Have you ever wondered where players in the Super Bowl played in college? What was their recruiting rank in high school? What their stats were before the pros? We breakdown all you need to know about the college careers of the key players in this year’s Super Bowl, Super Bowl LIV.
San Francisco 49ers
QB Jimmy Garoppolo – Eastern Illinois
Garoppolo had excellent accuracy and vision in college. He’s showcased it the last few seasons and should continue to do so. Garoppolo was elite in his time at Eastern Illinois. Here’s his stats from 2011-2013:
- 2011: 2,644 Passing yards 20 TDs
- 2012: 3,823 Passing yards 31 TDs
- 2013: 5,050 Passing yards 53 TDs
Recruiting Ranking: 2⭐
RB Tevin Coleman – Indiana
Coleman was sensational at Indiana averaging 7.1 yards per carry. He had 3,219 rushing yards, 28 TDs, 54 receptions, and 383 yards in his career. He ran for over 2,000 yards in his final season in 2014.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
RB Raheem Mostert – Purdue
Mostert didn’t have huge stats in college. He had 759 rushing yards, 6 TDs, and 18 receptions for 116 yards. Mostert has been part of seven NFL teams, but has finally found his home in San Francisco.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
WR Emmanuel Sanders – SMU
Sanders had a remarkable career for the Mustangs. He hauled in 285 passes for 3,791 yards and 34 touchdowns. He also added a punt return TD.
Recruiting Ranking: 2⭐
WR Deebo Samuel – South Carolina
Samuel did it all for the Gamecocks. He had 148 receptions for 2,076 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also had 7 rushing TDs and was an excellent return specialist with 4 kick return touchdowns.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
TE George Kittle – Iowa
Kittle was a Linebacker/WR in high school and was ranked as the 199th best WR in the 2012 class. He only weighed 200 pounds. So he definitely developed his game/body in college. He had 48 receptions and 737 yards to go along with 10 TDs for the Hawkeyes.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
DE Nick Bosa – Ohio State
Bosa had 77 tackles, 29 Tackles for Loss, 17.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles in college. He was a highly ranked recruit coming out of HS and lived up to the hype.
Recruiting Ranking: 5⭐
DE Dee Ford – Auburn
Ford was an elite pass rusher for the Tigers. He had 93 tackles, 27.5 TFL, 20.5 sacks, 1 INT and 3 forced fumbles in college.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
DT Sheldon Day – Notre Dame
Day was a force on the Irish D-Line. An extraordinary run stuffer who would also make his way into the backfield. He had 141 tackles, 32 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 8 PBUs and 2 forced fumbles at Notre Dame.
Recruiting Ranking: 4⭐
DL DeForest Buckner – Oregon
Buckner had a spectacular four years for the Ducks. The 6’7″ 300-pounder was too much for offensive linemen to handle. He had 232 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 18 sacks & 2 forced fumbles.
Recruiting Ranking: 4⭐
DL Arik Armstead – Oregon
The massive 6’8″ Armstead had 87 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 PBU, and 1 Forced fumble in his time in Eugene.
Recruiting Ranking:5⭐
LB Kwon Alexander – LSU
Alexander was a full time starter in his sophomore and junior season. And in that two year stretch, he had 167 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.
Recruiting Ranking: 4⭐
LB Fred Warner – BYU
Warner was a big pickup for BYU and he lived up to the hype for the Cougars. In his college career, he had 262 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 7 INTs, 3 forced fumbles, and 5 fumble recoveries.
Recruiting Ranking: 4⭐
LB Dre Greenlaw – Arkansas
Greenlaw was a tackling machine for the Razorbacks. He amassed 321 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 INTs and 4 forced fumbles.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
CB Richard Sherman – Stanford
Sherman was overlooked as a recruit, and overlooked in the 2011 NFL Draft. He was drafted in the 5th round, and he’s one of the top players in the NFL. In college, he had 113 tackles & 6 INTs.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
CB Ahkello Witherspoon – Colorado
Witherspoon is one of those players who has had a better NFL career in three seasons than he had in three college seasons. At Colorado he had 71 tackles and 3 INTs.
Recruiting Ranking: 2⭐
FS Jimmie Ward – Northern Illinois
Ward was one of the best DBs in his time in CFB. He had 318 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 11 INTs. Ward had 7 INTs in his final season in 2013.
Recruiting Ranking: Unranked
Offensive Linemen
OT Joe Staley – 2⭐
OG Laken Tomlinson – 3⭐
OC Ben Garland – Unranked
OG Mike Person – Unranked
OT Mike McGlinchey – 4⭐
Kansas City Chiefs
QB Patrick Mahomes – Texas Tech
Mahomes had an amazing college career statistically. He had 11,252 passing yards and 93 passing touchdowns. On the ground, he added 845 rushing yards and 22 TDs. Mahomes is now one of the best players in the NFL.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
RB Damien Williams – Oklahoma
Williams is one of the many excellent RBs to play for the Sooners lately. Williams had 1,499 rushing yards and 18 TDs, while averaging 5.2 ypc. He also added 410 receiving yards and 1 touchdown.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
RB LeSean McCoy – Pittsburgh
McCoy rushed for 2,816 yards 35 Touchdowns and caught 65 passes for 549 yards 1 TD in two seasons at Pittsburgh. He was elusive and electric at Pitt and was incredibly enjoyable to watch.
Recruiting Ranking: 4⭐
FB Anthony Sherman – UConn
Sherman was recruited as a linebacker and was a utility type of player for the Huskies. He had 48 receptions for 477 yards and 1 TD. He also added 61 rushing yards and 63 tackles.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
WR Mecole Hardman – Georgia
Hardman had 60 receptions for 961 yards and 11 TDs in his collegiate career. He also added 2 rushing TDs and a PR TD. He’s a versatile player who’s showed a ton of potential in his rookie season.
Recruiting Ranking: 5⭐
WR Sammy Watkins – Clemson
Watkins was one of the big time recruits who went to Clemson and got this new era of dominance started. He had 240 receptions for 3,391 yards and 27 TDs, also adding a rushing TD for the Tigers.
Recruiting Ranking: 5⭐
WR Tyreek Hill – Oklahoma State
Hill was basically a utility type of player for the Cowboys. At Okie St he had 534 rushing yards, 1 TD, 31 rec for 281 yards 1 TD, 1 punt return TD and 2 kick return touchdowns.
Recruiting Ranking: 4⭐
TE Travis Kelce – Cincinnati
Kelce has developed into the best TE in the NFL. His college numbers don’t blow you away with 59 catches for 875 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, in the NFL he already has over 35 touchdowns.
Recruiting Ranking: 2⭐
DE Tanoh Kpassagnon – Villanova
Villanova was the only offer for the 6’7″ 290-pounder. But it only takes one offer to make your dreams come true and Kpassagnon did that. With the Wildcats he had 105 tackles, 37.5 TFL & 22 sacks.
Recruiting Ranking: Unranked
DT Chris Jones – Mississippi State
Jones had 102 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 10 pass breakups in his collegiate career.
Recruiting Ranking: 5⭐
DT Derrick Nnadi – Florida State
Nnadi was an elite player in college. He was a run stuffer who could also get into the backfield. He had 165 tackles, 24.5 TFL, 12 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 3 forced fumbles.
Recruiting Ranking: 4⭐
DE Frank Clark – Michigan
Clark is one of those players who was good in college but seems to have taken another step in his game in the NFL. For the Wolverines he had 114 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, and 3 fumble recoveries.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
DE Terrell Suggs – Arizona State
Suggs was a monster for the Sun Devils, and he’s been a monster in the #NFL. In college he had 163 tackles, a school record 65.5 TFL, 44 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, 2 INTs, and 9 PBUs.
Recruiting Ranking: 4⭐
LB Anthony Hitchens – Iowa
Hitchens was your normal Hawkeye: a 3-star recruit who was developed and turned into a great player. In college he had 270 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
LB Damien Wilson – Minnesota
Wilson had a productively under the radar career at Minnesota. He totaled 186 Tackles, 15 Tackles for Loss, 5 Sacks, 1 INT and 1 Forced Fumble.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
CB Charvarius Ward – MTSU
Ward was unknown by many CFB fans, and his college stats won’t necessarily impress. However, he’s developed into a solid NFL player. He had 74 tackles, 1 sack, 3 TFL, and 2 INTs for MTSU.
Recruiting Ranking: 2⭐
CB Bashaud Breeland – Clemson
Breeland had 136 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 7 PBUs, and 6 Interceptions for the Tigers.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
CB Kendall Fuller – Virginia Tech
Fuller was the last of four excellent Fuller brothers to play for the Hokies. He was a big time recruit who started as a freshman. He totaled 119 tackles, 8 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 8 INTs, and 25 PBUs.
Recruiting Ranking: 5⭐
DB Daniel Sorensen – BYU
Sorensen was a ball hawk and excellent tackler. He had 215 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 8 INTs, and 1 forced fumble for the Cougs.
Recruiting Ranking: 3⭐
DB Tyrann Mathieu – LSU
The Honey Badger was one of my favorite defensive players to watch play CFB. He was a do it all player with 133 tackles, 16 TFL, 6 Sacks, 4 INTs, 16 PBUs, 11 Forced Fumbles,and 2 Punt Return TDs. Electric.
Recruiting Ranking: 4⭐
Offensive Linemen
OT Eric Fisher – 2⭐
OG Andrew Wylie – 2⭐
OC Austin Reiter – 2⭐
OG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif – Unranked
OT Mitchell Schwartz – 3⭐
