Former Kentucky WR Chris Matthews, former Mississippi State LB K.J. Wright and former LSU WR Brandon LaFell are among players with SEC ties that stood out during Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday.

The New England Patriots won, 28-24, preserving a lead when Russell Wilson threw a goal-line interception on a pick play with Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch available in the backfield.

Otherwise Matthews, who hadn’t made a single NFL catch prior to the game, would’ve been an MVP candidate.

The 6-foot-5 receiver played for the Iowa Barnstormers and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, then worked at Foot Locker, after failing to make the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2011. After landing a spot on Seattle’s practice squad, the Seahawks signed him in December due to injuries at receiver.

Most of Matthews’ contributions prior to Sunday came on special teams, including a recovery of an onside kick during a comeback win in the NFC Championship. But he caught four passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIX, including 44- and 45-yard snares that set up Seahawks scores.

Here are some other SEC highlights from the game:

  • LaFell, a third-round pick for the Carolina Panthers, caught an 11-yard touchdown in the second quarter to break open a scoreless game and made four catches in the win.
  • Wright, trending on Twitter near the end of the second quarter, struggled covering TE Rob Gronkowski 1-on-1, and gave up a 22-yard touchdown pass. But he finished the game with 10 total tackles, tying for the team lead.
  • Former Alabama LB Dont’a Hightower appeared to aggravate his shoulder injury late in the second quarter, but finished the game with five tackles.
  • Former LSU CB Tharold Simon entered the game for Jeremy Lane, who suffered a gruesome left wrist/arm injury on a first-half interception. Simon gave up the touchdown to LaFell and another to Julian Edelman on the eventual game-winning score. Simon made a nice play on a pass breakup in the end zone up 24-14 in the fourth quarter, but Tom Brady picked on him regularly.
  • Former Texas A&M DL Michael Bennett hit Brady four times and made two tackles. Former Tennessee DT Tony McDaniel also made two tackles for the Seahawks. Former Texas A&M S Steven Terrell also made one tackle for Seattle.
  • Former Missouri OT Justin Britt returned to the starting lineup after missing the NFC Championship due to injury, relegating former Arkansas OT Alvin Bailey back to the bench. Britt served as a lead blocker on a Lynch touchdown run. Former Alabama OL James Carpenter also started for the Seahawks.
  • The Seahawks and Patriots featured 19 active players with ties to the SEC. LaFell, Hightower, Mississippi State LB Chris White and Ole Miss RB Brandon Bolden all earned Super Bowl rings with New England.