After two weeks of unforgettable finishes, the NFL is down to its final four teams. In four days, the Super Bowl LX matchup will be determined, with the Patriots, Broncos, Rams, and Seahawks still in the mix.
While the rosters of that group are filled with talent, they also include 13 Longhorns alums, the most of any program in the country. That gives many in the country with ties to the Forty Acres a reason to tune in to the playoff action on Sunday.
The list of former Longhorns still chasing a title includes Poona Ford, Jordan Whittington, Michael Dickson, Byron Murphy II, Brenden Schooler, Jahdae Barron, Sam Ehlinger, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, PJ Locke, and Malcolm Roach. There are also two alumni left on practice squads in Bill Norton and Quandre Diggs. With a chance for a spot in the Super Bowl on the line, the former Longhorns will have a chance to add to their legacies this weekend.
Although each player mentioned above has made an impact, two that stood out last week were Humphrey and Locke. In the Broncos’ win over the Bills, Humphrey had one touchdown catch, and Locke had an interception. Those plays helped Denver force overtime, where Wil Lutz came through with a 23-yard field goal to extend the Broncos’ season.
As Humphrey and Locke left a stamp on the Broncos’ win, Murphy and Dickinson made their presence felt in Seattle. While the Seahawks offense scored early and often, Dickinson still was able to record three punts for 149 yards. He averaged 49.7 yards per kick and pinned the 49ers inside the 20-yard line twice. That made it hard for the 49ers to string anything together as Murphy chipped in with two total tackles.
In New England, Schooler has turned into a key piece on special teams and continued to make an impact against the Texans. As the Patriots moved one win short of their first Super Bowl appearance since 2018, he added three tackles to his resume. Through two playoff games, the 29-year-old has provided a reminder of why he is one of the best at his position.
Regardless of who moves on, this weekend should be full of memorable moments as the playoff field thins. For the Longhorns alum, it will be their chance to write their names into the NBA record books.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: 13 Former Longhorns to participate in AFC, NFC Championship Games
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
