Special Events:
FCS Polls
All-America Teams
More FCS
FCS Extras
More Football

FCS players abound in NFL title games

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Football Championship Subdivision schools will have good representation in the NFL's conference championship games on Sunday.

The New England Patriots host the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC title game, while the San Francisco 49ers visit the Atlanta Falcons for the NFC berth in Super Bowl XLVII.

The Ravens feature three starters in quarterback Joe Flacco (Delaware), center Matt Birk (Harvard) and cornerback Corey Graham (New Hampshire).

Their roster also includes center Gino Gradkowski (Delaware), outside linebacker Adrian Hamilton (Prairie View A&M), strong safety James Ihedigbo (Massachusetts) and cornerback Asa Jackson (Cal Poly).

Safeties Anthony Levine from Tennessee State and Christian Thompson from South Carolina State as well as former Nicholls cornerback Lardarius Webb are on injured reserve. The practice squad includes linebacker D.J. Bryant (James Madison) and Nigel Carr (Alabama State).

The Patriots have one starter from an FCS program in right guard Dan Connolly from Southeast Missouri State.

In addition, the Pats have cornerback Kyle Arrington (Hofstra), tight end Daniel Fells (UC Davis) and linebacker Tracy White (Howard). Former Montana State linebacker Dane Fletcher is on injured reserve and the practice squad includes former Brown running back James Develin.

The 49ers have backup players in running back Jewel Hampton (Southern Illinois), offensive guard/center Daniel Kilgore (Appalachian State) and place-kicker Billy Cundiff (Drake). Defensive tackle Lamar Divens from Tennessee State is a member of the practice squad.

The Falcons have a starting defensive end in Kroy Biermann (Montana), the 2007 Buck Buchanan Award recipient. There's also defensive end Lawrence Sidbury (Richmond) and wide receiver Tim Toone (Weber State).

Former Montana safety Shann Schillinger is on injured reserve, while wide receiver Marcus Jackson from Lamar and running back Josh Vaughan from Richmond are members of the practice squad.

Falcons head coach Mike Smith was a former assistant coach at Morehead State and Tennessee Tech.

01/15 13:26:38 ET



Walter Payton Award
Year Winner Votes Finalists Misc
2012 Taylor Heinicke Votes 2012 History
2011 Bo Levi Mitchell Votes 2011 Past
2010 Jeremy Moses Votes 2010 Winners
Buck Buchanan Award
Year Winner Votes Finalists Misc
2012 Caleb Schreibeis Votes 2012 History
2011 Matt Evans Votes 2011 Past
2010 J.C. Sherritt Votes 2010 Winners
Eddie Robinson Award
Year Winner Votes Finalists Misc
2012 Craig Bohl Votes 2012 History
2011 Rob Ambrose Votes 2011 Past
2010 Tony Samuel Votes 2010 Winners
Jerry Rice Award
Year Winner Votes Finalists Misc
2012 John Robertson Votes 2012 History
2011 Terrance West Votes 2011 Past
Winners