If you’re looking for an unsung player (or two) to have an impact in Super Bowl 58, there may not be a better place to start than with the former FCS standouts who will participate in football’s biggest game.
There’s an excellent Super Bowl history for players from the lower half of Division I college football.
This season, a small, but solid group of FCS alumni are on the rosters of the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs and NFL champion San Francisco 49ers, who will meet on Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The Chiefs are seeking to win a second consecutive Super Bowl championship and third in five seasons. They defeated the 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl 54 on Feb. 2, 2020.
FCS on Super Bowl Rosters
Sunday, Feb. 11 (6:30 p.m. EST, CBS/Paramount+)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (14-6)
Active
LB Jack Cochrane, South Dakota (second season; 23 tackles, with high of eight against Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 7; had one tackle in Chiefs’ Super Bowl 57 win over Philadelphia Eagles)
RB Jerick McKinnon, Georgia Southern (activated from injured reserve on the eve of the Super Bowl, having last played on Dec. 17; has 4,698 yards and 34 touchdowns from scrimmage in career)
DE BJ Thompson, Stephen F. Austin (first season; Chiefs’ fifth-round draft pick in 2023 had two tackles in regular-season finale against Chargers on Jan. 7)
WR Justin Watson, Penn (sixth season; set career highs this season with 27 receptions, 460 receiving yards and three TD catches; had two receptions in Chiefs’ Super Bowl 57 win)
Practice Squad
DE Truman Jones, Harvard
QB Chris Oladokun, South Dakota State
WR Montrell Washington, Samford
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (14-5)
Active
DT Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State (eighth season; 44 tackles and seven sacks in second Pro Bowl campaign; played in Super Bowl 57 with Philadelphia)
FB Kyle Juszczyk, Harvard (11th season; voted to an eighth straight Pro Bowl; caught three passes, including a touchdown, in 49ers’ Super Bowl 54 loss to Kansas City)
S/ST George Odum, Central Arkansas (sixth season; activated on Jan. 20 after stint on injured reserve; 76 special teams tackles since 2018 are the most in the NFL)
Reserve/Injured
TE Ross Dwelley, San Diego
OT Nick Zakelj, Fordham
Practice Squad
DE Spencer Waege, North Dakota State
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