8 former Georgia high school football stars playing in Super Bowl 2023

The 2023 Super Bowl takes place Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. When the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs square off in Super Bowl LVII, viewers will be tuning in for the best commercials or gambling on prop bets throughout the game. 

Some watching though may wonder where did the players get their respective starts at in high school? Many players from the big game will be facing off against guys that played high school football within the same state growing up. 

We looked up every player on the Eagles and Chiefs rosters and where they played their respective high school football careers. In the Peach State, there were eight players we found that will be playing in Sunday evening’s game. 

Here are all the players (including injured and practice squad players) grouped by team in alphabetical order and the high school listed next to the player’s name. 

Kansas City Chiefs (6)

Orlando Brown, offensive tackle, Peachtree Ridge: Brown was a third round pick of the 2018 NFL Draft and played his collegiate ball at Oklahoma. Out of high school, Brown had offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn and Tennessee. 

Harrison Butker, kicker, The Westminster Schools: Butker was selected in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft and played his college ball at Georgia Tech. For his professional career, the reliable Butker has made 164-of-186 field goal attempts and connected on 271-of-289 extra point tries. 

Mecole Hardman, wide receiver, Elbert County: Hardman was a second round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and played collegiately at Georgia. The former Elbert County standout was rated a 5-star coming out of high school and caught 60 passes for 961 yards for the Bulldogs. For his NFL career, Hardman has 151 catches for 2,088 yards and 16 total touchdowns. 

Malik Herring, defensive end, Mary Persons: Herring signed with the Chiefs as a undrafted free agent back in 2021. In minimal action this 2022 season, he has made six total tackles for the AFC champion Chiefs. 

Jerick McKinnon, running back, Sprayberry: McKinnon, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, played college ball at Georgia Southern from 2010-2013. The former Cobb County star played quarterback and wide receiver in high school. He was drafted in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft and has rushed for 2,590 yards and scored 13 touchdowns in his professional career. 

Jaylen Watson, cornerback, Laney/Curtis Baptist: Watson played at multiple colleges, seeing time at Ventura before landing at Washington State. He was a seventh round pick of the 2022 NFL Draft and has started six games for the Chiefs, intercepting three passes. 

Philadelphia Eagles (2)

Trey Sermon, running back, Sprayberry: Sermon was born in Florida, but grew up in Georgia and resided out of Marietta. The running back played collegiately at Oklahoma, rushing for nearly 3,000 yards during his time with the Sooners. A third round draft in 2021, Sermons has rushed for 186 yards in his brief NFL career. 

Darius Slay, cornerback, Brunswick: The Glynn County star is probably the most well known player that played his high school ball in Georgia. Slay is a 5-time Pro Bowler and was named a NFL first-team All-Pro in 2017. A second round pick back in 2013, the cornerback has made 513 tackles, broken up 133 passes and picked off 26 in his NFL Career. 

(Photo of Philadelphia Eagles’ cornerback Darius Slay courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.