Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) kicks a field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn (cowboyswire)
Two former USFL players, K Brandon Aubrey and return specialist KaVontae Turpin, are headed to the Pro Bowl. Other spring football players finished among the top 10 in fan voting, with three being chosen as alternates.
Aubrey and Turpin, teammates with the Dallas Cowboys, were selected by the NFL’s combination of fan, player, and coach voting to represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl. While an actual game is no longer played, there are competitions that weekend and many players have incentives in their contracts that kick in if selected to the Pro Bowl.
The former Birmingham Stallion Aubrey has seen his field goal percentage slip this year, but still has nailed over 80% of his kicks, including a league-long 65-yarder. He has also made 100% of his extra points. This is Aubrey’s second Pro Bowl in as many seasons. Turpin has returned one kickoff and one punt for touchdowns this season and paces the NFL in kickoff return yardage. It’s his second Pro Bowl honor, the first coming in 2022.
The top 10 at each position in fan voting was released a few days ago. Aubrey was fifth at kicker and Turpin first as a returner. Jake Bates finished ahead of Aubrey in the fan voting at kicker, coming in third, and will be an alternate. Two former XFL 2020 alums, Christian Kuntz and Nick Moore, were third and 10th respectively at the long snapper position among fan votes, while the USFL’s Mitchell Fraboni was ninth.. From XFL 2023, P Daniel Whelan was ninth at the punter spot. Bates, Moore, and Fraboni were named alternates at their respective positions.
This year’s Pro Bowl will consist of a flag football game and various skills competitions, and will take place on January 30 and February 2. It will emanate from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
