G5 Names To Watch In Super Bowl LVIII

Super Bowl LVII is set to kick off on Sunday, February 11 at 6:30 PM ET on CBS and Paramount+.  Both the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs and the NFC Champion
© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Super Bowl LVII is set to kick off on Sunday, February 11 at 6:30 PM ET on CBS and Paramount+. 

Both the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs and the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers will have a handful of former G5 football players assisting their efforts to capture an NFL championship. 

Keep an eye out for the names below throughout this year's conclusion to the NFL season.

Kansas City Chiefs

Richie James - WR - Middle Tennessee

Rashee Rice - WR - SMU

Marques Valdez-Scantling - WR - USF

Mike Caliendo - OL - Western Michigan

Cole Christiansen - LB - Army

Nic Jones - DB - Ball State

L'Jarius Sneed - DB - Louisiana Tech

A defensive captain, Sneed had a memorable forced fumble against Baltimore in the AFC Championship. He'll do his best to be in a similar postion on Sunday. 

SMU rookie Rashee Rice continues to be a major contributor to KC's latest postseason run. He's up to 20 catches on 25 targets for 223 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs. Look for former MTSU standout to return kicks as well as be an option in the pass game alongside Valdez-Scantling,

Caliendo, Christiansen, and Jones are all available as reserves. 

San Francisco 49ers

Elijah Mitchell - RB - Louisiana

Willie Snead IV - WR - Ball State

Jaylon Moore - OL - Western Michigan

Spencer Burford - OL - UTSA

Darrell Luter Jr - DB - South Alabama

Charvarius Ward - DB - Middle Tennessee

Samuel Womack III - DB - Toledo

Tashaun Gipson Sr. - DB - Wyoming

Louisiana's Elijah Mitchell punched in San Francisco's final touchdown of their 34-31 win over Detroit in the NFC title game. The 2021 sixth-round pick didn't see a particularly high amount of usage during the season, but saw more carries as the year went on. 

Spencer Burford will once again be a major piece along the 49ers' offensive line at right guard.

Wyoming's Tashaun Gipson will once again be the 49ers' starter at free safety after forcing a fumble against Detroit and picking up 69 tackles throughout the season. Ward will also receive another start at cornerback with Womack and Luter coming off of the bench at that position.


Published
Joe Londergan
JOE LONDERGAN

Joe covers college sports from the Group of Five ranks and beyond. He has worked in the sports industry since 2008, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville, and a Master's degree from Seattle University.