Michigan State University Athletics
Three Former Spartans Preparing for Super Bowl LV
2/5/2021 6:51:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Three former Michigan State Spartans – Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell and Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston and quarterback Drew Stanton – are preparing for Super Bowl LV on Sunday, Feb. 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The game will begin at 6:30 p.m. and is being televised on CBS.
Now in his eighth season with the Buccaneers, Gholston tied his career high with three sacks and recorded 44 tackles overall during the regular season, the third-highest output of his career and most since 2016. He also had eight tackles for loss, ranking sixth on the Bucs. The native of Detroit has played in 119 career regular-season games, including 68 starts, all with Tampa Bay, and has 316 career tackles, including 47 tackles for loss and 15 sacks.
Gholston has contributed in all three of the Bucs' playoff wins. He was credited with a quarterback hit in 40 snaps at Washington in the wild card round, recorded two tackles and a quarterback hit while playing 37 snaps in the victory over the Saints in the divisional round, and had a QB hit in 30 snaps in the NFC Championship Game at Green Bay.
"I think the biggest impact I can make (in the game), and that I can contribute, is to be the player that I have been this season," said Gholston this week. "To be able to do my job to the 100 percent of my ability. When it's my time to make a play, to be able to make that play."
Earlier this week (Feb. 1), the Moffitt Cancer Center announced that Gholston donated $225,000 to support research into cancer health disparities. In the press release from the Moffitt Cancer Center, "the donation, made during Black History Month, will help fund discoveries in breast, colon, and prostate cancers — all of which disproportionately affect Black men and women. Gholston's gift will go to Moffitt's George Edgecomb Society, which seeks to eliminate cancer health disparities among communities of color."
"When I was presented with the opportunity to donate and be a part of the betterment of cancer research for Black communities, I could not think of a better way to honor my family," said Gholston. "My father died battling lung cancer, and my uncle from prostate cancer. My mother has won her breast cancer battle multiple times. This battle is hard, the fight is hard, and any amount of research or help is huge in my eyes. I hope this donation helps others who are fighting or may have to fight down the line. You can never get time back, but with this we may be able to add more time for others."
To read the entire release, please click here: https://moffitt.org/newsroom/press-release-archive/2021/tampa-bay-buccaneers-defensive-end-william-gholston-funds-cancer-health-disparities-research-at-moffitt-cancer-center/
In his third appearance in the NFL Playoffs, Bell is making his first Super Bowl trip. The three-time Pro Bowler had two carries for 6 yards in playing 11 offensive snaps for the Chiefs in their win over the Browns in the Divisional Round, but was forced to sit on the sidelines with an injury in the AFC Championship Game against Buffalo.
A two-time first-team All-Pro with the Steelers, Bell was traded from the Jets to the Chiefs during midseason and helped Kansas City to a 14-2 record, the AFC West Division title and the No. 1 AFC seed in the playoffs. He played 11 games total (nine with the Chiefs, two with the Jets) and had 82 carries for 328 yards and two rushing TDs in 2020. He also hauled in 16 receptions for 138 yards. Bell finished third on the Chiefs in rushing with 254 yards on 63 carries in nine games and had a season-high 62 yards rushing on 15 carries, including a touchdown, in the Week 15 victory over the Saints.
In 88 career regular-season games, including 81 starts, Bell has rushed for 6,453 yards and 40 touchdowns and has 394 receptions for 3,259 yards and eight TDs.
In addition to Bell and Gholston, veteran quarterback Drew Stanton was placed on Tampa Bay's active roster for Super Bowl LV. He joined the practice squad for the Buccaneers late in the regular season, but hasn't seen game action. Stanton was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by Detroit and has played in 38 NFL games with the Lions (2008-10), Colts (2012) and Cardinals (2014-17).
In the coaching ranks, John Van Dam, who lettered as a quarterback in 2006, is in his second season as an offensive quality control coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Matt House, who began his coaching career at Michigan State (2001-02) as a graduate assistant, helping the Spartans to the 2001 Silicon Valley Classic with the secondary and special teams units, is in his second season as linebackers coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.
Additional Spartan Super Bowl Facts & Lists:
• Kansas City Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston and quarterback Drew Stanton are three of 47 former Michigan State letterwinners to have their names listed on a Super Bowl roster. In the previous 54 Super Bowls, 42 former Spartans have seen playing time. Twenty-seven former Spartans have won Super Bowl rings.
• Former Spartan greats Herb Adderley (Green Bay: I, II; Dallas: V, VI) and Earl Morrall (Baltimore: III, V; Miami: VII, VIII) each made four Super Bowl appearances and each won three championship rings. Dixon Edwards went a perfect three-for-three with the Dallas Cowboys, winning three Super Bowl (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) championship rings.
• Former Spartan All-American Sherman Lewis made five Super Bowl appearances as an assistant coach (San Francisco: XIX, XXIII, XXIV; Green Bay: XXXI, XXXII), winning four championship rings. Former Michigan State head coach George Perles won four Super Bowl rings (IX, X, XIII, XIV) as an assistant coach under Chuck Noll with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Former Spartan Letterwinners on All-Time Super Bowl Roster (47)
Flozell Adams, OT: Pittsburgh (XLV)
Herb Adderley, CB: Green Bay (I, II); Dallas (V, VI)
Brian Allen, OL: Los Angeles Rams (LIII)
Morten Andersen, K: Atlanta (XXXIII)
Fred Arbanas, TE: Kansas City (I, IV)
Gary Ballman, TE: Minnesota (VIII*)
Carl Banks, LB: New York Giants (XXI, XXV)
Tony Banks, QB: Baltimore (XXXV)
Le'Veon Bell, RB: Kansas City (LV)
Myron Bell, S: Pittsburgh (XXX)
Larry Bethea, DT: Dallas (XIII)
Ed Budde, OG: Kansas City (I, IV)
Plaxico Burress, WR: New York Giants (XLII)
Garrett Celek, TE: San Francisco (XLVII)
Smiley Creswell, DE: New England (XX)
Billy Joe DuPree, TE: Dallas (X, XII, XIII)
Dixon Edwards, LB: Dallas (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
Bennie Fowler, WR: Denver (50)
Tom Graves, LB: Pittsburgh (XIV)
William Gholston, DE: Tampa Bay (LV)
Dave Herman, OT: New York Jets (III)
Brian Hoyer, QB: New England (XLVI*, LII*, LIII*)
Mark Ingram, WR: New York Giants (XXV)
Bill Johnson, NT: Pittsburgh (XXX)
Clint Jones, RB: Minnesota (IV)
Greg Jones, LB: New York Giants (XLVI)
Mike Labinjo, LB: Philadelphia (XXXIX)
Ed Lothamer, DT: Kansas City (IV)
Dave Manders, C: Dallas (V, VI)
Derrick Mason, WR: Tennessee (XXXIV)
Earl Morrall, QB: Baltimore (III, V); Miami (VII, VIII)
Jim Morrissey, LB: Chicago (XX)
Muhsin Muhammad, WR: Carolina (XXXVIII), Chicago (XLI)
Ike Reese, LB: Philadelphia (XXXIX)
Jeff Richardson, OG: New York Jets (III)
Andre Rison, WR: Green Bay (XXXI)
Greg Robinson-Randall, OT: New England (XXXVI)
Paul Rochester, DT: New York Jets (III)
Butch Rolle, TE: Buffalo (XXV, XXVI)
Rich Saul, C: Los Angeles Rams (XIV)
Bubba Smith, DE: Baltimore (III, V)
Drew Stanton, QB: Tampa Bay (LV)
Devin Thomas, WR: New York Giants (XLVI)
Matt Vanderbeek, LB/DE: Dallas (XXVIII)
Gene Washington, WR: Minnesota (IV)
Bobby Wilson, DT: Washington (XXVI)
Duane Young, TE: San Diego (XXIX)
*Did Not Play
Former Spartan Coaches in the Super Bowl (19)
Hank Bullough: Cincinnati (XVI)
Bob Casullo: Oakland (XXXVII); Seattle (XL)
Danny Crossman: Carolina (XXXVIII)
Brian Daboll: New England (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX)
Rollie Dotsch: Pittsburgh (XIII, XIV)
Matt House: Kansas City (LIV, LV)*
Sherman Lewis: San Francisco (XIX, XXIII, XXIV); Green Bay (XXXI, XXXII)
Ben McAdoo: Green Bay (XLV)
Josh McDaniels: New England (XXXIX, XLII, XLVI, XLIX, LI, LII, LIII)*
Dean Pees: New England (XXXIX); Baltimore (XLVII)
Skip Peete: Oakland (XXXVII)
George Perles: Pittsburgh (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
John Polonchek: Oakland (II), New England (XX)
Pat Ruel: Seattle (XLVIII, XLIX)
Bill Sheridan: New York Giants (XLII)
Pat Shurmur: Philadelphia (XXXIX)
Jeff Stoutland: Philadelphia (LII)
Sal Sunseri: Carolina (XXXVIII)
Woody Widenhofer: Pittsburgh (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
*Graduate assistant
Former Spartan Assistant Coaches on All-Time Super Bowl Roster (2)
Steve Furness, DT: Pittsburgh (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
Bill Rademacher, TE: New York Jets (III)
Now in his eighth season with the Buccaneers, Gholston tied his career high with three sacks and recorded 44 tackles overall during the regular season, the third-highest output of his career and most since 2016. He also had eight tackles for loss, ranking sixth on the Bucs. The native of Detroit has played in 119 career regular-season games, including 68 starts, all with Tampa Bay, and has 316 career tackles, including 47 tackles for loss and 15 sacks.
Gholston has contributed in all three of the Bucs' playoff wins. He was credited with a quarterback hit in 40 snaps at Washington in the wild card round, recorded two tackles and a quarterback hit while playing 37 snaps in the victory over the Saints in the divisional round, and had a QB hit in 30 snaps in the NFC Championship Game at Green Bay.
"I think the biggest impact I can make (in the game), and that I can contribute, is to be the player that I have been this season," said Gholston this week. "To be able to do my job to the 100 percent of my ability. When it's my time to make a play, to be able to make that play."
Earlier this week (Feb. 1), the Moffitt Cancer Center announced that Gholston donated $225,000 to support research into cancer health disparities. In the press release from the Moffitt Cancer Center, "the donation, made during Black History Month, will help fund discoveries in breast, colon, and prostate cancers — all of which disproportionately affect Black men and women. Gholston's gift will go to Moffitt's George Edgecomb Society, which seeks to eliminate cancer health disparities among communities of color."
"When I was presented with the opportunity to donate and be a part of the betterment of cancer research for Black communities, I could not think of a better way to honor my family," said Gholston. "My father died battling lung cancer, and my uncle from prostate cancer. My mother has won her breast cancer battle multiple times. This battle is hard, the fight is hard, and any amount of research or help is huge in my eyes. I hope this donation helps others who are fighting or may have to fight down the line. You can never get time back, but with this we may be able to add more time for others."
To read the entire release, please click here: https://moffitt.org/newsroom/press-release-archive/2021/tampa-bay-buccaneers-defensive-end-william-gholston-funds-cancer-health-disparities-research-at-moffitt-cancer-center/
In his third appearance in the NFL Playoffs, Bell is making his first Super Bowl trip. The three-time Pro Bowler had two carries for 6 yards in playing 11 offensive snaps for the Chiefs in their win over the Browns in the Divisional Round, but was forced to sit on the sidelines with an injury in the AFC Championship Game against Buffalo.
A two-time first-team All-Pro with the Steelers, Bell was traded from the Jets to the Chiefs during midseason and helped Kansas City to a 14-2 record, the AFC West Division title and the No. 1 AFC seed in the playoffs. He played 11 games total (nine with the Chiefs, two with the Jets) and had 82 carries for 328 yards and two rushing TDs in 2020. He also hauled in 16 receptions for 138 yards. Bell finished third on the Chiefs in rushing with 254 yards on 63 carries in nine games and had a season-high 62 yards rushing on 15 carries, including a touchdown, in the Week 15 victory over the Saints.
In 88 career regular-season games, including 81 starts, Bell has rushed for 6,453 yards and 40 touchdowns and has 394 receptions for 3,259 yards and eight TDs.
In addition to Bell and Gholston, veteran quarterback Drew Stanton was placed on Tampa Bay's active roster for Super Bowl LV. He joined the practice squad for the Buccaneers late in the regular season, but hasn't seen game action. Stanton was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by Detroit and has played in 38 NFL games with the Lions (2008-10), Colts (2012) and Cardinals (2014-17).
In the coaching ranks, John Van Dam, who lettered as a quarterback in 2006, is in his second season as an offensive quality control coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Matt House, who began his coaching career at Michigan State (2001-02) as a graduate assistant, helping the Spartans to the 2001 Silicon Valley Classic with the secondary and special teams units, is in his second season as linebackers coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.
Additional Spartan Super Bowl Facts & Lists:
• Kansas City Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston and quarterback Drew Stanton are three of 47 former Michigan State letterwinners to have their names listed on a Super Bowl roster. In the previous 54 Super Bowls, 42 former Spartans have seen playing time. Twenty-seven former Spartans have won Super Bowl rings.
• Former Spartan greats Herb Adderley (Green Bay: I, II; Dallas: V, VI) and Earl Morrall (Baltimore: III, V; Miami: VII, VIII) each made four Super Bowl appearances and each won three championship rings. Dixon Edwards went a perfect three-for-three with the Dallas Cowboys, winning three Super Bowl (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) championship rings.
• Former Spartan All-American Sherman Lewis made five Super Bowl appearances as an assistant coach (San Francisco: XIX, XXIII, XXIV; Green Bay: XXXI, XXXII), winning four championship rings. Former Michigan State head coach George Perles won four Super Bowl rings (IX, X, XIII, XIV) as an assistant coach under Chuck Noll with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Former Spartan Letterwinners on All-Time Super Bowl Roster (47)
Flozell Adams, OT: Pittsburgh (XLV)
Herb Adderley, CB: Green Bay (I, II); Dallas (V, VI)
Brian Allen, OL: Los Angeles Rams (LIII)
Morten Andersen, K: Atlanta (XXXIII)
Fred Arbanas, TE: Kansas City (I, IV)
Gary Ballman, TE: Minnesota (VIII*)
Carl Banks, LB: New York Giants (XXI, XXV)
Tony Banks, QB: Baltimore (XXXV)
Le'Veon Bell, RB: Kansas City (LV)
Myron Bell, S: Pittsburgh (XXX)
Larry Bethea, DT: Dallas (XIII)
Ed Budde, OG: Kansas City (I, IV)
Plaxico Burress, WR: New York Giants (XLII)
Garrett Celek, TE: San Francisco (XLVII)
Smiley Creswell, DE: New England (XX)
Billy Joe DuPree, TE: Dallas (X, XII, XIII)
Dixon Edwards, LB: Dallas (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
Bennie Fowler, WR: Denver (50)
Tom Graves, LB: Pittsburgh (XIV)
William Gholston, DE: Tampa Bay (LV)
Dave Herman, OT: New York Jets (III)
Brian Hoyer, QB: New England (XLVI*, LII*, LIII*)
Mark Ingram, WR: New York Giants (XXV)
Bill Johnson, NT: Pittsburgh (XXX)
Clint Jones, RB: Minnesota (IV)
Greg Jones, LB: New York Giants (XLVI)
Mike Labinjo, LB: Philadelphia (XXXIX)
Ed Lothamer, DT: Kansas City (IV)
Dave Manders, C: Dallas (V, VI)
Derrick Mason, WR: Tennessee (XXXIV)
Earl Morrall, QB: Baltimore (III, V); Miami (VII, VIII)
Jim Morrissey, LB: Chicago (XX)
Muhsin Muhammad, WR: Carolina (XXXVIII), Chicago (XLI)
Ike Reese, LB: Philadelphia (XXXIX)
Jeff Richardson, OG: New York Jets (III)
Andre Rison, WR: Green Bay (XXXI)
Greg Robinson-Randall, OT: New England (XXXVI)
Paul Rochester, DT: New York Jets (III)
Butch Rolle, TE: Buffalo (XXV, XXVI)
Rich Saul, C: Los Angeles Rams (XIV)
Bubba Smith, DE: Baltimore (III, V)
Drew Stanton, QB: Tampa Bay (LV)
Devin Thomas, WR: New York Giants (XLVI)
Matt Vanderbeek, LB/DE: Dallas (XXVIII)
Gene Washington, WR: Minnesota (IV)
Bobby Wilson, DT: Washington (XXVI)
Duane Young, TE: San Diego (XXIX)
*Did Not Play
Former Spartan Coaches in the Super Bowl (19)
Hank Bullough: Cincinnati (XVI)
Bob Casullo: Oakland (XXXVII); Seattle (XL)
Danny Crossman: Carolina (XXXVIII)
Brian Daboll: New England (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX)
Rollie Dotsch: Pittsburgh (XIII, XIV)
Matt House: Kansas City (LIV, LV)*
Sherman Lewis: San Francisco (XIX, XXIII, XXIV); Green Bay (XXXI, XXXII)
Ben McAdoo: Green Bay (XLV)
Josh McDaniels: New England (XXXIX, XLII, XLVI, XLIX, LI, LII, LIII)*
Dean Pees: New England (XXXIX); Baltimore (XLVII)
Skip Peete: Oakland (XXXVII)
George Perles: Pittsburgh (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
John Polonchek: Oakland (II), New England (XX)
Pat Ruel: Seattle (XLVIII, XLIX)
Bill Sheridan: New York Giants (XLII)
Pat Shurmur: Philadelphia (XXXIX)
Jeff Stoutland: Philadelphia (LII)
Sal Sunseri: Carolina (XXXVIII)
Woody Widenhofer: Pittsburgh (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
*Graduate assistant
Former Spartan Assistant Coaches on All-Time Super Bowl Roster (2)
Steve Furness, DT: Pittsburgh (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
Bill Rademacher, TE: New York Jets (III)
Players Mentioned
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