Which Penn State players could make the Super Bowl today? Here's the list

Ten former Penn State football players still have a shot at winning this year’s Super Bowl trophy. And, at least one of them is guaranteed to be playing on Feb. 9 at the Superdome in New Orleans. That’s because at least one Nittany Lion is on each remaining team, ranging from five on the Buffalo Bills to one on the Washington Commanders.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley headlines the list, of course. He is the Pro Football Writers Association offensive player of the year. And, he continues to put up dazzling performances, including his 205 rushing yards and two touchdown in last week’s divisional round win over Los Angeles. The former Penn State All-American has broken the century mark in both postseason games and has also been used as a receiver. Barkley and the Eagles take on Washington in the NFC Confernece Championship game at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday. FOX will televise the game. The Commanders have former Nittany Lion Mitchell Tinsley on their practice squad.

“I think they sold out on the run,” Barkley said, per SI, when asked about Washington’s 36-33 December win over the Eagles. Philadelphia won the first matchup between the two sides earlier this year. “It worked for them in the second half. In the grand scheme of things, we still put up 30-something points and had the opportunity to win the football game. It ended up with in our hands, but we didn’t do that, so we’ll prepare for whatever they’re going to bring.”

“I think we’re the best or one of the best rush teams. So, we know it’s going to be a focus for a lot of teams. Especially with Washington coming up,” he said, “but whatever they wanna do, we’re ready for it. At the end of the day our mindset is just winning a football game, so however it looks, whatever it takes.”

Penn State roundup: Players in conference championship games this weekend

Saquon Barkley (Played at Penn State from 2015-17), RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Barkley put on another magnificent showing in an NFC divisional round win over the Rams. He took 26 carries for 205 yards and two touchdowns and also added four receptions for 27 yards. He continues to dazzle in his first year in Philadelphia. Entering a NFC Conference Championship game matchup with Washington on Jan. 26, he has 345 carries for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with 33 receptions for 278 yards and two scores. 

Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21), CB, Philadelphia Eagles: Castro-Fields was waived by Carolina on Oct. 1 and picked up by Philadelphia three weeks later. The team cut him but then resigned him to its practice squad ahead of the postseason. 

Jahan Dotson (2018-21), WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Dotson did not have any catches against the Rams in the divisional round but scored his touchdown as an Eagle when he caught an 11-yard pass for six in the team’s Wild Card Round win over Green Bay.

KJ Hamler (2017-2019), WR, Buffalo Bills: Hamler is on Buffalo’s practice squad.

Daequan Hardy (2019-23), CB, Buffalo Bills: Hardy is on Buffalo’s practice squad.

More: Which Penn State players made ESPN’s top 100 list for the 2024 season?

Austin Johnson (2013-15), DT, Buffalo Bills: Johnson has four tackles in the Playoffs, splitting two a piece over wins against Denver and Baltimore to put the Bills in the AFC Conference Championship game opposite the Kansas City Chiefs. He had 19 tackles in the regular season.

Daquan Jones (2010-13), DL, Buffalo Bills: Jones had two tackles (one for loss) in the Bills’ 27-25 Divisional round win over Baltimore. In the regular season, he netted 23 stops (4.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks.

Connor McGovern (2016-18), OL, Buffalo Bills: McGovern continues to be one of the rock’s of the Bills’ often high-flying offense. His 1,091 snaps at center are the fourth most on the team. Buffalo plays Baltimore in the AFC Conference Championship game. 

Hunter Nourzad (2022-23), OL, Kansas City Chiefs: Nourzad is a member of Kansas City’s field goal kicking protection unit. He did play 31 snaps in a wild-card round win over Denver. But, generally speaking, he is a special teamer for the Chiefs, which play Buffalo in the AFC title game

Mitchell Tinsley (2022), WR, Washington Commanders: Tinsley is on the Commanders’ practice squad.