Five Southwest Florida natives have a chance to reach Super Bowl LII on Sunday

For Jevon Kearse, the memories of playing in NFL conference championship games are vivid.

The North Fort Myers High graduate recalled Philadelphia Eagles coaches moving him from left to right defensive end so he could stymie Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. It worked. The Eagles won the 2005 NFC Championship Game 27-10 to go to Super Bowl XXXIX, where they lost to the New England Patriots.

Five years earlier, the Tennessee Titans team he played on met the Jacksonville Jaguars for the AFC title. Before the game, the Titans found out the Jaguars players made a song about going to the Super Bowl.

The song flopped when the Titans won 33-14 to go to Super Bowl XXXIV, where they lost to the St. Louis Rams.

“The margin for error is very small,” said Kearse, who played 11 seasons in the NFL ending in 2009. “These types of football games, a simple mistake is why you go home and sit and watch.”

Four players and one coach from Southwest Florida have a chance to join Kearse as a local to appear in the big game when the New England Patriots meet the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Championship Game and the Philadelphia Eagles will play host to the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.

Jacksonville is represented by North Fort Myers High’s Tommy Bohanon, a fullback, and Fort Myers High’s Mark Collins, a linebacker coach. Minnesota has Immokalee cornerback Mackensie Alexander and South Fort Myers’ Jayron Kearse, who were drafted in the same year, 2016. Philadelphia has cornerback Jaylen Watkins from Cape Coral.

Besides being from the 239, the quintet share something else: Their organizations have never won a Super Bowl.

But first things first. They must get there.

“You know, we’re still focusing on this AFC Championship game," Bohanon said. "We have to make sure that we win this game or the next game won’t happen. That’s our mindset.”

De'Vondre Campbell's amazing journey from Cypress Lake High to the Super Bowl

The Jaguars

Fort Myers High football coach Sammy Sirianni sent a text to Collins, his former all-state offensive lineman, congratulating him on last Sunday’s 45-42 Jaguars win over Pittsburgh.

“He knows I’m a Steelers fan,” said Sirianni.

Fort Myers grad Collins lands with Jets

He said Collins texted him back saying everything has been a whirlwind since it’s his first year with the team.

“He has coach written all over him,” Sirianni said. “There’s a professionalism about him that gushes out. Brilliant mind, very analytical.

“He also has a great rapport with his players because he’s a straight shooter. Very matter of fact. I’m proud of him.”

This is Collins’ eighth season in the NFL. He previously coached with the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets. Before that, he coached for 11 years in college.

This also is the first year for Bohanon in Jacksonville. In fact, he was out of football as no team picked him up after being released by the Jets before the 2016 season. Not many players get a second chance in the NFL, which makes this special.

“Oh my goodness,” said Audrey Bohanon, Tommy’s mother. “This right here is every parents’ dream come true.”

Added his father Thomas Bohanon with a hearty laugh, “From not being in the league to the AFC Championship. That Pittsburgh game was wonderful, what a roller-coaster. Nearly gave me a heart attack.”

The Bohanons moved from Cape Coral to five acres of land in North Fort Myers about 15 years ago. They lived on dirt roads and few people knew who they were.

So when they saw a 10-year-old Tommy pulling tractor tires around the block as part of his workout routine, neighbors thought it was something else.

“Now you need to know around the block is two miles down our road,” Audrey said. “People would look at us and say, ‘What did that kid do to have to pull those tires and get that abuse?’ Once they got to know him it was, ‘Oh, OK, now we know why he’s doing that.”

Southwest Florida to NFL: Jaguars fans have made North grad Tommy Bohanon feel at home

Bohanon’s athletic talent always amazed his parents.

The family owns a concrete business and Tommy Bohanon would pick up huge concrete pieces that had been broken up by machines.

“We said, ‘You’re gonna break your back son, pick up smaller pieces,’” Audrey said. “He’d say, ‘No, let’s get it done.’ Then we said, ‘You’re gonna kill me and your dad. You’re even killing the machines.’"

They also saw him jump over three-foot fences, explode out of the pool while wearing weights and do splits while playing first base for the Red Knights’ baseball team.

“And those were girls splits,” Audrey said.

Thomas added, “The fans in the stands, especially the men, would go, ‘Ewwww.’"

The Vikings

When Alexander talks with Bernardo Barnhart, a vice president with First Bank in Immokalee, their conversations often steer away from football.

“He asks me about properties,” Barnhart said. “He said, ‘I’m looking to buy property and invest back in the community.' We’re having an open house in March, and he wants to come.

“When he comes to Immokalee, he volunteers his time at the Boys and Girls Club. He doesn’t let the NFL thing, the limelight affect him. He shows up in his mom and dad’s minivan. He’s very mature for his age.”

Alexander also had a huge influence on Bernardo Jr.

Minnesota Vikings' Alexander returns to Immokalee, gives backpacks to kids

“He’s not a big kid but Mackensie told him, ‘It’s not important how big you are. What’s important is how much you want it.’"

Young Bernardo proceeded to run seven miles a day. Now 12, the seventh-grader from Ave Maria hasn’t had a soda or piece of candy since he was in third grade.

This past December, Bernardo Jr. competed in the 3K Junior Olympics national championships in Tallahassee.

'To be the best': Ave Maria preteen striving to be an Olympic runner

It didn't take the elder Barnhart long to learn about Alexander's intensity and drive when  they first met at Immokalee High.

“The booster club had a meeting at lunchtime,” said Barnhart, who broadcasts the Indians' football games on the radio. “He was just focused, focused. I said, ‘Hey Mackensie, how’s it goin’?’ and he said, ‘I’m just preparing for school and next week’s opponent.' He was studying his SATs. You could tell the kid was different.”

Kearse, Alexander celebrate Clemson win

Javon Kearse, who texts with Jayron Kearse occasionally, offered a few tips to his nephew.

Those included proving yourself and once you get a shot, take advantage of it.

“Don’t give them a reason to put you back on the bench,” Kearse said. “Be prepared, study your playbook. It’s not easy to focus. You can fall asleep in meetings. But get mental reps.

“In college, I was supposed to be a back-up but the guy got hurt going into the first game. They threw me in and I never looked back. In Tennessee, I was supposed to play behind a guy but he got in a car accident. I became a starter.

“Now, when some guys get drafted early, they lose a little bit of the hunger. But Jayron went in the seventh round so that should fuel his fire. Get into the rotation and anything can happen. Just stayed focused.”

Jaylen Watkins' celebrates NFL Draft, graduation

The Eagle 

In his senior season at Cape Coral High, Collin Saring dueled Jaylen Watkins for the starting quarterback role in 2008.

“This was a guy who ran a 4.4 40 and was being recruited by the top colleges in the country,” Saring said. “I was going to Webber International.”

But Saring found out in The News-Press that he won the job.

“Jaylen was such a freakishly good athlete, I think you could’ve put him at left tackle and he would’ve figured it out,” Saring said. “They would put him in at times at quarterback for change of pace. He could throw a slant or he could run a zone read. We had a college-esque offense.”

Saring’s rivalry with Watkins turned into a friendship. He and his wife went to Philadelphia for last year’s NFL draft and afterwards they had brunch with Watkins and his wife.

“He’s the same guy,” Saring said. “Fame didn’t change him, twitter didn’t change, Instagram didn’t change him. Before and after games I text him and wish him good luck and he always responds from the locker room.

“And now I’m a diehard Eagles fan.”

Spencer Boyd, who has been friends with Watkins since elementary school, added, “He’s definitely excited. He’s very grateful and blessed to be in this position and he wants to take advantage of every opportunity.”

A total of 10 players from Southwest Florida have played in the Super Bowl. Six players have won Super Bowls.

2017: De’Vondre Campbell, Atlanta Falcons: Had three tackles in a 34-28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots.

2016: Tre Boston, Carolina Panthers: The 2010 graduate of North Fort Myers High had a tackle for the Panthers in a 24-10 loss to Denver in Super Bowl 50.

2014: Matt Prater, Denver Broncos: The 2002 Estero High graduate only had a kickoff in Denver’s 43-8 loss to Seattle in Super Bowl XLVIII.

2013: Terrance Cody, Baltimore Ravens: The 2006 Riverdale High graduate played Super Bowl XLVII at defensive tackle for the Ravens, making one assisted tackle against the San Francisco 49ers. The Ravens won 34-31.

2009: Anthony Hargrove, New Orleans Saints: The 2001 Port Charlotte High graduate started in Super Bowl XLIV, winning a ring with the New Orleans Saints against the Indianapolis Colts. He made two tackles with one assist in the 31-17 victory.

2008: Edgerrin James, Arizona Cardinals: The 1996 Immokalee High graduate played in Super Bowl XLIII, starting at running back for the Arizona Cardinals. He gained for 33 yards on nine carries in the 27-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2005: Jevon Kearse, Philadelphia Eagles: Kearse played in Super Bowl XXXIV. He made one tackle with one assist in the Eagles’ 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots.

2003: Martin Gramatica, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The 1994 LaBelle High graduate kicked his way to Super Bowl XXXVII. He scored 12 points in the game as the Bucs defeated the Oakland Raiders 48-21.

2003: Greg Spires, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The 1993 Mariner High graduate won a ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. He started and made three tackles in the 48-21 victory.

2000: Jevon Kearse, Tennessee Titans: The defensive end and 1995 North Fort Myers High graduate had a sack in Super Bowl XXXIV in the Titans’ 23-16 loss to the St. Louis Rams.

1996: Deion Sanders, Dallas Cowboys: The 1985 North Fort Myers High graduate won his second straight Super Bowl while he helped the Cowboys win their third NFL Championship in four years after a 27-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in in Super Bowl XXIX. He caught a pass for 47 yards while he returned a punt for 11 yards.

1995: Deion Sanders, San Francisco 49ers: Deion Sanders: The 1985 North Fort Myers High graduate started at cornerback for the 49ers and had an interception in Super Bowl XXX, a 49-26 triumph over the San Diego Chargers.

1979, 1978, 1976: Burton Lawless, Dallas Cowboys: The offensive guard and 1971 Charlotte High School graduate, started as a rookie for the Cowboys in Super Bowl X, a 21-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He came off the bench in Super Bowl XII, in which he won a ring in a 27-10 win over Denver. He also came off the bench in Super Bowl XIII, a 35-31 loss to the Steelers.

» Fred McCrary was on injured reserve with a torn hamstring, the 1991 Naples High graduate started three regular-season games for the New England Patriots team that went on to win Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers. Denver Broncos tight end Jeff Heuerman sat out the entire 2015 season with a knee injury. Denver won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers.  

NFL playoffs

AFC Championship: Jacksonville Jaguars (12-6) at New England Patriots (14-3), 3:05 p.m., CBS

NFC Championship: Minnesota Vikings (14-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (14-3), 6:40 p.m., FOX