Korey Toomer, ILB, Los Angeles Chargers, Shadow Ridge
— Kerwynn Williams, RB, Arizona Cardinals, Valley
— Billy Winn, DT, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas High
Bill Bradley can be reached at 702-387-2909 or bbradley@reviewjournal.com. Follow @billbradleyLV on Twitter.
