Allstate Sugar Bowl has many Super Bowl LVII connections

Twenty-Nine Super Bowl Participants Have Been Part of Sugar Bowl Events

NEW ORLEANS (February 8, 2024) — Twenty-nine players on rosters for Super Bowl LVII (Sunday, February 11, 2024) have connections to the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Seventeen members of the Kansas City Chiefs and 12 San Francisco 49er players either played in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, were honored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s Manning Award for their accomplishments as college quarterbacks, played in the Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA Football State Championships as high school standouts, or in one player’s case, played in the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Football Showcase.

Four players from Georgia’s 2019 and 2020 Sugar Bowls are advancing to the NFL’s biggest stage as Mecole Hardman and Malik Herring are making return trips to the Super Bowl with the Chiefs, while Robert Beall and Charlie Woerner are making their Super Bowl debuts with the 49ers.

Five players from Clemson 2018 and 2021 Sugar Bowl squads appear on the Super Bowl rosters. Justyn Ross is a receiver for the Chiefs and Ray-Ray McCloud is a 49ers receiver. Clelin Ferrell, a 49ers defensive end, is on the injured reserve; while Cornell Powell (Chiefs WR), who had eight catches for 139 yards and 2 TDs in the 2021 Sugar Bowl; and Austin Bryant (49ers DE) are both practice squad members.

Three rookies that played in the 2022 (December 31) Sugar Bowl appear on this year’s Super Bowl rosters. K-State standouts Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Ekow Boye-Doe are both active for the Chiefs, while 49ers’ tight end Cameron Latu, who snagged a TD catch in the Sugar Bowl, is on the injured reserve.

The oldest Sugar Bowl alum in the game is Chiefs’ star tight end Travis Kelce, who played for Cincinnati in the 2010 Sugar Bowl. Kelce had one rush for 19 yards in the Bearcats’ loss to Tim Tebow and Florida.

Four of the five active quarterbacks in this year’s Super Bowl were honored multiple times as Manning Award Stars of the Week. Chiefs’ starter Pat Mahomes (Texas Tech) was a five-time selection as a Manning Award Stars of the Week. San Francisco starter Brock Purdy (Iowa State) and backup Brandon Allen (Arkansas) were both Stars of the Week three times. Sam Darnold (USC) was only a Star of the Week once, but he was a two-time finalist for the Manning Award (2016 & 2017), while Purdy was a finalist for the honor in 2020. Chiefs’ backup QB Blaine Gabbert (Missouri) was a two-time selection to the Manning Award Watch List, but his collegiate days were before the Manning Awards Stars of the Week were instituted in 2011.

Five of this year’s Super Bowl participants also played in the Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA Football State Championships. Clyde Edwards-Hilaire was the MVP of the 2016 Class 5A State Championship game for Baton Rouge Catholic High; he also ran for 110 yards in the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship, hosted by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Tyrion Davis-Price helped Southern Lab High to both the 2018 and 2019 Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA Division IV Semifinals. L’Jarius Sneed helped Minden High to the 2015 Class 4A playoffs; Justin Reid led Dutchtown to the 2014 Class 5A playoffs; and Elijah Mitchell helped Erath High to 2016 Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA Class 3A Playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers star defensive end Nick Bosa has a unique Sugar Bowl connection as he played in the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Showcase in 2013. A sophomore defensive lineman for St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida, Bosa, who has touted as having “multiple D1 offers already,” recorded seven tackles and three sacks as his Raiders topped Louisiana power John Curtis Christian, 27-13.

Kansas City Chiefs
Name, College — Sugar Bowl Connection(s)
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, K-State –Starting DE in 2022 Sugar Bowl, two tackles
Blake Bell, Oklahoma — Injured for 2014 Sugar Bowl
Ekow Boye-Doe, K-State — Starting CB in 2022 Sugar Bowl
Clyde Edwards-Hilaire, LSU — 110 rushing yards in 2020 CFP Championship hosted by Sugar Bowl; led Catholic H.S. to the 2016 Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA Class 5A state title
Neil Farrell, LSU — Played DE in 2020 CFP Championship hosted by Sugar Bowl
Blaine Gabbert, Missouri — Two-time Manning Award Watch List selection
Mecole Hardman, Georgia — Three-yard touchdown reception in 2019 Sugar Bowl
Malik Herring, Georgia — Five tackles in 2020 Sugar Bowl; four tackles and half sack in 2019 Sugar Bowl
Keaontay Ingram, Texas* — Nine carries for 25 yards in 2019 Sugar Bowl
Travis Kelce, Cincinnati — One rush for 19 yards in 2010 Sugar Bowl
Patrick Mahomes II, Texas Tech –Five-time Manning Award Star of the Week
Charles Omenihu, Texas — Two tackles in 2019 Sugar Bowl
Cornell Powell, Clemson* — Eight catches for 139 yards and 2 TDs in 2021 Sugar Bowl; saw action in 2018 Sugar Bowl
Justin Reid, Dutchtown H.S. — Helped Dutchtown to 2015 Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA Class 5A Playoffs
Justyn Ross, Clemson — On roster, but injured for 2021 Sugar Bowl
L’Jarius Sneed, Minden H.S. — Helped Minden to 2015 Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA Class 4A Playoffs
Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn# — Backup lineman in the 2017 Sugar Bowl

San Francisco 49ers
Name, College — Sugar Bowl Connection(s)
Brandon Allen, Arkansas — Three-time Manning Award Star of the Week
Robert Beall, Georgia — Saw action in the 2019 Sugar Bowl; on team for 2020 Sugar Bowl
Nick Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas H.S. — Seven tackles/three sacks as a high school sophomore at St. Thomas Aquinas in 2013 Sugar Bowl Prep Showcase
Austin Bryant, Clemson* — Three tackles, one sack in 2018 Sugar Bowl
Sam Darnold, USC –Two-time Manning Award Finalist, Manning Award Star of the Week
Tyrion Davis-Price, Southern Lab H.S.* — Helped Southern Lab to 2018 & 2019 Allstate Sugar Bowl
— LHSAA Division IV Semifinals
Clelin Ferrell, Clemson# — Four tackles and a sack in 2018 Sugar Bowl
Cameron Latu, Alabama# — Five catches, including a TD, in 2022 Sugar Bowl
Ray-Ray McCloud, Clemson — Three catches in 2018 Sugar Bowl
Elijah Mitchell, Erath H.S. — Helped Erath to 2016 Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA Class 3A Playoffs
Brock Purdy, Iowa State — Manning Award Finalist 2020, Three-time Manning Award Star of the Week
Charlie Woerner, Georgia — Two catches in 2019 Sugar Bowl

* practice squad
# Injured reserve

The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 28 national champions, 107 Hall of Fame players, 52 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners in its 90-year history. The 91st Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, which will double as a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal, is scheduled to be played on January 1, 2025. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.5 billion into the local economy in the last decade. For more information, visit www.AllstateSugarBowl.org.