A look at the schools that are overlooked by the ESPNs of the world.


Monday, January 28, 2013

Could a Non-AQ player win the Super Bowl MVP?

It has been 13 years since a Super Bowl MVP came from a Non-AQ school (including FBS, D-II, etc). Overall, there have been 9 Super Bowl MVPs from Non-AQ school split among 8 players with Terry Bradshaw winning the MVP in both Super Bowls 13 and 14.


Non-AQ Super Bowl MVPs:


  • Roger Staubach--Super Bowl 6--Navy
  • Harvey Martin--Super Bowl 12--East Texas State
  • Terry Bradshaw--Super Bowl 13 and 14--Louisiana Tech
  • Richard Dent--Super Bowl 20--Tennessee State
  • Phil Simms--Super Bowl 21--Morehead State
  • Doug Williams--Super Bowl 22--Grambling
  • Steve Young--Super Bowl 29--Brigham Young
  • Kurt Warner--Super Bowl 34--Northern Iowa
Lets take a look at both team's Non-AQ players and who cold possibly win the MVP of the Super Bowl:

Ravens:
  • #05 Flacco, Joe, QB, Delaware--Quarterbacks have won 25 overall Super Bowl MVP awards and Flacco has been very impressive throughout this playoff run. Flacco will most likely win the MVP award if the Ravens have a good to great offensive performance in a win.
  • #88 Pitta, Dennis, TE, Brigham Young--Maybe the biggest dark horse candidate for MVP honors, Pitta has been the security blanket for Flacco throughout the playoffs. 14 playoff catches so far with 2 touchdowns. Could be trouble for Willis to cover man to man in the red zone.
  • #12 Jones, Jacoby, WR/KR, Lane--Jones is one of the players that you always have to watch out for in a game of this magnitude. Jones could break a return for a touchdown and be the hero of what is expected to be a close game or fumble the win away with a poor performance. The possible Desmond Howard of this game.
  • #24 Graham, Corey, CB, New Hampshire--Graham is the starter at left cornerback and made 60 regular season tackles for the Ravens. Graham made 8 of 16 total starts with 2 interceptions. Graham could be the Larry Brown of the Super Bowl for the Ravens and be the no name starter with a huge game.
  • #29 Williams, Cary, CB, Washburn--Williams is a good cornerback that gets attacked by opposing quarterbacks more often than others but has held his own slowing down some very good receivers during the season. Williams has picked it up even more in the playoffs with 24 tackles in 3 games with 2 interceptions. In similar fashion to Graham, Williams could be the Larry Brown of this Super Bowl.
  • #77 Birk, Matt, C, Harvard--While the heart and soul of the Ravens offensive line, non offensive lineman has ever won MVP honors and it would be extremely unlikely for Birk to be the first.
  • #38 Brown, Omar, S, Marshall--Brown is a rookie out of Marshall still working himself up the depth chart. Some in the organization believe he is the replacement for Ed Reed but still raw. Will not get enough playing time to get any consideration.
  • #66 Gradkowski, Gino, G/C, Delaware--Gradkowski is Birk's backup and could see the field here and there but between him being a backup and an offensive lineman, extremely unlikely.
  • #95 Hall, Bryan, DT, Arkansas State--Hall played in 5 regular season games with 3 total tackles. Quite unlikely for Hall to have a chance to make an impact on this game.
  • #54 Hamilton, Adrian, LB, Prairie View A&M--Hamilton is a rookie out of Prairie View with only one tackle on the season. Quite unlikely for him to get any significant playing time Sunday.
  • #70 Harewood, Ramon, T, Morehouse--Harewood is a solid tackle and made 5 starts but the combination of playing offensive line and being a backup add to virtually no shot at MVP honors.
  • #32 Ihedigbo, James, SS, Massachusetts--The solid strong safety out of UMass has bounced around the league somewhat but has found a good spot as the backup to Pollard. He will get some playing time and a chance to make some plays but MVP honors are very unlikely.
  • #25 Jackson, Asa, CB/RS, Cal Poly--The rookie out of Cal Poly is not ready to get significant playing time for the Ravens. 0% chance of winning MVP honors.
  • #44 Leach, Vonta, FB, East Carolina--Leach is a 1st team All-Pro bull of a fullback leading for Rice and Pierce but will not get any looks for any MVP awards. The better he does, the better the skill position players do and the awards they win.
  • #50 McClellan, Albert, LB, Marshall--McClellan is a solid strong side linebacker with 49 regular season tackles splitting time with Courtney Upshaw. McClellan is a good tackler but lost playing time as the season progressed. Low chance of MVP honors.

49ers:
  • #07 Kaepernick, Colin, Nevada--Kaepernick has shown great ability throughout his first season starting and has been the breakout star of the NFL playoffs. The most likely MVP candidate for the entire team much less the Non-AQ players.
  • #84 Moss, Randy, WR, Marshall--Moss is one of the top 5 greatest receivers in NFL history but has lost a step making him less deadly with the long ball. Moss can still show up and play a game to remember in what could be his final NFL game.  
  • #49 Miller, Bruce, FB, Central Florida--Miller is the starting fullback and has been very solid in the run game lead blocking for Gore, James and Dixon. Miller is a pass catching threat and could surprise many with a touchdown catch in a goal line situation. Distant shot at MVP honors.
  • #90 Sopoaga, Isaac, DT, Hawaii--The 330 pound anchor in the middle of the 49ers defense, Sopoaga is more of a player to occupy blockers and allow Willis, Bowman and company to make the big plays. Could come up with a game changing play but no defensive lineman has won the award since 1986.
  • #46 Walker, Delanie, TE, Central Missouri--While Vernon Davis is the 49ers pass catching stud, Walker does more of the dirty work in run blocking and pass protection. Walker has made 2 playoff catches but is considered a bit of a liability catching the ball with several drops. MVP likelihood is very low.
  • #27 Spillman, C.J., S, Marshall--The backup free safety behind Goldson, Spillman made 11 regular season tackles in back duties. Spillman would only get the chance to play significantly if Goldson is injured during the game.
  • #74 Staley, Joe, T, Central Michigan--A second team All-Pro that is one of the best in the game currently, Staley falls into the same category of playing a position that never gets any thought for MVP honors.
  • #77 Iupati, Mike, G, Idaho--1st team All-Pro and considered by some to be the best guard in the game, Iupati will not get a chance to win the MVP award due to his position.
  • #67 Kilgore, Daniel, G, Appalachian St.--A backup who gets playing time in jumbo formations, Kilgore would be one of the most unlikely possibilities for MVP ever.
  • #26 Brock, Tramaine, DB, Belhaven--Brock is a solid backup player third on the depth chart at the left cornerback spot and would only have the opportunity for MVP honors if someone else fell to injury.
  • #51 Haggans, Clark, LB, Colorado St.--After 10 straight seasons with double digit tackles, Haggans was passed on the depth chart by Aldon Smith and only made 2 tackles on the season. The only chance for Haggans to see the field, much less win MVP honors, would be through injury.
  • #14 Hall, Chad, WR, Air Force--On the active roster but no stats in 2012. 0% chance of winning MVP honors.
  • #33 Hampton, Jewel, RB, Southern Illinois--Rookie out of Southern Illinois, Hampton has not played in any games but is on the active roster. 0% chance of winning MVP honors.
  • #57 Wilhoite, Michael, LB, Washburn--The second year linebacker out of Washburn College, Wilhoite is still learning the game on the NFL level but does see some playing time on special teams. Anything is possible but Wilhoite winning MVP honors would border on impossible.


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