Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones and return man Devin Hester were named to the league's Pro Bowl squad on Tuesday.
The 2015 Pro Bowl will be held Jan. 25, 2015 at 8 p.m. in Glendale, Arizona, the site of Super Bowl XLIV. Like last year, it’s the unconferenced format with players selected without regard to conference in voting by fans, coaches and players.
Jones has 100 catches for 1,535 yard and six touchdown this season.
“If you look at what Julio has done, he really has done a nice job,” Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said on Tuesday. “He’s gotten better as the season has gone on.”
Hester has 42 kickoff returns for 1,021 yards. He also has 18 punt returns for 240 yards and one touchdown.
“You always like to see your guys get recognition,” Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong said. “It’s a tribute to him and a tribute to the group.”
Jones has erupted over his past three games.
He had 10 catches for 189 yards against Arizona on Nov. 30. He followed that game up with a mercurial effort against Green Bay when he caught 11 passes for 259 yards before leaving the game with a hip/oblique injury on Dec. 8.
He missed the Pittsburgh game, but returned against New Orleans and posted seven catches for 107 yards to help the Falcons win 30-14.
“There are so many good receivers in the league and there are so many guys with big stats this year,” Koetter said. “I was watching (television) at lunch the other day and they didn’t have Julio as one of the five hardest matchups in the league. I was like, ‘Man, these other guys must really be good.’ But when you think about it there are so many good receivers and guys that are having big years. Antonio Brown from Pittsburgh. The Green Bay guy (Jordy Nelson) and (Detroit’s) Calvin Johnson. There are so many good players.”
This is Jones second Pro Bowl selection. He was also picked after the 2012 season.
Jones ranks in top three in yards (1,535), receptions (100), yards per game (109.6), receptions per game (7.1), first down catches (72), targets (155), and yards after the catch (978).
Jones tied Randy Moss as the second fastest player in NFL history to reach 4,000 career receiving yards, accomplishing that feat in just 47 games.
He is also the fourth player in team history to record 100 catches in a single season, joining Roddy White (2010 and 2011), Terance Mathis (1994), and Eric Metcalf (1995).
This Hester’s fifth time being selected to the Pro Bowl.
Hester has also contributed on offense with 34 catches for 472 yards and six rushes for 36 yards with four touchdowns. He is one of just three players to score via reception, rush and return this season, joining Kansas City’s Knile Davis and Houston’s Alfred Blue.
Hester ranks fifth in the NFL with 1,769 all-purpose yards and leads the League with 1,021 kickoff return yards. He is the only kickoff returner to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark this season.
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