Super Bowl 50 to feature a number of former SEC players
Without fail nearly every year, much of the attention leading up to the Super Bowl is centered on the quarterbacks participating in the game. Super Bowl 50 will be no different, as both Auburn's Cam Newton and Tennessee's Peyton Manning were the No. 1 overall selections in their respective NFL Drafts -- Newton in 2011, Manning in 1998 -- both played in the SEC and both are at the at the opposite ends of their respective careers in the NFL.
But it isn't just the two quarterbacks that are from the Southeastern Conference, as 23 former SEC players in total are expected to compete for football's ultimate team prize next Sunday.
Former SEC player playing for the Carolina Panthers include:
Offensive lineman Michael Oher, a first round pick in 2009 from Ole Miss
Linebacker Thomas Davis, a first round pick in 2005 from Georgia
Defensive lineman Charles Johnson, a third round pick in 2007 from Georgia
Running back Cameron Artis-Payne, a fifth round pick in 2015 from Auburn
Wide receiver Kevin Norwood, a fourth round pick in 2014 from Alabama
Safety Roman Harper, a second round pick in 2006 from Alabama
Defensive lineman Kony Ealy, a second round pick in 2014 from Missouri
Offensive lineman Chris Scott, a fifth round pick in 2010 from Tennessee
Offensive lineman Trai Turner, a second round pick in 2014 from LSU
Defensive lineman Kyle Love, an undrafted free agent from Mississippi State in 2011
Offensive lineman Fernando Velasco, an undrafted free agent from Georgia in 2010
Former SEC players playing for the Denver Broncos include:
Defensive lineman Von Miller, a first round pick in 2011 from Texas A&M
Defensive lineman Malik Jackson, a fifth round pick in 2012 from Tennessee
Defensive lineman Shane Ray, a first round pick in 2015 from Missouri
Offensive lineman Evan Mathis, a third round pick in the 2005 from Alabama
Wide receiver Andre Caldwell, a third round pick in 2008 from Florida
Offensive lineman Max Garcia, a fourth round pick in 2015 from Florida
Linebacker Lerentee McCray, an undrafted free agent from Florida in 2013
Linebacker Danny Trevathan, a sixth round pick in 2012 from Kentucky
Defensive back Darian Stewart, an undrafted free agent from South Carolina in 2010
Punter Britton Colquitt, an undrafted free agent from Tennessee in 2010