Photo by: USA Today
#FromStateToSundays: Bulldog Trio Is Super Bowl-Bound
January 25, 2021 | Football
Chris Jones and Martinas Rankin will seek to join D.D. Lewis as MSU's only two-time Super Bowl champions.
STARKVILLE – Chris Jones, Willie Gay Jr. and Martinas Rankin have reached Super Bowl LV, which will be held in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 7. The Kansas City Chiefs won their second consecutive AFC Championship on Sunday, defeating the Buffalo Bills, 38-24.
Chris Jones was a disruptive force on the defensive line, helping the Chiefs record four sacks. Jones was Kansas City's highest-graded pass rusher (73.0) according to Pro Football Focus and totaled an impressive seven pressures.
Jones picked up one assisted tackle and was credited with one quarterback hit. He was joined on the field by Rankin, who played on the field goal unit in his first postseason action with the franchise. He had previously played one postseason contest with the Houston Texans in 2018. Gay was out with an ankle injury for the second straight week.
With its trio of former players headed to Tampa in two weeks, Mississippi State will see at least one player compete in the Super Bowl in 12 of the last 14 years. Fourteen former Bulldogs have lifted the Lombardi Trophy since 2008, including Jones and Rankin last year.
D.D. Lewis is MSU's only two-time Super Bowl champion, winning with the Dallas Cowboys in 1972 and 1978. State's record for Super Bowl participants was set in Super Bowl XXV (1991), when four former Bulldogs suited up for the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants.
HUNTER BRADLEY | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LS | AT MSU: 2012-17
Career Postseason: 4 G
Last Week: 1 G vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 31-26)
WILLIE GAY JR. | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – LB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Career Postseason: None
Last Week: DNP vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 38-24)
ELGTON JENKINS | GREEN BAY PACKERS – OG | AT MSU: 2014-18
Career Postseason: 4 G, 4 GS, 8 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 4 Pressures Allowed vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 31-26)
Season: 8 G, 6 GS, 4 TKL, 7 AST, 11 TT, 4 QBH, 9 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 AST, 1 QBH vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 38-24)
Career Postseason: 2 G
Last Week: 1 G vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 38-24)
Career Postseason: 4 G, 2 TKL, 2 TT
Last Week: 1 G vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 31-26)
PRESTON SMITH | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LB | AT MSU: 2011-14
Career Postseason: 5 G, 4 GS, 10 TKL, 5 AST, 15 TT, 2.0 TFL, 3.0 SK, 6 QBH, 2 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 1 QBH vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 31-26)
Chris Jones was a disruptive force on the defensive line, helping the Chiefs record four sacks. Jones was Kansas City's highest-graded pass rusher (73.0) according to Pro Football Focus and totaled an impressive seven pressures.
The conference championship tilt marked Jones' third game of the year with seven or more pressures, and he now boasts 69 across the regular season and postseason combined, which ranks fifth in the NFL.One more to go! pic.twitter.com/Nebt7ENl5z
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 25, 2021
Jones picked up one assisted tackle and was credited with one quarterback hit. He was joined on the field by Rankin, who played on the field goal unit in his first postseason action with the franchise. He had previously played one postseason contest with the Houston Texans in 2018. Gay was out with an ankle injury for the second straight week.
Four more Bulldogs played in the NFC title game, but saw their seasons end with Green Bay's 31-26 loss to Tampa Bay. Elgton Jenkins started at left guard, and Preston Smith started at linebacker. Smith made two tackles and recorded a quarterback hit. Hunter Bradley filled his usual role as the Packers' long snapper, and Will Redmond played 36 total snaps.Just blessed man, really no other words I can say... Tampa Bound #ChiefsKingdom #1MoreLeft #OutTheMudFr
— Martinas Rankin™ (@MTRankin_57) January 25, 2021
With its trio of former players headed to Tampa in two weeks, Mississippi State will see at least one player compete in the Super Bowl in 12 of the last 14 years. Fourteen former Bulldogs have lifted the Lombardi Trophy since 2008, including Jones and Rankin last year.
D.D. Lewis is MSU's only two-time Super Bowl champion, winning with the Dallas Cowboys in 1972 and 1978. State's record for Super Bowl participants was set in Super Bowl XXV (1991), when four former Bulldogs suited up for the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants.
HUNTER BRADLEY | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LS | AT MSU: 2012-17
Career Postseason: 4 G
Last Week: 1 G vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 31-26)
WILLIE GAY JR. | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – LB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Career Postseason: None
Last Week: DNP vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 38-24)
- Kansas City will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV
- Will be the No. 4 overall graded rookie on a Super Bowl roster this year (68.1)
Highest-graded rookies in the Super Bowl
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) January 25, 2021
1. Tristan Wirfs, Bucs - 82.0
2. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs - 75.3
3. L'Jarius Sneed, Chiefs - 70.6
4. Willie Gay Jr, Chiefs - 68.1 pic.twitter.com/HByRbj5mlg
ELGTON JENKINS | GREEN BAY PACKERS – OG | AT MSU: 2014-18
Career Postseason: 4 G, 4 GS, 8 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 4 Pressures Allowed vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 31-26)
- Picked up a half tackle to stop a fumble return in the third quarter
Season: 8 G, 6 GS, 4 TKL, 7 AST, 11 TT, 4 QBH, 9 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 AST, 1 QBH vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 38-24)
- Kansas City will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV
- Was the Chiefs' highest-graded pass rusher (73.0) according to PFF with seven total pressures
- Marked his third game of the year with seven or more pressures
- Has 69 pressures over the regular season and postseason combined, which ranks fifth in the NFL
Career Postseason: 2 G
Last Week: 1 G vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 38-24)
- Kansas City will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Bowl
- Played six snaps on the field goal unit in his first postseason action with the Chiefs
Career Postseason: 4 G, 2 TKL, 2 TT
Last Week: 1 G vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 31-26)
PRESTON SMITH | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LB | AT MSU: 2011-14
Career Postseason: 5 G, 4 GS, 10 TKL, 5 AST, 15 TT, 2.0 TFL, 3.0 SK, 6 QBH, 2 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 1 QBH vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 31-26)
- Totaled one pressure
Players Mentioned
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