The positive news continues for Atlantic Coast Conference football.
Only the SEC (23) has more players than the ACC on the Super Bowl rosters of the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers. Nearly a quarter of the players listed on Baltimore’s roster are from ACC programs, though just seven will be in uniform in Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3.
Overall, 19 players from ACC schools are on the Super Bowl teams’ rosters, headlined, however, by 13 Ravens.
Seven players played at Miami, more than any other school.
Led by former Miami Hurricanes Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Bryant McKinnie, the Ravens are well-stocked with ACC flavor. This will mark the end of Lewis’ distinguished 17-year career, and he heads into the biggest stage in American sports leading everyone in the playoffs in tackles.
Lewis finished the regular season with 57 tackles (sixth on the team), including a sack. In 228 regular-season games — 227 of which he started — Lewis racked up 1,573 tackles, registered 41.5 sacks, grabbed 31 interceptions, forced 19 fumbles and recovered 20.
In his 11th campaign, Reed was fifth on the team with 58 tackles and led the team with four interceptions, returning one for a score. McKinnie starts at left tackle.
Former Florida State Seminole Anquan Boldin led the Ravens with 65 receptions for 921 yards and four scores. Torrey Smith, who played at Maryland, hauled in 49 passes for 855 yards and eight touchdowns. A terrific kick returner for the Terrapins, Smith didn’t handle those duties for Baltimore.
Anthony Allen (Georgia Tech) ran the ball 16 times, scored a touchdown and grabbed two passes on the season. Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech) backs up Joe Flacco at quarterback.
Listed on the injured reserve are from Miami tailback Damien Berry and wide receiver Tommy Streeter, wide receiver LaQuan Williams of Maryland, linebacker Ricky Brown from Boston College and linebacker Michael McAdoo from North Carolina. Antoine McLain, an offensive guard from Clemson, is on the team’s practice squad.
Six former ACC players are on the 49ers roster, led by running back Frank Gore. The former Miami star ran for 1,214 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, and scored eight touchdowns this season. Gore also caught 28 passes for 234 yards and a score.
Former Maryland tight end Vernon Davis hauled in 41 passes for 548 yards and five touchdowns. This was Davis’ least productive season since his third year in the league.
Ahmad Brooks, once a terrific linebacker at Virginia, is 10th on the 49ers with 46 tackles, including 6.5 for sacks. He also returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown.
Taveres Gooden (Miami) was in on nine tackles and former Virginia defensive end Cam Johnson has been training at linebacker. Former Wake Forest Demon Deacons’ offensive lineman Joe Looney backs up Mike Iupati at left guard.
The breakdown is as follows:
Miami – 7
Maryland – 3
Virginia – 2
Wake Forest – 1
Florida State – 1
North Carolina – 1
Virginia Tech – 1
Georgia Tech – 1
Boston College – 1
Clemson – 1
