SEC alums playing key roles in NFL playoffs this weekend

The NFL Playoffs have reached Conference Championship Weekend, and Sunday’s pair of playoff games will determine the matchup in Super Bowl XLIV in two weeks.

A whopping 35 players hailing from 13 SEC schools are on the active rosters of the four teams still alive for professional football’s greatest prize. The only SEC program that won’t be represented this weekend is Auburn, while Alabama and LSU are each represented on all four remaining teams.

Which former SEC stars should you be looking for on Sunday? Here’s a list of all 35 players on active rosters this weekend, broken down by team, position and alma mater. Players on injured reserve or a practice squad were not factored into this list.

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Green Bay Packers: 9 players on active roster

• HaHa Clinton-Dix — CB — Alabama
• Eddie Lacy — RB — Alabama
• Brett Goode — LS — Arkansas
• Randall Cobb — WR — Kentucky
• Tim Masthay — P — Kentucky
• Matt Flynn — QB — LSU
• Josh Boyd — DT — Mississippi State
• Casey Hayward —CB — Vandy
• Sean Richardson — S — Vandy

Seattle Seahawks: 15 players on active roster

• James Carpenter — G — Alabama
• Kevin Norwood — WR — Alabama
• Jesse Williams — DT — Alabama
• Alvin Bailey — OT — Arkansas
• Demarcus Dobbs — DE — Georgia
• Chris Matthews — WR — Kentucky
• Tharold Simon — CB — LSU
• Justin Britt — OT — Missouri
• K.J. Wright — LB — Mississippi State
• Lemuel Jeanpierre — OL — South Carolina
• Tony McDaniel — DT — Tennessee
• Michael Bennett — DE — Texas A&M
• Patrick Lewis — C — Texas A&M
• Christine Michael — RB — Texas A&M
• Steven Terrell — S — Texas A&M

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Indianapolis Colts: 7 players on active roster

• Josh Chapman — NT — Alabama
• Trent Richardson — RB — Alabama
• Jonotthan Harrison — C — Florida
• Xavier Nixon — OT — Florida
• Ricky Jean Francois — DT — LSU
• LaRon Landry — S — LSU
• Donte Moncrief — WR — Ole Miss

New England Patriots: 4 players on active roster

• Dont’a Hightower — LB — Alabama
• Brandon LaFell — WR — LSU
• Chris White — LB — Mississippi State
• Brandon Bolden — RB — Ole Miss

Total players: 35

• Alabama: 8
• Arkansas: 2
• Auburn: 0
• Florida: 2
• Georgia: 1
• Kentucky: 3
• LSU: 5
• Mississippi State: 3
• Missouri: 1
• Ole Miss: 2
• South Carolina: 1
• Tennessee: 1
• Texas A&M: 4
• Vanderbilt: 2

Ethan Levine

A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.