FCS Players With the Most Memorable Performances in Super Bowl History ...Middle East

From Richard Dent to Jerry Rice to Cooper Kupp to even unheralded players, FCS college football has been responsible for some of the more dominating performances in Super Bowl history. Here’s a look back at plenty of the heroics.

On football’s biggest stage, they’ve hardly been “small school” players.

That may be a moniker for NFL players who arrive from FCS college football, but as they’ve proven time and again in the Super Bowl, they thrive in the spotlight.

Following is a look back at many of the greatest single-game performances by former FCS players.

(Note two exceptions: there’s an extended picture, not just a single-game performance, for both an offensive and defensive GOAT among FCS legends. Also, greats such as Adam Vinatieri and Doug Williams aren’t included because their college careers predated their schools joining the FCS.)

Robert Alford, S, Atlanta Falcons (Southeastern Louisiana)

Alford’s overall dominance – his two takeaways included the second-longest interception return in Super Bowl history – was overshadowed that night by New England posting the largest comeback win (from 28-3 down) with the game advancing to overtime for the first time.

Steve Christie, PK, Buffalo Bills (William & Mary)

Christie’s 54-yard field goal to cap the Bills’ first possession against Dallas stood for 30 years as the longest field goal in Super Bowl history, finally surpassed twice in Super Bowl 58, with the Kansas City Chiefs’ Harrison Butker setting the new long at 57 yards against the San Francisco 49ers.

Gary Clark, WR, Washington (James Madison)

Clark hauled in a 30-yard touchdown catch while picking the right time to match his season high in receptions.

Richard Dent, DE, Chicago Bears (Tennessee State)

Dent was the first FCS college football player to earn the Super Bowl MVP award, occurring in a Bears’ mauling of the Patriots. On a sack that Dent shared with Wilbur Marshall, quarterback Tony Eason fumbled the ball away to the Bears.

Former FCS players to earn Super Bowl MVP: XX: *Richard Dent (Bears, Tennessee St)XXI: Phil Simms (Giants, Morehead St)XXIII: Jerry Rice (49ers, Mississippi Valley St)XXXIV: Kurt Warner (Rams, No Iowa)XLVII: Joe Flacco (Ravens, Delaware)LVI: Cooper Kupp (Rams, Eastern Wash) pic.twitter.com/kHYrgiVUe1

Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens (Delaware)

Flacco didn’t exactly turn the lights out on the 49ers – there was a power outage at the Superdome in the third quarter – but he earned the MVP award. He threw for the game’s first three touchdowns as the Ravens built a 21-3 lead.

Charles Haley OLB/DE, San Francisco 49ers/Dallas Cowboys (James Madison)

Here’s the FCS defensive GOAT for Super Bowls. Haley’s teams were 5-0 in Super Bowls, giving him the second-most rings behind quarterback Tom Brady. His combined 4.5 sacks were later tied by Von Miller for the most overall.

FCS Players: Most Super Bowl Wins5: Charles Haley (James Madison)3: Troy Brown (Marshall), James Develin (Brown), Charles Mann (Nevada), Tim McKyer (TX-Arlington), Nate Newton (FAMU), Jerry Rice (Miss Valley St), Mark Schlereth (Idaho) John Taylor (Del St), Justin Watson (Penn) pic.twitter.com/ueR0lSa1Dt

Rodney Harrison, S, New England Patriots (Western Illinois)

Harrison finished with more tackles in two other Super Bowls, but his two interceptions answered in a big way following his verbal feud with Eagles wide receiver Freddie Mitchell in the week prior to the game. He stopped a potential scoring drive in the first half, then iced the win with a late pick.

Chris Hogan, WR, New England Patriots (Monmouth)

The Eagles are more remembered for their “Philly Special” touchdown and upset win, but the three-year college lacrosse/one-year college football player posted one of his career’s bigger games, including a 26-yard TD.

Billy Jenkins, SS, St. Louis Rams (Howard)

The Titans’ Steve McNair (Alcorn State) is the most-remembered FCS player in this thriller, but another HBCU product also stood out. Jenkins posted the game high in tackles and pressured McNair into an incomplete pass.

Stanford Jennings, KR, Cincinnati Bengals (Furman)

The 49ers had just tied the game 6-6 in the final minute of the third quarter when Jennings answered with the second kickoff return for a touchdown in Super Bowl history.

Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams (Eastern Washington)

Kupp holds many top receiving records in FCS college football history. Capping a season of securing the NFL’s receiving Triple Crown and earning AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, he was the Super Bowl MVP. His second TD catch – a one-yarder with 1:25 left – was the game-winner.

Steve McNair, QB, Tennessee Titans (Alcorn State)

McNair’s work within and outside the pocket helped the Titans rally from a 16-0 deficit to tie the game. His rushing yards and first downs gained were the most by a Super Bowl quarterback until surpassed by Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles 23 years later.

Nate Newton, LG, Dallas Cowboys (Florida A&M)

In the second of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl wins over a four-season span, their legendary O-line powered a decisive, 24-point second half, with Newton – aka “The Kitchen – often pulling to his right to help spring Emmitt Smith, who rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns after halftime.

Terrell Owens, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (Chattanooga)

Owens went against his doctors’ advice and returned to play in the Super Bowl after suffering a broken leg and torn ligament in his right ankle just seven weeks earlier. He was targeted 14 times, the most in his 12 postseason games.

Jerry Rice, WR, San Francisco 49ers/Oakland Raiders (Mississippi Valley State)

Here’s the FCS offensive GOAT for Super Bowls, and basically for all time. The legendary Rice earned Super Bowl 23 MVP after posting a record 215 receiving yards, and he’s the only player with three TD catches in a game (SB 24 and 29). He had a TD reception in all four of his games, and 27 of his 33 overall catches (81.8%) produced first downs.

Dan Ross, TE, Cincinnati Bengals (Northeastern)

Including a pair of TD catches in the fourth quarter, Ross holds the Super Bowl single-game record for receptions by a tight end.

Phil Simms, QB, New York Giants (Morehead State)

The first-ever FCS college football player selected in the NFL Draft (1979), Simms set the Super Bowl’s single-game record for completion percentage (88.0) and passer rating. He earned the MVP award.

Michael Strahan, DE, New York Giants (Texas Southern)

The statistics don’t reflect the dominance of Strahan’s career, but he was part of the Giants’ effective defensive line that stunned a Patriots team that coming in 18-0 was denied the best record in NFL history.

Kurt Warner, QB, St. Louis Rams (Northern Iowa)

Warner earned the MVP award after setting what at that time was the Super Bowl record for passing yards. He threw downfield to Isaac Bruce for a game-winning, 73-yard TD pass with just under two minutes remaining.

Research supports provided by Stats Perform U.S. Data Insights senior editor Chase Weight.

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