Florida alone dominates in the NFL and many other major sports leagues. So, what has Southwest, Florida produced? ... While opinions on the "best" players may vary, here are some notable names:
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Edgerrin James - Born in Immokalee, Florida, James is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. He had a highly successful career with the Indianapolis Colts and also played for the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
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Deion Sanders - Though he wasn't born in Southwest Florida, Sanders spent much of his childhood in Fort Myers. He is considered one of the greatest cornerbacks and return specialists in NFL history, having played for multiple teams including the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and others.
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Jevon Kearse - Known as "The Freak," Kearse was born in Fort Myers, Florida. He had a standout career as a defensive end, playing primarily for the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles.
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Sammy Watkins - A wide receiver born in Fort Myers, Watkins has had a successful career in the NFL, playing for teams like the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens.
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Nate Allen - Allen, a safety born in Cape Coral, Florida, had a solid NFL career playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, and Miami Dolphins.
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Anthony Henry - Born in Immokalee, Florida, Henry had a successful career as a cornerback in the NFL. He played for the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, and Detroit Lions.
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Jaylen Watkins - Another football talent from Cape Coral, Florida, Watkins has played as a safety in the NFL. He has had stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, and Houston Texans.
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Tre Boston - Hailing from North Fort Myers, Florida, Boston has played safety for multiple NFL teams including the Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, and Los Angeles Chargers.
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Matt Prater - Born in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Prater attended Estero High School in Estero, Florida. He's known for his exceptional kicking abilities and has played for several NFL teams, most notably the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions.
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Jeff Heuerman - Born in Naples, Florida, Heuerman is a tight end who played for the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints in the NFL.
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Tommy Bohanon - Hailing from North Fort Myers, Florida, Bohanon played fullback in the NFL for the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Green Bay Packers.
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Terrence Cody - Cody, born in Fort Myers, Florida, played as a defensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens and the Arizona Cardinals.
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Rashad Butler - A native of Palm Beach County, Florida, Butler attended Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens. While not directly in Southwest Florida, Palm Beach County is often considered part of the broader South Florida region. Butler played as an offensive tackle in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, and Cleveland Browns.
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Nick Bellore - Bellore, who attended Whitefish Bay High School in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but his family moved to Southwest Florida during his youth. He played linebacker in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, and Seattle Seahawks.
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Brandon Myers - Born in Prairie City, Iowa, Myers moved to Southwest Florida during his high school years. He played tight end in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders, New York Giants, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Trevis Turner - Turner, a native of Fort Myers, Florida, played as an offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Carlos Hyde - Although not directly from Southwest Florida, Hyde attended Naples High School in Naples, Florida, before playing college football at Ohio State University. He has had a successful NFL career as a running back, playing for teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and Seattle Seahawks.
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Mackensie Alexander - Alexander, born in Immokalee, Florida, played college football at Clemson University before being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings. He currently plays cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Dallas Crawford - Originally from Fort Myers, Florida, Crawford played college football at the University of Miami before transitioning to the NFL. He had stints with the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders.
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Javien Elliott - A cornerback from Fort Myers, Florida, Elliott played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints during his NFL career.
