Group of Five schools will be heavily represented in the Super Bowl when the Philadelphia Eagles meet the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Eagles had 15 players on their active roster and the Chiefs had 11 before the conference title games. We didn’t include players on injured reserve, but also listed practice squad players, where the Eagles had four and the Chiefs six.
Even though Houston, Cincinnati, UCF, and BYU are moving to the Big 12, we included these schools since they were Group of Five schools previously.
EAGLES ACTIVE ROSTER
Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee State – Took advantage of early-season playing time when injuries struck. Had four tackles in the NFC championship game.
Grant Calcaterra, TE, SMU – Backup who played 10 offensive snaps and six on special teams in the NFC title game.
Jake Elliott, PK, Memphis – A member of the Eagles’ first Super Bowl team, he is among the more dependable kickers in the NFL.
Marcus Epps, S, Wyoming – Started every game this season, made 94 regular season tackles.
Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Memphis – Has played well in the postseason with 160 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries.
Patrick Johnson, LB, Tulane – Backup LB and key special teams performer.
Linval Joseph, DT, East Carolina – Signed midway through the season, made a big impact on the interior defensive line.
Jason Kelce, C, Cincinnati – A future Hall of Fame player, this season he earned his fifth first-team All-Pro honor and his sixth Pro Bowl selection.
Brett Kern, P, Toledo – Signed late in the season, has averaged 44.1 yards on seven punts in the two playoff games.
Rick Lovato, LS, Old Dominion – One of the better long snappers who was a member of the Eagles’ first Super Bowl-winning team following the 2017 season.
Zach Pascal, WR, Old Dominion – A backup receiver known for his blocking who has played in every game this regular season and postseason.
Haason Reddick, LB, Temple – Has enjoyed his best season with 16 regular season sacks to earn his first Pro Bowl Berth. Has been dominant in the postseason with 3.5 sacks in the two playoff wins.
Boston Scott, RB, Louisiana Tech – Great change of pace back who has scored a TD in both of the two playoff wins.
Quez Watkins, WR Southern Mississippi – The Eagles’ best deep threat, had 33 receptions for 354 yards and three TDs.
Milton Williams, DT, Louisiana Tech – Part of the defensive line rotation, he had two tackles in the NFC championship win over the 49ers.
PRACTICE SQUAD
Andre Chachere, S, San Jose State
Tarron Jackson, DE, Coastal Carolina
Cameron Tom, C, Southern Mississippi
Greg Ward, WR, Houston
CHIEFS ACTIVE ROSTER
Shane Buechele, QB, SMU – Third quarterback, did not see action this season.
Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati – A rookie, he had four tackles and one key pass defended in the AFC title game.
Darius Harris, LB, Middle Tennessee – A rookie, who played 14 snaps on defense in the AFC title game.
Nazeeh Johnson, S, Marshall – A rookie and key special teams performer.
Travis Kelce, TE, Cincinnati – Like his brother Jason, will be a HOF player. Has 15 career playoff touchdown receptions, tied for second-best all-time.
Marcus Kemp, WR, Hawaii – Only played three regular-season games, but had a catch for 13 yards in the AFC title game.
Jerick McKinnon, RB, Georgia Southern – Solid veteran who rushed for 291 yards (4.2 avg.) and a TD in the regular season.
Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan – Set up the winning field goal in the AFC title game with a 29-yard punt return.
L’Jarius Sneed, CB, Louisiana Tech – Chiefs top CB who suffered a concussion in the opening possession of the AFC championship game.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, South Florida – One of the stars of the AFC championship game win with six receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Andrew Wylie, OL, Eastern Michigan – Starting right tackle.
PRACTICE SQUAD
Zayne Anderson, DB, BYU
Matt Bushman, TE, BYU
Mike Caliendo, OL, Western Michigan
Cole Christiansen, LB, Army
Austin Reiter, C, South Florida
Matthew Wright, K, UCF
