14 Former FCS Players Highlight Seahawks-Patriots Rosters in Super Bowl LX

Fourteen alumni of Football Championship Subdivision programs were represented on the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots rosters for Super Bowl LX, a reminder that small-school pedigrees often translate to NFL impact. The group included established stars, special-teams contributors, and rotational defenders whose college production carried them to the sport’s biggest stage.

The most prominent name is Cooper Kupp, the former Eastern Washington receiver. Sports Illustrated wrote, "Where else can we start, but with the former Triple Crown and Super Bowl MVP wide receiver Cooper Kupp?" and added, "Cooper is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, wide receiver to play at the FCS level, spending four years at Eastern Washington." Kupp’s presence frames the narrative: FCS programs can produce elite, game-changing talent.

Seattle’s contingent also features Patrick O'Connell of Montana, a two-time FCS All-American. Sports Illustrated documented O'Connell’s college résumé: he played at Montana from 2019-22 after transferring from Division II and compiled 242 tackles, 45 tackles for loss, and 28.5 sacks across his three full seasons. SI noted he has been "an important special teams player and depth piece for Seattle this year." The Seahawks roster further included North Dakota State linemen Grey Zabel and Jalen Sundell, Marist kicker Jason Myers, and Weber State return specialist Rashid Shaheed.

New England’s FCS alumni included Efton Chism III, another Eastern Washington product whose college totals were substantial: 3,852 receiving yards and 37 receiving touchdowns. SI observed that "Chism was an effective kick returner early in his college career, a role he's taken on for the New England Patriots." The Patriots’ list also features Julian Ashby, who was a long snapper at Furman from 2020-23 before finishing at Vanderbilt and was selected in the seventh round by New England. Cal Poly's Elijah Ponder punched through from depth role to key rotational minutes; SI recorded his college credentials as a multi-year All-American with 26.5 career sacks and highlighted a pivotal play in the AFC Championship when "he recovered a fumble on the 12-yard line, which led to New England's only touchdown."

The rosters named other FCS alumni as well: Christian Eliss of Idaho and Marte Mapu of Sacramento State in New England’s linebacker group, plus two Patriots running backs, Lan Larison of UC Davis and Terrell Jennings of Florida A&M, listed on injured reserve. A gallery compilation of former FCS players accompanying the matchup also included Ty Okada of Montana State, though that source lists Okada twice with conflicting team and position attributions - one caption calling him a safety for Seattle and another listing him as a linebacker for New England - an inconsistency that was visible in the gallery material.

Beyond individual stories, Sports Illustrated framed the distribution by conference, noting nine players from the Big Sky, three from the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and two from the Pioneer League. That concentration points to scouting pipelines and conference-level development that NFL teams continue to mine.

For FCS programs, these appearances matter for recruiting, alumni pride, and college branding. For NFL front offices, the Super Bowl rosters underline the cost-effective depth and special-teams upside that FCS players can provide. Scouts and coaches will be watching how those players perform in the big moment, and FCS prospects will point to these Super Bowl appearances as proof that college level need not limit professional opportunity.