Neither Alabama nor Auburn is guaranteed to have a former player in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12. None of the state’s other college football programs is either.
But there will be former Alabama high school players in the NFL’s title game for the 17th year in a row, and at least one will walk off the field at State Farm Stadium as a world champion.
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As the NFL begins the second round of its playoffs for the 2022 season on Saturday, 15 players from Alabama high schools are on the active rosters of the remaining eight teams. Every team has at least one, ensuring the representation streak will continue and a Super Bowl ring will be won.
In the 56 previous Super Bowls, 97 players from 75 Alabama high schools have appeared on the active rosters of participating teams.
Of the alumni from Alabama colleges on the active rosters of the eight remaining teams, Alabama has 10 players, Auburn has four and Jacksonville State, Samford, South Alabama and UAB have one apiece. Auburn has the longest active participation streak in the Super Bowl among the state colleges. In each of the previous seven Super Bowls, a former Tiger has gotten on the field.
Based on the active rosters of the 14 playoff teams before the Super Wild-Card Weekend games, LSU had 24 alumni in the playoffs, with fellow SEC members Georgia providing 22 postseason players and Alabama 20. Georgia from the AFC side and Notre Dame from the NFC side were the only programs assured of having an active-roster player at the Super Bowl.
After last weekend’s results, Clemson and Ohio State have the most alumni still playing with 14 apiece. Georgia and Oklahoma have 12 former players each on active rosters.
Clemson, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State and West Virginia has joined the list of programs assured of sending an active-roster alumnus to Super Bowl LVII. But no program has yet become assured of producing a winning player in this season’s NFL championship game.
The players with Alabama football roots on the rosters of the remaining playoff teams include:
AFC
Buffalo Bills
· Jared Mayden, safety, Alabama
· Siran Neal, cornerback, Eufaula, Jacksonville State
Cincinnati Bengals
· Allan George, cornerback, Andalusia
· Evan McPherson, kicker, Fort Payne
· Cam Taylor-Britt, cornerback, Park Crossing
· Jonah Williams, offensive tackle, Alabama
Jacksonville Jaguars
· Josh Allen, defensive end/outside linebacker, Abbeville
· Practice squad: Gerrit Prince, tight end, UAB
· Reserve/suspended by commissioner: Calvin Ridley, wide receiver, Alabama
· Reserve/injured: Cam Robinson, offensive tackle, Alabama
· Reserve/injured: Jordan Smith, defensive end/outside linebacker, UAB
· Daniel Thomas, safety, Lee-Montgomery, Auburn
· Practice squad: Deionte Thompson, safety, Alabama
· Darious Williams, cornerback, UAB
· Practice squad: Darryl Williams, center, Bessemer City
· Practice squad: Seth Williams, wide receiver, Paul Bryant, Auburn
Kansas City Chiefs
· Reserve/injured: Justyn Ross, wide receiver, Central-Phenix City
· Kadarius Toney, wide receiver, Blount
· Prince Tega Wanogho, offensive tackle, Edgewood Academy, Auburn
NFC
Dallas Cowboys
· Trevon Diggs, cornerback, Alabama
· Practice squad: Anthony Rush, defensive tackle, UAB
· Jalen Tolbert, wide receiver, McGill-Toolen, South Alabama
· Sam Williams, defensive end, Lee-Montgomery
New York Giants
· Landon Collins, safety, Alabama
· Practice squad: Korey Cunningham, offensive tackle, Montevallo
· Cor’Dale Flott, cornerback, Saraland
· Xavier McKinney, safety, Alabama
· Evan Neal, offensive tackle, Alabama
· Reserve/injured: Aaron Robinson, cornerback, Alabama
· Darius Slayton, wide receiver, Auburn
· Reserve/injured: Nick Williams, defensive lineman, Minor, Samford
Philadelphia Eagles
· Reed Blankenship, safety, West Limestone
· James Bradberry, cornerback, Pleasant Grove, Samford
· Landon Dickerson, guard, Alabama
· Jack Driscoll, offensive lineman, Auburn
· Jalen Hurts, quarterback, Alabama
· Josh Jobe, cornerback, Alabama
· Reserve/injured: Arryn Siposs, punter, Auburn
· DeVonta Smith, wide receiver, Alabama
· Quez Watkins, wide receiver, Athens
San Francisco 49ers
· Practice squad: Jackrabbit Jenkins, cornerback, North Alabama
· Reserve/injured: Jordan Matthews, tight end, Madison Academy
· Jimmie Ward, safety, Davidson
Each NFL team is allowed to elevate two practice-squad members to active status for each game.
The results and schedule for the NFL playoffs (with all times Central and point spreads from Catena):
SUPER WILD-CARD WEEKEND
Saturday, Jan. 14
· NFC: No. 2 San Francisco 49ers 41, No. 7 Seattle Seahawks 23
· AFC: No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars 31, No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers 30
Sunday, Jan. 15
· AFC: No. 2 Buffalo Bills 34, No. 7 Miami Dolphins 31
· NFC: No. 6 New York Giants 31, No. 3 Minnesota Vikings 24
· AFC: No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals 24, No. 6 Baltimore Ravens 17
Monday, Jan. 16
· NFC: No. 5 Dallas Cowboys 31, No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14
DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS
Saturday, Jan. 21
· AFC: No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars (10-8) at No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (14-3), 3:30 p.m. (NBC, Peacock, Universo) Line: Chiefs by 9.
· NFC: No. 6 New York Giants (10-7-1) at No. 1 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3), 7:15 p.m. (FOX, FOX Deportes) Line: Eagles by 7.5.
Sunday, Jan. 22
· AFC: No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals (13-4) at No. 2 Buffalo Bills (14-3), 2 p.m. (CBS, Paramount+) Line: Bills by 5.5.
· NFC: No. 5 Dallas Cowboys (13-5) at No. 2 San Francisco 49ers (14-4), 5:30 p.m. (FOX, FOX Deportes) Line: 49ers by 4.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sunday, Jan. 29
· NFC: 2 p.m. (FOX, FOX Deportes)
· AFC: 5:30 p.m. (CBS, Paramount+)
SUPER BOWL LVII
Sunday, Feb. 12
· AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 5:30 p.m. at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (FOX, FOX Deportes)
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
