PISCATAWAY, N.J. (December 28, 2010) – Former Rutgers standouts Devin McCourty and Shaun O’Hara were selected to the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl Tuesday evening, the NFL announced. McCourty earned his first Pro Bowl invitation as a rookie while O’Hara was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive season.

The 2011 Pro Bowl marks the second consecutive year that two Scarlet Knights have been selected to the Pro Bowl. Last year, Ray Rice and O’Hara played in the game in Miami.

The Pro Bowl will take place Sunday, January 30 from Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The game will be played between the league championship games and the Super Bowl. Pro Bowlers on the two Super Bowl teams will not play.

McCourty, one of two first round draft picks for the Scarlet Knights in the 2010 NFL Draft, is the fourth Patriots player to be selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, joining Mike Haynes (1976), John Stephens (1988) and Curtis Martin (1995). He is the first-ever Rutgers rookie to earn the honor.

McCourty has started all 15 games for the AFC-leading Patriots. He heads into the final week of the season tied for second in the NFL with six interceptions. The six interceptions by a Patriots rookie are second to the eight by Mike Haynes in 1976. McCourty is third on the team with 81 total tackles. He has also recorded six interceptions for 110 yards, one sack, 15 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and 11 special teams tackles.

Despite only playing in six games due to injury this season, O’Hara was given the nod after receiving strong support from the fan vote. O’Hara is the first-ever Rutgers player to be selected to three straight Pro Bowls.