by Rick Istvan | Jordan Love and Darwin Thompson were teammates at Utah State. Daniel Sorensen and Jamaal Williams are former BYU teammates. However, there is a chance they will be opponents in Super Bowl LV.
To the victor belong the spoils
Being part of a D1 college football team is something that very few people will every experience. Lifetime friendships can be made during these times. Nothing can spoil a bond between a football player and his teammate. Well, maybe there is one thing, a championship. I’m not talking about any championship. I’m talking about the creme de la creme, the cream of the crop, the Lombardi Trophy. For an NFL team, the Lombardi Trophy is the Mount Everest of their career. When you win the Lombardi you are now part of a club that is forever cemented in history. Ask any player in the NFL and I can assure you, they would choose winning a Super Bowl over any individual award you could win in the NFL.
No Love lost
Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love and Kansas City Chiefs RB Darwin Thompson were teammates at Utah State. Love has yet to lead the pack because Aaron Rodgers is still calling the plays. However, Jordan Love has the best seat in the house to a top notch education in QB 101. Most first round rookies come into the NFL and get thrown to the wolves. When a rookie QB has to play their first year, the results aren’t always the best. There are those few elite players who come in and thrive. Patrick Mahomes is one of those players. For every Mahomes, numerous players don’t make it. JaMarcus Russell, Matt Leinart, Ryan Leaf, and Vince Young are some of those players who wouldn’t make it.
Jordan Love shouldn’t be a loss. Tom Brady, Steve Young, and even the man Love sit behind, Aaron Rodgers, were once backups. What do all of these guys have in common? They all won Super Bowls, were league MVP, and most likely will be in the NFL Hall of Fame. Love has an opportunity to learn from Rodgers. When it’s his time, he will be the face of the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay will host Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today to determine who will represent the NFC in Super Bowl LV. If Green Bay wins, there is a chance that the Packers could face off against the Kansas City Chiefs if they beat the Bills later today. If Super Bowl LV is Kansas City vs. Green Bay, former Aggie teammates Love and Thompson will again take the field together. This time instead of as teammates, they’ll be opponents. If this is Super Bowl LV, one way or another, Utah State will have an alum hoisting the Lombardi Trophy Sunday, February 7th, 2021, in Tampa.
Darwin’s Theory
This former Utah State was teammates with Jordan Love. Thompson, who is in his second year in the NFL with the Chiefs, is waiting his turn to evolve. Thompson recorded 27 carries for 97 yards, seven receptions for 65 yards, and had one rushing and one receiving touchdown. The Kansas City Chiefs have depth in the backfield. With players such as Le’Veon Bell, Edwards-Helaire, and Damien Williams, carries are hard to come by. However, Thompson is young and shows promise. Bell is getting older, Williams is out with an injury, and Edwards-Helaire has had some minor injuries. Darwin’s theory of evolution is something that could benefit the Chiefs sooner than later. Thompson has a ring with the Chiefs their Super Bowl 54 win. Will the Utah State Aggie add another championship ring to his collection? We will find out tonight when the Chiefs host the Buffalo Bills to see who will represent the AFC in Super Bowl LV.
Sore loser, or Willing winner
Daniel Sorensen is a former BYU Cougar. He now plays in the defensive backfield for the Kansas City Chiefs. Sorensen plays with a ferocity and toughness that is sometimes controversial. However, he has the respect of his adversaries. Last year Sorensen won his first Lombardi Trophy. On February 7, 2021, he would like to win another one. To make this happen, he will have to stop Josh Allen and a determined Buffalo Bills squad. Kansas City has a good secondary led by Sorensen and Mathieu. With Josh Allen’s ability to scramble and deliver the ball, the Chief’s secondary will need to be on high alert. Last week against the Browns, Sorensen had a questionable hit that could have been targeting. Sorensen didn’t get called for targeting, but he can’t have that happen against the Bills. There are some issues the Chiefs are facing. Some players are out with injuries, and some are playing hurt.
Sorensen had some impressive stats during the regular season. He finished with 91 total tackles, two forced fumbles, five pass deflections, and three interceptions. Of those 91 tackles, two were tackles for a loss, and one of his interceptions was a pick six. Sorensen has the talent but he needs to play smarter. If Sorensen doesn’t want to miss this Super Bowl, he will need to play smart, mistake-free football, or he will feel the soreness of a loss.
Will Power
Jamaal Williams plays running back for the Green Bay Packers. During the regular season, Williams had 119 carries for 505 yards and two touchdowns. He also tallied 31 receptions for 236 yards and a touchdown. Williams, who is a former BYU Cougar, has the will to win. During his last game against the Rams, Williams had 12 carries for 65 yards. He might not have the most glaring stats. However, when he touches the football, Williams makes things happen. Williams hasn’t had the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. With the chance for a Super Bowl being so close, he can taste it. There is only one thing standing in his way, and that’s the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
If the Packers beat the Bucaneers and Kansas City beat the Bills, Super Bowl LV will be Kansas City vs. Green Bay. If this were to happen, Jamaal Williams, a former BYU Cougar, would meet up against former teammate Daniel Sorensen. With Williams being a running-back and Sorensen being a defender, there is a chance they could meet on the field. Williams wants to win a Super Bowl. Sorensen wants to win another Super Bowl. If this game were to happen, one of these Cougars would have a Lombardi Trophy. The question is who will have the “will” to win and who will be the “sore” loser?
Featured image courtesy Ed Zurga, Associated Press