Texas Football

How did the players with Texas ties fare in last night's Super Bowl XLVII?

By Greg Tepper DCTF Associate Editor

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It’s a day of mourning across America today. No, not because we all have heartburn from all the food we ate during the Super Bowl (well, not just because of the heartburn).

Today is the official start of the football offseason. There won’t be another meaningful football game in America until August.

I hope you’re wearing black today.

But if the 2012-2013 football campaign across America was going to go out, it went out in style with a tremendous Super Bowl last night, as the Baltimore Ravens held off the San Francisco 49ers to win the championship.

As you probably know – we know you watched it – it was thrilling game, complete with a late goal-line stand and a power outage. Perhaps what you didn’t know was that despite the teams being from Maryland and California, there was quite a bit of Texas influence in the game.

Here’s how all the players with Texas ties fared in Super Bowl XLVII.

Baltimore DB Chykie Brown (Galena Park North Shore/ Texas)
The former star for the Mustangs and Longhorns hasn’t had a great postseason, as he lost his starting job in the AFC championship game and therefore saw limited time in the Super Bowl. His biggest play was a rough one, getting flagged for running into the kicker as 49ers K David Akers missed a 39-yard field goal in the third quarter. A play later, Akers made a 34-yarder.

San Francisco DB Tarell Brown (North Mesquite/Texas)
On the flip side, this Texas-ex named Brown had a pretty good Super Bowl, coming up with a big play in the third  quarter. Brown was covering Baltimore RB Ray Rice as he caught a pass in the flats. Brown tackled him, forced a fumble and recovered it. It was a potential game-changing play in the third quarter, but San Fran could only manage a field goal to pull within five. Brown finished with 3 tackles (2 solo) and the forced fumble and recovery.

San Francisco DB Perrish Cox (Waco University)
It was a tumultuous journey to the Super Bowl for the Waco University product and former Oklahoma State star. This time last year, Cox was in court fighting sexual assault charges. The jury would later find him not guilty, and Cox would get signed by the 49ers, where he spent the season as a backup. He didn’t factor into last night’s game, but it’s understandable that he was just happy to be there.

San Francisco WR Michael Crabtree (Dallas Carter/Texas Tech)
Get your guns up, Tech fans: no Texan had a bigger impact on the game than the former Red Raider (and Carter Cowboy). Crabtree led all receivers with five catches for 109 yards and a touchdown, joining the likes of Wes Welker, Timmy Smith and Donny Anderson as Red Raiders to score in the Super Bowl. Of course, the pivotal play of the game will be the one people remember Crabtree’s involvement in, as Colin Kaepernick couldn’t hook up with him on 4^th down near the goal line for what would’ve been a go-ahead touchdown. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh complained to no avail that Crabtree was held (and I tend to agree). Regardless, a sparkling Super Bowl debut for Crabtree.

San Francisco OL Leonard Davis (Wortham/Texas)
The wily 12-year veteran who has all sorts of ties to Texas – Wortham High, University of Texas, a stint with the Dallas Cowboys – didn’t see the field during the game, and came up short in his bid to win his first Super Bowl.

Baltimore LB Adrian Hamilton (Dallas Carter/Prairie View A&M)
The other half of the Dallas Carter duo – the only high school in Texas with two alums in the Super Bowl – had a terrific year, going from being cut by the Cowboys to making the active roster for the Ravens as they marched toward the Super Bowl. He was inactive last night, but I imagine he’s OK with the consolation prize of a ring.

San Francisco RB LaMichael James (Texarkana Liberty-Eylau)
It was a night of mixed results for the dynamic James, who got his start with the Liberty-Eylau Leopards before starring at Oregon. James only had three carries, but that included a 9-yard burst that had people thinking he would have a big impact on the game. But his most impactful play was a critical second-quarter fumble that helped the Ravens extend their lead. James also had three kickoff returns for 75 yards.

San Francisco DL Tony Jerod-Eddie (DeSoto/Texas A&M)
The former DeSoto Eagle and A&M Aggie made big progress this year as a rookie, getting called up from the practice squad in late December with the injury to DL Justin Smith. He only appeared in one game, though, and it wasn’t the Super Bowl (he was inactive last night), but the big man looks to have a promising future.

San Francisco DB Darcel McBath (Gainesville/Texas Tech)
Another Red Raider, but also the only Gainesville Leopard in New Orleans last night. McBath only managed one tackle, but boy, was it a big one. Leading 14-3 late in the first half, the Ravens lined up for a short field goal…and faked it. K Justin Tucker (we’ll get to him in a moment) took the snap and ran to his left, needing 9 yards for the first down. It was McBath who brought him down just short of the first down, saving the Niners’ bacon for the time being.

Baltimore OL Kelechi Osemele (Langham Creek)
The Iowa State ex made a name for himself in Texas at Langham Creek, and was one of the few Texans to start the Super Bowl last night, holding down the left guard spot for the Ravens. I haven’t had a chance to break down film, but matched up with star DL Justin Smith for most of the night, he held him to three tackles and no sacks. A pretty strong effort for the now-champion Osemele.

Baltimore K Justin Tucker (Austin Westlake/Texas)
It was an eventful night for the rookie kicker out of Texas via Austin Westlake. The former Chap went 2-for-2 on field goals, and while both were short (19 and 38 yards), they were critical, coming in the fourth quarter. Tucker also went 4-for-4 on extra points and had 8 yards rushing on the fake field goal late in the second quarter (unfortunately for him and the Ravens, he needed 9 for the first down).

Baltimore OL Bobbie Williams (Jefferson)
The pride of Jefferson, Texas is in his first year with the Ravens after swims through Philadelphia and Cincinnati, and he picked an excellent time to hop on board. He didn’t see any action last night, serving as the backup to both left guard Kelechi Osemele and right guard Marshal Yanda, but now you can add “Super Bowl Champion” to his résumé.     

Greg Tepper is the associate editor of Dave Campbell's Texas Football and TexasFootball.com.

He can be reached via e-mail, via Twitter (@Tepper) and via the DCTF Facebook page.