ATHENS – Super Bowl LVI is set. The Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals will meet on Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
If you’re like a lot of Georgia football fans and pick which team to root for based on the number Bulldogs on the roster, then it’s “Rams all the way.”
According to UGA sports communications’ Steve Colquitt, who sends out a weekly news release called “Dawgs in the NFL,” the Rams have a five-Dog representation - quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Sony Michel, linebacker Leonard Floyd, assistant head coach/RBs coach Thomas Brown and offensive line assistant Nick Jones.
As for the Bengals, former Georgia center Trey Hill is the only active player on Cincinnati’s 53-player roster. He is a reserve offensive guard who gets most of his work on special teams units. Offensive lineman Lamont Gaillard and running back Elijah Holyfield are members of the Bengals’ practice squad.
Most notably, this is the 21st consecutive year that Georgia has had former players on Super Bowl rosters. That’s tops in the nation, according to Colquitt.
None of those Bulldogs have had a greater impact on the proceedings than Stafford. The former 5-star prospect from Dallas starred for the Bulldogs from 2006-08 before going No. 1 to the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft. Stafford was traded to the Rams before this season and has now led the Rams to the Super Bowl.
In a 20-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday night, Stafford had 337 yards and two touchdowns on 31-of-45 passing. That gives Stafford 4,886 yards, 41 TDs and 17 interceptions on the season. He’s now 5 yards shy of 50,000 yards passing in his career.
Stafford’s wife, Kelly, also went to UGA and was a cheerleader for the Bulldogs. Kelly overcame cancer and surgery to remove a brain tumor three years ago.
The other two Bulldogs had relatively quiet outings for the Rams on Sunday. Michel rushed 10 times for 16 yards and lost four yards on his only pass reception. Floyd did not record any stats on Sunday, but remains a starter and impact player for the L.A. defense.
There would UGA representation if the favored Kansas City Chiefs had won against the Bengals. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman was busy as usual, hauling in three passes for 52 yards and a touchdown, rushing twice for 18 yards and fielding one punt. Neither defensive back Deandre Baker nor defensive end Malik Herring were active for K.C.
Tight end Charlie Woerner played for the 49ers Sunday but didn’t record any stats.
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