Denver Broncos DB Patrick Surtain II and Cincinnati Bengals DL Trey Hendrickson were named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Finalists Thursday, making the Florida boys two of the five selected as finalists.

Myles Garrett, who won last year's AP Defensive Player of the Year, alongside Wisconsin natives Zac Baun and TJ Watt round out the stable of five from which this annual prestigious accolade will be awarded.

The award was first presented in 1971 to Minnesota Vikings' DT Alan Page, who also won the NFL MVP that season, the only defensive player to conquer this exclusive feat.

Former State Champion Pat Surtain II after winning the State Championship for Plantation American Heritage

AP NFL DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

From Florida High Schools

2022 -- Nick Bosa (St. Thomas Aquinas HS) -- DE, San Francisco 49ers

2016 -- Khalil Mack (Fort Pierce Westwood) -- DE, Oakland Raiders

2003 -- Ray Lewis (Lakeland Kathleen HS) -- LB, Baltimore Ravens

2002 -- Derrick Brooks (Pensacola Booker T. Washington HS) -- LB, Tampa Bay Bucs

2000 -- Ray Lewis (Lakeland Kathleen HS) -- LB, Baltimore Ravens

1999 -- Warren Sapp (Apopka HS) -- DT, Tampa Bay Bucs

1994 -- Deion Sanders (North Fort Myers HS) -- CB, San Francisco 49ers

Deion Sanders was the first Florida homegrown player to be awarded the prestigious AP Defensive Player of the Year! The 1994 award winner from North Fort Myers HS led San Francisco, in his only season with the 49ers, to a victory in Super Bowl XXIX, capturing his first Super Bowl ring!

AP NFL DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

By Florida Colleges

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI RECIPIENTS

1992 -- Cortez Kennedy -- DT, Seattle Seahawks

1999 -- Warren Sapp (Apopka HS) -- DT, Tampa Bay Bucs

2000 -- Ray Lewis (Lakeland Kathleen HS) -- LB, Baltimore Ravens

2003 -- Ray Lewis (Lakeland Kathleen HS) -- LB, Baltimore Ravens

2004 -- Ed Reed -- S, Baltimore Ravens

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RECIPIENTS

1994 -- Deion Sanders (North Fort Myers HS) -- CB, San Francisco 49ers

2002 -- Derrick Brooks (Pensacola Booker T. Washington HS) -- LB, Tampa Bay Bucs

AP NFL DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

By NFL Franchises in Florida

MIAMI DOLPHINS AWARD RECIPIENTS

1973 -- Dick Anderson -- S, Miami Dolphins

1983 -- Doug Betters -- DE, Miami Dolphins

2006 -- Jason Taylor -- DE, Miami Dolphins

TAMPA BAY BUCS AWARD RECIPIENTS

1979 -- Lee Roy Selmon -- DE, Tampa Bay Bucs

2002 -- Derrick Brooks (Pensacola Booker T. Washington HS) -- LB, Tampa Bay Bucs

1999 -- Warren Sapp (Apopka HS) -- DT, Tampa Bay Bucs

Always for More High School Football action in the State of Florida, visit http://www.floridagridironpreps.com