NJCAA Alumni Garett Bolles, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Byron Young Earn 2026 NFL Pro Bowl Honors
Charlotte, NC — The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) proudly recognizes Garett Bolles, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Byron Young on their selection to the 2026 NFL Pro Bowl, celebrating not only their professional success but the junior college foundations that helped launch their paths to the NFL.
Each athlete's rise to football's highest level reflects the NJCAA's mission of providing opportunities for student-athletes to reach their full potential.
Garett Bolles began his collegiate football career at Snow College (UT), where he quickly emerged as one of the nation's top offensive line prospects and was named to the 2015 NJCAA All-America First Team. His standout performance with the Badgers earned him a scholarship to the University of Utah, where he became a 2016 All-Pac 12 First Team member and a first-round NFL Draft pick. Bolles' 2025 Pro Bowl selection with the Denver Broncos marks another milestone in a career built on perseverance and growth that began in junior college.
DeMarcus Lawrence played at Butler Community College (KS) where he established himself as a dominant defensive force, showcasing the explosiveness and pass-rushing ability that would later make him one of the NFL's premier edge defenders. Lawrence earned 2011 All-Jayhawk Conference and NJCAA First Team All-America honors for the Grizzlies. His success at the NJCAA level propelled him to Boise State and ultimately to a Pro Bowl-caliber NFL career, where he continues to be recognized as one of the league's most impactful defenders. Lawrence will not be able to participate in this year's Pro Bowl as the Seattle Seahawks are preparing for Super Bowl LX.
Byron Young took the junior college route at Georgia Military College, using the NJCAA as a springboard to the next level. Young's time at GMC allowed him to develop physically and mentally, laying the groundwork for his eventual rise to the Southeastern Conference and the NFL. Young was a First Team All-SEC performer at the University of Tennessee. His 2025 Pro Bowl selection with the Los Angeles Rams follows a breakout professional season and highlights the NJCAA's role in developing student-athletes into elite performers.
The NJCAA proudly celebrates these alumni and their continued excellence, as Bolles, Lawrence, and Young join a growing list of former NJCAA student-athletes who have reached the NFL's biggest stages.
