Michael Irvin, Joey Bosa top St. Thomas Aquinas’ most notable NFL alumni
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (BVM) – Known for producing powerhouse athletes, South Florida reigns as one of the top regions for football stardom. With countless prep schools pipelining athletes to the National Football League for decades, there is no shortage of opportunity and talent.
Leaps and bounds above the rest, there is one high school that continues to impress. Since 1966, St. Thomas Aquinas High School has seen 42 of its student-athletes reach the NFL, with 15 players on active rosters this season alone. Let’s take a look at the top five NFL studs this Fort Lauderdale school has produced.
5. Lamarcus Joyner
The 2009 High School Defensive Player of the Year award was the stepping stone needed to propel Joyner to his 23 tackles as a true freshman at Florida State University. Joyner proved a kickoff return guru and boasted 52 returns for 1,260 yards throughout his four seasons as a Seminole. Drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the second round (41st overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft, Joyner became the franchise’s leading nickelback through the 2018 season. The safety signed a four-year, $42 million dollar contract with the Oakland Raiders in 2019 before being released by the team after the 2020 season. Now a New York Jet, Joyner was sidelined with an elbow injury Week 1 and is listed on the team’s injured reserve list.
4. James White
As a three-time Super Bowl champion, White has not only secured rings, but records as well. A running back for the New England Patriots, White has the most receptions (14), reception yards by a running back (110), points scored (20) and points scored in overtime (6) in a Super Bowl contest. He is also tied for the most receptions in a playoff game (15). White saw the same record-breaking success through his earlier years at St. Thomas Aquinas and the University of Wisconsin. At St. Thomas, White rushed for 1,000 yards with 20 touchdowns his senior year which earned him all-county accolades, while also lettering in baseball. As a Badger, White was named the 2010 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and totaled 4,015 yards with 45 touchdowns through his college career.
3. Geno Atkins
An eight-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro, Atkins’ 11 years on the professional gridiron have been nothing but spectacular. A Florida native, Atkins played as a true freshman at the University of Georgia and worked his way up the ranks to snag the starting defensive tackle spot by his sophomore year. Through his last three years as a Bulldog, Atkins recorded 33 sacks which would prove a solid base for his 75.5 career sacks in the NFL. Drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010, Atkins would record 384 tackles and eight forced fumbles through 161 games. Currently a free agent, Atkins has more promise than most to make a comeback after undergoing shoulder surgery at the end of 2020.
2. Joey Bosa
Ranking No. 32 on the NFL Top 100 List of 2021, Bosa is no stranger to success. The Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker was picked third overall by the team in the 2016 draft. A standout from Ohio State, Bosa quickly made a name for himself with 41 tackles and 10.5 sacks in his first professional season, which earned him the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Widely considered one of the best pass rushers in the league, Bosa has been selected for the Pro Bowl three times through his five-year career. The second highest-paid defensive player in the league to date, Bosa has already posted 10 tackles and a forced fumble through three games this season.
1. Michael Irvin
One of the most notable wideouts in NFL history, Irvin was selected 11th overall in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Nicknamed ‘The Playmaker’ due to his unwavering ability to produce game-changing plays, he spent his entire 12-year professional career in Dallas after a monstrous college performance at the University of Miami. The Fort Lauderdale native set multiple records in Miami under head coach Jimmy Johnson, including receptions (143) and touchdown receptions (26). After winning the 1988 national championship over the Oklahoma Sooners, Irvin chose to forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the draft. Irvin saw the same success through his professional career with seven 1,000-plus yard seasons and three Super Bowl championships. After suffering a spinal cord injury in 1998, Irvin officially retired from the league. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007 and currently works as a sports commentator and guest host for the NFL Network.
