Sports

These Super Bowl LVII players are from Georgia

By Chelsea Madden

Updated February 11, 2023 1:36 PM

Super Bowl 57 is this Sunday. Are you ready?

The Chiefs will take on the Eagles in this action-packed NFL game set in Arizona at the State Farm Stadium.

Georgia may not have a home team, but we can cheer on our Georgia players.

Let’s take a look at who is representing the Peach State this Sunday.

Malik Herring - Kansas City Chiefs

Georgia defensive lineman Malik Herring (10) heads to the locker room with a chain around his neck — a recognition for defensive players — after an NCAA football game between the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the University of Florida Gators in TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl., on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Lauren Tolbert - Georgia Sports Communications Special to the Telegraph

Position: defensive end

Now, I know this one. As a fellow Forsythian and MP Bulldog, I know that this player is a huge deal to Middle Georgia.

Malik Herring is originally from Forsyth, Georgia and attended high school at Mary Persons High School. Once he graduated, he attended the University of Georgia (UGA) and was eventually signed as a free agent to the Chiefs.

Mecole Hardman - Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) fumbles a punt in front of Buffalo Bills cornerback Siran Neal (33) during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. Buffalo recovered the fumble. Jeff Roberson AP

Position: wide receiver

Hardman is from Bowman, Georgia and attended high school at Elbert County High School. He went to UGA and played there from 2016 to 2018. He was selected by the Chiefs in 2019.

Harrison Butker - Kansas City Chiefs

Kickers Graham Gano (9) and Harrison Butker (7) competed against each other throughout the preseason. Butker ultimately lost the job but was quickly picked up by Kansas City, where his numbers in 2017 almost exactly mirror Gano’s. Davie Hinshaw dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com

Position: kicker

Nicknamed “Butt Kicker,” Butker is from Decatur, Georgia and went to high school in Atlanta. He then attended Georgia Tech and played football there from 2013 to 2016. In 2017, he was signed to the Chiefs.

Jerick McKinnon - Kansas City Chiefs

Minnesota Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon (21) celebrates scoring a two-point conversion against the Carolina Panthers in the second half at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 25, 2016. The Vikings won, 22-10. David T. Foster III dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

Position: Running Back

McKinnon’s nickname is “Jet,” and he is a running back for the Chiefs. He is originally from Atlanta, Georgia and went to high school at Sprayberry in Marietta. He went to Georgia Southern and played there from 2010 to 2013. He has previously played for the Vikings and 49ers, but signed with the Chiefs in 2021.

Jaylen Watson - Kansas City Chiefs

Position: cornerback

Watson was born in Augusta, Georgia and went to high school at Laney. Once he graduated, he attended Ventura College from 2017 to 2018 and then went to Washington State from 2020 to 2021. He landed on the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.

Ronald Jones II - Kansas City Chiefs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ronald Jones II (27) gets a hug from assistant head coach Harold Goodwin during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. Brian Westerholt AP Photo/Brian Westerholt

Position: running back

Jones was born in Fort Stewart, Georgia, but he attended high school in Texas. He went to the University of Southern California for college and then was signed to the Buccaneers in 2018 until 2021. In 2022, he was signed to the Chiefs.

Darius Slay - Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles cornerback Darius Slay holds his finger to his face mask as he celebrates after intercepting a pass during the game at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 10, 2021 in Charlotte, NC. The Panthers lost to the Eagles, 21-18, giving them a 3-2 record after a 3-0 start to the season. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com

Position: cornerback

Slay was born in Brunswick, Georgia and attended high school at Brunswick High. Once he graduated, he went to Mississippi State and was drafted into the NFL in 2013. He played for the Detroit Lions until 2019 and in 2020, he was signed to the Eagles.

This story was originally published February 10, 2023 at 5:58 PM.

Chelsea Madden

The Telegraph

Chelsea is a service journalism reporter who began working for McClatchy in 2022. She was born and raised in Middle Georgia and lives in Forsyth. She attended Wesleyan College for undergrad and a few years after that, went to SCAD for an MFA in writing. Outside of work, Chelsea likes to watch Netflix, read books in the thriller genre and chase her toddler around.