Three Utah colleges and three state high schools will be represented at this year’s Super Bowl.
With Seattle rallying to defeat Green Bay 28-22 in overtime in the NFC championship game and New England routing Indianapolis 45-7 in the AFC title contest, the stage is set for Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona.
Here’s a look at the five players with Utah ties who will be on Super Bowl rosters this season:
Bobby Wagner, MLB, Seahawks: The Utah State product made a team-high 10 tackles in the Seahawks’ come-from-behind victory over the Packers, including eight in the first half. Perhaps his most important tackle of the day came in the first quarter, when he helped bring down Green Bay fullback John Kuhn near the goal line. While the play was initially called a touchdown, replay showed Kuhn was down before breaking the plane of the end zone. Green Bay was forced to kick a field goal, a play that proved crucial in the overtime contest.
Wagner has been a key cog in the dominant Seattle defense in his third NFL season, even though he missed five games due to injury. He had 104 tackles during the regular season and earned first-team All-Pro honors and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.
Robert Turbin, RB, Seahawks: Turbin, like Wagner a former Aggie, carried the ball twice for 8 yards and had one reception for minus-2 yards in Seattle’s win Sunday. He’s rushed for 27 yards in the postseason this year.
Turbin has been starter Marshawn Lynch’s main backup this season and started three games during the regular season when Lynch was ailing. In addition to rushing for 310 yards and catching 16 passes for 186 yards during the regular season, the third-year back also scored the first two touchdowns of his NFL career. Both touchdowns came on receptions for Turbin.
Will Tukuafu, FB, Seahawks: Tukuafu, who prepped at East High, caught one pass for 8 yards in Seattle’s win over Green Bay. It was the first play on a key drive for the Seahawks as they drove down and scored their first touchdown of the day in the third quarter. That cut the Seahawks’ deficit to 16-7.
Tukuafu joined Seattle midseason after fullback Derrick Coleman went out for the year with an injury. Tukuafu, who’s also played on the defensive line during his NFL career, played in the Super Bowl for the 49ers two years ago, when the Ravens beat San Francisco for the title.
Sealver Siliga, DT, Patriots: Siliga, who played at Utah and Copper Hills High, had three tackles in New England’s blowout victory in the AFC championship game. That came after he recorded five tackles last week in the Patriots’ win over Baltimore in the AFC divisional round.
Siliga missed time this season with a foot injury but returned in December and played in seven regular-season games, starting five. He had 32 tackles and 2.5 sacks in his third season in the league. Including Sunday’s matchup, Siliga has played in four postseason contests.
Jordan Devey, OL, Patriots: Devey, who prepped at American Fork High and played at Snow College, was on the inactive roster for the Patriots’ game against the Colts.
Devey played in seven games, starting four, in his second season in the NFL. He was a part of New England's practice squad in 2013 and played in six of the Patriots' first seven games this year.
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