It's a misnomer to say FCS products won't get to play in the Super Bowl–guys like Walter Payton, Jerry Rice and Kurt Warner proved that, among others.
In fact, this year's Super Bowl features 12 FCS products who have made the Carolina and Denver rosters. Some are inactive for the Super Bowl, but hey … they're being paid to be on the roster of a Super Bowl team. Three former FCS players are expected to start for the Panthers–multi-year Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen (Idaho State) and Coastal Carolina products Josh Norman (CB) and Mike Tolbert (RB). Veteran DB Cortland Finnegan (Samford) was signed late in the year and has been a contributor for Carolina, while Sacramento State LB Todd Davis has been a key backup for Denver.
Here's a look at the 12 FCS products who are on the Super Bowl team rosters:
|
POS |
PLAYER |
COLLEGE |
YRS |
NFL |
NOTEWORTHY/THIS YR |
|
DE |
Jared Allen |
Idaho State |
12 |
Carolina |
Starting DE; 5 pro bowls |
|
WR |
Brenton Bersin |
Wofford |
3 |
Carolina |
9 catches, 119 yards, 2 starts |
|
DB |
Cortland Finnegan |
Samford |
9 |
Carolina |
18 tackles in 5 games |
|
CB |
Josh Norman |
Coastal Carolina |
4 |
Carolina |
Starting CB; 4 INTs, 56 tackles |
|
RB |
Mike Tolbert |
Coastal Carolina |
8 |
Carolina |
Starting FB; 4 touchdowns |
|
DE |
Ryan Delaire |
Towson |
R |
Carolina |
7 tack., 2.5 sacks, 9 games |
|
S |
Dean Marlowe |
James Madison |
R |
Carolina |
1 punt return, 4 games |
|
DE |
Arthur Miley |
Southern U. |
R |
Carolina |
INACTIVE |
|
DE |
Rakim Cox |
Villanova |
1 |
Carolina |
INACTIVE; 2 sacks in preseason |
|
LB |
Todd Davis |
Sacramento State |
2 |
Denver |
21 tackles, 2 starts |
|
OG |
Robert Myers Jr. |
Tennessee State |
R |
Denver |
INACTIVE |
|
WR |
Jace Davis |
Northern Colorado |
1 |
Denver |
INACTIVE |
