FCS takeover: Super Bowl 60 features something NFL fans might never see again originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Ten years ago in Santa Clara, Peyton Manning lined up under center to lead the Denver offense against a scrappy Carolina defense. Across the ball covering star wide receiver Demaryius Thomas was All-Pro Josh Norman, who was trying to author an unlikely story: from FCS unknown to Super Bowl champion.
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The Broncos would win Super Bowl 50 24-10 over Norman’s Panthers, thanks to one of the best defenses in recent memory.
Sunday in Santa Clara, NFL fans will see something they haven’t seen in a decade and may never see again: more than 10 players from FCS schools on the field.
The Seahawks feature eight players who attended FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) schools. The Patriots have four players. All told, the 12 players likely to be active for Super Bowl 60 marks the most FCS flavor since Super Bowl 50.
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On that day, Norman (Coastal Carolina) and Jared Allen (Idaho), on the tail end of his Hall of Fame career, were the two biggest names.
Cooper Kupp headlines the FCS players in Super Bowl 60. The future Hall of Famer who starred at Eastern Washington has 681 receptions, 8,369 yards and 59 TDs during an incredible nine-year run in the NFL. At age 32, he looks to win his second Super Bowl ring Sunday.
“The guy who truly paved the way was Cooper Kupp,” rookie guard Grey Zabel of North Dakota State told The Sporting News. “Having the career he’s had so far, and he’s continuing to have as an FCS guy, it just gives guys like me hope that there is a possibility of going to the NFL and there is a possibility of excelling in the NFL.”
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Seahawks bolster Super Bowl roster with FCS talent
Following strong showings at the Senior Bowl and at the NFL combine, Zabel was a late riser leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft. In what was regarded as a strong draft class for offensive linemen, he was the second guard selected, coming off the board at 18 overall to Seattle. The Pierre, S.D., native won two national titles at North Dakota State.
Klint Kubiak, the Seahawks offensive coordinator and future head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders explained the thought process behind Seattle using its first round pick on Zabel.
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“Grey just had immense intangibles you couldn’t deny. He was from a great family. A hard-working family. He had a lot of grit. He had a huge heart. He worked hard at it, he was bright.”
Sunday, Zabel will start alongside fellow NDSU grad Jalen Sundell, Seattle’s starting center. That duo helped the Seahawks finish 10th in the NFL in rushing yards while giving up the fourth fewest sacks in the league as Sam Darnold engineered the best season of his career.
While Kupp figures to be one of Darnold’s favorite targets against the Patriots in the Super Bowl, the addition of Rashid Shaheed has proved to be a difference-maker in the postseason.
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Shaheed, a four-time FCS All-American, was acquired via trade from the New Orleans Saints ahead of Week 10. His electric kickoff return against the 49ers in the NFC divisional round will go down as one of the lasting images of Seattle’s season – especially with a win Sunday.
FCS Players in the Super BowlSeattle Seahawks
Cooper Kupp
WR
Eastern Washington
Jason Myers
K
Marist
Patick O’Connell
LB
Montana
Ty Okada
S
Montana State
Eric Saubert
TE
Drake
Rashid Shaheed
WR/KR
Weber State
Jalen Sundell
C
North Dakota State
Grey Zabel
G
North Dakota State
New England Patriots
Efton Chism III
WR
Eastern Washington
Christian Elliss
LB
Idaho
Marte Mapu
LB
Sacramento State
Elijah Ponder
LB
Cal Poly
Eric Saubert
Started at the bottom, but they’re here now
The overwhelming theme players who attended FCS schools conveyed to the SN was, without question, the need to train, practice and play with a massive chip on their shoulders.
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Saubert talked openly about the challenges of getting attention while playing at the FCS level for Drake University.
“We obviously don’t have the same resources as a Power 5 would have. So you learn to make things happen without resources. Your mindset has to be a little different because you don’t have as much.
“I think I’ve just carried that FCS underdog mindset with me through the league and applied that when things get tough.”
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Saubert was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl, then was a late addition to the Senior Bowl following his final year at Drake. The Atlanta Falcons selected him in the 5th round in the 2017 NFL Draft.
“I used to have to buy my own gloves at the FCS level. Now I can get three pairs of gloves for each game. You gotta look back and remind yourself where you came from. That’s your super power.”
MORE:Catching up with Super Bowl 49 hero Malcolm Butler
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Will the number of FCS players on NFL rosters dwindle in the NIL era?
Four Seahawks will start the Super Bowl on Sunday. Idaho product Christian Elliss, the son of former NFL player Luther Elliss, will start at linebacker for the Patriots. Others will appear in sub packages and on special teams.
Amid college football’s changing landscape of the transfer portal fueled by NIL and revenue sharing, its possible the number of FCS players on NFL rosters could take a dramatic hit.
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“That’s a great note. I would think it would be rare to see that many FCS players on one roster again,” NBC’s Chris Simms told SN. “I’m actually really shocked it’s that high even now in this day and age.”
“Obviously, NFL teams will look literally anywhere and everywhere for talent,” an NFC scout who asked to remain anonymous told SN. “It can be, FCS, D-II or D-III. It can be on Mars. Doesn’t matter. But there is no doubt that there might be fewer prospects who finish their careers at those levels.”
The players don’t necessarily agree.
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“You’ll always see FCS players on rosters just with that chip on their shoulder mentality,” Zabel said. “Whatever school is going to give you the best chance to develop and grow as a player and a person, that’s where you should call home.”
Saubert summed it up: “They always say if you’re good enough, they’ll find you. And they did find me.”