Charles Cross will play in the Super Bowl after helping the Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship game, according to sources. Cross started at left tackle and logged all 67 offensive snaps for the Seahawks, who advanced to their first Super Bowl since 2014.
Pro Football Focus awarded Cross the second-highest offensive grade among offensive linemen during championship weekend, at 81.9. He also tied for the second-best pass blocking grade at 81.6 and posted the third-best run blocking grade at 78.8. Cross is the 41st player from Mississippi State to reach the Super Bowl, pushing the program’s total appearances to 63, according to school records.
Other former Bulldogs also participated in postseason action. Emmanuel Forbes, a cornerback for the Los Angeles Rams, recorded a tackle for loss in the NFC title game. He finished the season with 45 tackles and three pass defenses. Meanwhile, several MSU alumni will compete in the Pro Bowl Games on Feb. 3, including Dak Prescott, Chris Jones, and Jeffery Simmons.
Prescott, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, will be making his seventh Pro Bowl appearance. Jones and Simmons will be participating in their fourth. The events will be broadcast on ESPN and Disney XD, with the flag football game beginning at 7 p.m.
Other notable NFL players from MSU include Jaden Crumedy, who played for the Carolina Panthers, and Jeffery Simmons of the Tennessee Titans. Multiple alumni, such as Willie Gay Jr., Darius Slay, and Elgton Jenkins, completed their seasons, with some missing time due to injuries.
