CHARLOTTE– The NFC South Division Champion Carolina Panthers will have five players in representation at the 2014 Pro Bowl.

Linebacker Luke Kuechly, defensive end Greg Hardy, center Ryan Kalil, fullback Mike Tolbert and quarterback Cam Newton will all be making the trip to Hawaii Jan. 26.

First-time Pro Bowlers Kuechly and Hardy will headline for the Panthers’ top-ranked scoring defense.

“It’s an honor to be selected to the Pro Bowl. I’ve grown up watching the games at the end of the season, and it’s awesome to have a chance to be a part of it. I would like to thank the players, coaches and fans who voted for me. Our defense has played great this year and made this possible,” Kuechly says.

It will be Cam Newton’s second Pro Bowl appearance. He served as an alternate after his rookie season in 2011 when he was Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Tolbert has earned his first Pro Bowl selection by scoring a team-high seven touchdowns.

“It’s a big honor, because it shows all the hard work I put in pays off in the way I’ve been able to help my team win and by doing everything the coaches ask of me. It’s a great feeling,” Tolbert says.

This year, the Pro Bowl no longer contains the AFC versus NFC showdown that has been the annual tradition since 1971. Players will be assigned to teams through the Pro Bowl Draft on Jan. 22.

The Panthers host the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs.