By the time the Super Bowl arrives on Sunday, when the Seattle Seahawks will make their second straight appearance against the New England Patriots, it’ll mark the first time in five-years that a former MSU Spartan wasn’t on an active roster.
Kellen Davis, TE: Detroit (XLVIII): Currently signed with the Detroit Lions, Davis grabbed his first championship ring last season with the Seahawks following their trouncing of the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium.
The Adrian, Michigan native earned All Big-Ten honorable mention honors during his senior year with MSU, before being drafted in the fifth round by the Chicago Bears.
Kevin Vickerson, DT: Denver (XLVII): Vickerson signed with the Kansas City Chiefs at the beginning of the season. He was placed on injured reserve more than a month before the big game during his tenure with the Broncos back in 2013.
The 6-foot-5, 328-pounder was drafted out of MSU by the Tennessee Titans back in 2005, after spending his high school career with Detroit King. He finished his career with the Spartans by recording 110 tackles, including 16 for a loss and 4 sacks.
Andre Rison, WR: Green Bay (XXXI): Spending time with seven NFL teams in 12-years, “Bad Moon” was a highly renowned wide receiver during MSU’s run to the Rose Bowl during the 1987 season. Currently ranked second in receiving yards (2,992) and third in receptions (146 ) on MSU’s all time list, Rison was later named to the Associated Press All-Pro selections during his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons. He later went on to become a member of the Super Bowl XXXI winning Green Bay Packers with Brett Favre.
Greg Jones, LB: New York Giants (XLVI): The first Spartans to earn back-to-back consensus first-team All-America honors (2009-10) since 1965-66, Jones currently ranks second among all MSU defensive players in tackles for a loss (46.5) and third in total tackles (465). He was later drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round back in 2011, where he clinched a Super Bowl title during his rookie year against the Patriots. He has a contract deal with the Argonauts back in March of last year.
Flozell Adams, OT: Pittsburgh (XLV): Nicknamed “The Hotel,” Adams was the leader on the offensive line for Nick Saban’s Spartans in the mid-to-late 90’s. As a three-year starter, Adams went on to win the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year award while also named a semi-finalist for the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award. Adams was later a five-time Pro Bowler with the Dallas Cowboys before signing a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010, where he went to the Super Bowl and lost.
Plaxico Burress, WR: New York Giants (XLII): His collegiate career didn’t start off pretty after sitting out his freshman year due to academic violations, but Burress found a way to land in the top five among all MSU wide receivers in receptions (131), receiving yards (2,155) and touchdowns (20). Burress went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL, as well as catching the game winning touchdown catch in Super Bowl XLII against the Patriots with the Giants.
