By Matson Montilla & Amy McKenna
Super Bowl LVI is set to kick off Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. EST and regardless of the result, Clemson football will walk away with a win.
"No matter how the game goes, there's gonna be a Tiger being a Super Bowl champ once again," said Coach Swinney on Packer and Durham. "That's pretty cool for our program."
The game between the Bengals and the Rams will include four former Clemson players and former defensive ends coach Marion Hobby.
Jackson Carman, Tee Higgins and D.J. Reader are all on the Bengals, while Tremayne Anchrum Jr. is on the Rams. Hobby is also on the Bengals.
Not only will it be a special moment to see these former Tigers in the Super Bowl, but it also highlights the success Clemson football players have in the NFL. This year will be the fourth straight season where Clemson will have a former player on the Super Bowl-winning roster, the last being Bradley Pinion on the Buccaneers.
It is instrumental to recognize the importance each of these players has had in helping their teams get to Super Bowl LVI.
For the Bengals, Tee Higgins reeled in 74 receptions for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season. In the playoffs, he has 14 receptions for 209 yards, including 103 yards against the Chiefs.
Jackson Carman played in every game for the Bengals this season and started at offensive line for six games. Like Higgins, Carman played a big role in the Bengals' win over the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
This season, D.J. Reader has quietly become one of the best nose tackles in the NFL and had 43 tackles and two sacks. Reader has nine tackles in the playoffs.
Hobby also has much to do with the success of Reader and the entire Bengals' defensive line. The Bengals racked up 38 sacks this year.
Despite not being a part of the Rams offensive line rotation, Anchrum Jr. has helped the Rams throughout the season and will continue to help the Rams in the future.
Only two programs have more former players in this Super Bowl – LSU and Florida. Each of these Clemson players hopes to add Super Bowl champion to their already lengthy resume that includes ACC Champion and, for three of the four, College Football Playoff National Champion.
