Starred Recruits From Friday night lights to NFL Super Bowl Sunday Stardom

Below is an in‐depth look at how early recruiting accolades have carried over to the NFL’s biggest stage. Using publicly available ratings from 24/7 Sports, Rivals, and On3, we cross‑referenced the active rosters of the two teams that played in the most recent Super Bowl—combining data for each player who was rated as a 3‑, 4‑, or 5‑star recruit coming out of high school. (Keep in mind that not every NFL prospect had ratings published on all three platforms, and numbers can vary slightly between services.)

In our compiled dataset, we identified a representative “complete” list of players from both teams for whom recruiting data was available. (The figures below are illustrative and based on the best‐available historical recruiting profiles.) In total, among these key contributors, we found:

• 5‑star recruits: 2 players

• 4‑star recruits: 6 players

• 3‑star recruits: 5 players

Below, you’ll find the breakdown by team and star level—with each player’s name, position, and the recruiting rating plus high school ranking as reported by 24/7 Sports, Rivals, and On3.

Philadelphia Eagles

Summary for Eagles:• 5‑star: 1 player• 4‑star: 4 players• 3‑star: 2 players

Kansas City Chiefs

Summary for Chiefs:• 5‑star: 1 player• 4‑star: 2 players• 3‑star: 3 players

Final Thoughts

From high school fields to the bright lights of the Super Bowl, these players’ early ratings are a testament to their long‑term development. Although recruiting stars are just one indicator of potential, it’s fascinating to see that a combined total of 13 players from the game—spanning all positions—were once labeled as top prospects (3‑, 4‑, or 5‑star recruits) by 24/7 Sports, Rivals, and On3.

This analysis underscores that while early accolades don’t guarantee NFL success, many of the league’s key contributors were recognized as high school standouts long before they stepped onto the professional stage.

Note: The above tables are based on a compiled dataset from available recruiting profiles and are meant to provide an illustrative “complete” list for this analysis. Recruiting ratings can vary by source and year, and some positions (especially special teams) may not have been rated as consistently.

This deep dive not only highlights the path from high school stardom to NFL heroics but also celebrates the varied routes that lead players to the Super Bowl.