No Panthers, but plenty of Carolinas connections in Super Bowl XLIX
If neither Seattle nor New England rock your football boat, you can at least root for these Carolinians who will be making an appearance Sunday evening:
Russell Wilson
Position: Seahawks quarterback
Carolinas connection: Played at N.C. State
Interesting fact: Wilson is also an ace at baseball. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Colorado Rockies and played two minor league seasons, including one with the Asheville Tourists in 2011.
Yep…@DangeRussWilson never gave up. You make the Wolfpack Nation proud sir. pic.twitter.com/0sQw6iYhAJ
— David Hughes (@tvproducerdave) January 18, 2015
J.R. Sweezy
Position: Seahawks right guard
Carolinas connection: Grew up in Mooresville, played at N.C. State
Interesting fact: He exceeded the weight limit for running backs as a 10-year-old in Mooresville’s youth league, prompting a move to the offensive line.
Mooresville’s JR Sweezy going back to the SUPER BOWL 2 years in a row! #RingChasing is turning into #RingCollecting. #Sweezy — NPC #NoOffseason (@NPCFootball) January 18, 2015
Brandon LaFell
Position: Patriots wide receiver
Carolinas connection: Played for Panthers 2010-13
Interesting fact: Likes to listen to R&B “slow jams” to calm himself down before games. Luther Vandross is a favorite.
Brandon LaFell made the right choice in #Patriots over #Panthers http://t.co/UqXdSF0sRw
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) January 19, 2015
Odell Beckham Jr says the player most likely to make a one-handed catch in the Super Bowl is #Patriots WR Brandon LaFell — PFTonNBCSN (@PFTonNBCSN) January 29, 2015
Landon Cohen
Position: Seahawks defensive tackle
Carolinas connection: Lives in Spartanburg, SC.
Interesting fact: Owns a valet business in Spartanburg; one evening, top NFL draft pick Jadeveon Clowney used his service.
Just a couple weeks ago Seahawks DT Landon Cohen was working as a valet driver – http://t.co/yUhSXWuRg6 pic.twitter.com/cRBrkh7dId — NFL Draft Diamonds (@DraftDiamonds) January 29, 2015
Nate Isles
Position: Seahawks offensive lineman
Carolinas connection: Played for North Carolina A&T
Interesting fact: Isles went undrafted after graduation, but got picked up by Seattle after a tryout during a rookie minicamp in May.
Good luck to fellow Aggie Nate Isles playing for the Seattle Seahawks in this years superbowl. pic.twitter.com/wtMOQ08Kts
— NCAT Queen City (@QCAggieAlumni) January 29, 2015
Byron Maxwell
Position: Seahawks cornerback
Carolinas connection: Played for Clemson
Interesting fact: Likes to wear long sleeves during games, a look that earns him ribbing from his teammates.
#TBT – Byron Maxwell, going for a Super Bowl title w/the @Seahawks, earned his sociology degree in 2010. #Clemson pic.twitter.com/8dD26plQj7 — Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) January 29, 2015
Steven Hauschka
Position: Seahawks kicker
Carolinas connection: Played at N.C. State
Interesting fact: Grew up a rabid Patriots fan. He also never played football as a kid, choosing soccer instead.
Seahawks K Steven Hauschka, after NC State career: “I was trying to decide which dental school (to apply to) and NFL teams started calling.”
— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelStar) January 29, 2015
Cooper Helfet
Position: Seahawks tight end
Carolinas connection: Played at Duke
Interesting fact: Roommates with Marshawn Lynch, the media darling (not).
Serendipity: when a lady in a Cooper Helfet jersey happens to be walking by when we pull up to our hotel @Duke_FBpic.twitter.com/zEJiQpCEoZ
— Mark Armstrong (@ArmstrongABC11) January 10, 2015
Photo: Charlie Riedel / AP
This story was originally published January 30, 2015 at 1:03 AM with the headline "No Panthers, but plenty of Carolinas connections in Super Bowl XLIX."