Some players participating in Super Bowl LVI have been big-time recruits since high school while others have had a different path to achieve their NFL dreams.
Cooper Kupp became the fourth wide receiver in NFL history — joining Jerry Rice, Sterling Sharpe and Steve Smith — to lead the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16) in the same season. Kupp wasn't rated coming out of high school and his only offers were from Eastern Washington and Idaho State. He leads the 14 players on both rosters who had no stars. The Bengals have four while the Rams have 10.
Both teams have six former five-stars.
Vonn Bell, Jackson Carman, Vernon Hargreaves III, Tee Higgins, Joe Mixon and Jonah Williams were all five-star recruits coming out of high school for the Bengals while the former five-stars on the Rams are Cam Akers, Sony Michel, Jalen Ramsey, A'Shawn Robinson, Matthew Stafford and Andrew Whitworth.
The Bengals have 18 former four-star recruits, led by Joe Burrow who had a remarkable high school career at Athens (The Plains, Ohio). He threw for 11,416 yards and 157 touchdowns to go with 2,067 yards rushing and 27 more scores. Some other notable four-star recruits include Tyler Boyd, Ja'Marr Chase, Sam Hubbard and C.J. Uzomah.
Brian Allen, Odell Beckham Jr. and Leonard Floyd headline the eight four-stars on Los Angeles' roster.
Both teams combined for 51 three-star recruits.
Chidobe Awuzie, B.J. Hill, Mike Hilton, Evan McPherson and Germaine Pratt are among the 22 former three-star players on Cincinnati while Aaron Donald, David Edwards, Darrell Henderson, Von Miller and Taylor Rapp represent 29 of the former three-stars on the Rams.
The most notable two-star recruit on the Bengals is starting defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who was a 2021 Pro Bowl selection. He's one of four former two-star players on Cincinnati while the Rams' have four headlined by starting tight end Tyler Higbee and six-time Pro Bowler Eric Weddle.
*Stars and ratings are based off 247Sports composite rankings.
Quarterbacks
Class: 2015 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 280 | Position rank: No. 8 dual-threat quarterback
Class: 2011 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 354 | Position rank: No. 8 pro-style quarterback
Running Backs
Class: 2014 | Stars: 5
Overall rank: 19 | Position rank: No. 1 all-purpose back
Class: 2014 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 244 | Position rank: No. 14 running back
Class: 2016 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 338 | Position rank: No. 9 all-purpose back
Class: 2016 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 313 | Position rank: No. 8 all-purpose back
Wide Receivers
Class: 2018 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 84 | Position rank: No. 15 wide receiver
Class: 2017 | Stars: 5
Overall rank: 19 | Position rank: No. 2 wide receiver
Class: 2013 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 125 | Position rank: No. 14 wide receiver
Class: 2013 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,760 | Position rank: No. 238 wide receiver
Class: 2012 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Class: 2015 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 397 | Position rank: No. 53 wide receiver
Class: 2015 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 70 | Position rank: No. 8 wide receiver
Tight Ends
Class: 2011 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 246 | Position rank: No. 19 athlete
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,272 | Position rank: No. 56 tight end
Class: 2015 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,498 | Position rank: No. 54 tight end
Offensive Line
Class: 2016 | Stars: 5
Overall rank: 17 | Position rank: No. 2 offensive tackle
Class: 2010 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 192 | Position rank: No. 8 offensive guard
Class: 2010 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 70 | Position rank: No. 1 offensive guard
Class: 2016 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Class: 2015 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 101 | Position rank: No. 5 offensive tackle
Class: 2016 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,440 | Position rank: No. 116 offensive tackle
Class: 2018 | Stars: 5
Overall rank: 17 | Position rank: No. 2 offensive tackle
Class: 2018 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 62 | Position rank: No. 3 offensive guard
Class: 2015 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,360 | Position rank: No. 144 offensive tackle
Defensive Line
Class: 2013 | Stars: 2
Overall rank: 2,159 | Position rank: No. 101 weak-side defensive end
Class: 2014 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 192 | Position rank: No. 13 athlete
Class: 2012 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 373 | Position rank: No. 18 offensive guard
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,121 | Position rank: No. 55 strong-side defensive end
Class: 2017 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 54 | Position rank: No. 4 defensive tackle
Class: 2017 | Stars: 2
Overall rank: 2,590 | Position rank: No. 123 strong-side defensive end
Class: 2012 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,184 | Position rank: No. 80 defensive tackle
Class: 2016 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 196 | Position rank: No. 9 strong-side defensive end
Class: 2015 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,028 | Position rank: No. 47 weak-side defensive end
Class: 2008 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 564 | Position rank: No. 40 defensive tackle
Linebackers
Class: 2015 | Stars: 2
Overall rank: 3,208 | Position rank: No. 377 wide receiver
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 396 | Position rank: No. 29 safety
Class: 2015 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,213 | Position rank: No. 74 outside linebacker
Class: 2015 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 991 | Position rank: No. 45 outside linebacker
Class: 2016 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 98 | Position rank: No. 9 outside linebacker
Defensive Backs
Class: 2012 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 975 | Position rank: No. 57 running back
Class: 2013 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 52 | Position rank: No. 7 cornerback
Class: 2013 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,548 | Position rank: No. 112 safety
Class: 2013 | Stars: 5
Overall rank: 26 | Position rank: No. 2 safety
Class: 2015 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,741 | Position rank: No. 124 safety
Class: 2014 | Stars: 2
Overall rank: 3,337 | Position rank: No. 274 cornerback
Class: 2011 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,174 | Position rank: No. 86 cornerback
Class: 2013 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,070 | Position rank: No. 75 safety
Class: 2008 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 651 | Position rank: No. 40 athlete
Class: 2010 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 569 | Position rank: No. 42 cornerback
Class: 2013 | Stars: 5
Overall rank: 3 | Position rank: No. 1 cornerback
Kicker
Class: 2018 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,486 | Position rank: No. 1 kicker
Punter
Class: 2005 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Long Snapper
Class: 2002 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterbacks
Class: 2006 | Stars: 5
Overall rank: 6 | Position rank: No. 1 pro-style quarterback
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 937 | Position rank: No. 38 pro-style quarterback
Class: 2015 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 565 | Position rank: No. 17 dual-threat quarterback
Running Backs
Class: 2017 | Stars: 5
Overall rank: 3 | Position rank: No. 2 running back
Class: 2014 | Stars: 5
Overall rank: 20 | Position rank: No. 3 running back
Class: 2015 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,905 | Position rank: No. 159 running back
Class: 2016 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,421 | Position rank: No. 90 running back
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,345 | Position rank: No. 83 running back
Wide Receivers
Class: 2012 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Class: 2011 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 135 | Position rank: No. 20 wide receiver
Class: 2015 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 106 | Position rank: No. 11 wide receiver
Class: 2016 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 772 | Position rank: No. 118 wide receiver
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 393 | Position rank: No. 34 athlete
Tight Ends
Class: 2011 | Stars: 2
Overall rank: 2,162 | Position rank: No. 91 tight end
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,046 | Position rank: No. 50 tight end
Class: 2015 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,977 | Position rank: No. 73 tight end
Offensive line
Class: 2001 | Stars: 5
Overall rank: 38 | Position rank: No. 1 offensive guard
Class: 2015 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 638 | Position rank: No. 21 tight end
Class: 2014 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 293 | Position rank: No. 3 center
Class: 2013 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Class: 2010 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 649 | Position rank: No. 30 offensive guard
Class: 2013 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 848 | Position rank: No. 44 strong-side defensive end
Class: 2016 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 486 | Position rank: No. 24 offensive guard
Class: 2013 | Stars: 2
Overall rank: 3,193 | Position rank: No. 227 offensive tackle
Class: 2015 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 171 | Position rank: No. 13 offensive tackle
Class: 2016 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 631 | Position rank: No. 57 offensive tackle
Defensive Line
Class: 2010 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 353 | Position rank: No. 30 defensive tackle
Class: 2013 | Stars: 5
Overall rank: 31 | Position rank: No. 2 offensive tackle
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 711 | Position rank: No. 48 defensive tackle
Class: 2018 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 182 | Position rank: No. 17 defensive tackle
Class: 2016 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Class: 2015 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 838 | Position rank: No. 39 weak-side defensive end
Class: 2013 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,199 | Position rank: No. 57 strong-side defensive end
Linebackers
Class: 2007 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 288 | Position rank: No. 17 outside linebacker
Class: 2012 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 140 | Position rank: No. 14 outside linebacker
Class: 2018 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 926 | Position rank: No. 62 outside linebacker
Class: 2015 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 500 | Position rank: No. 22 inside linebacker
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,192 | Position rank: No. 104 safety
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 797 | Position rank: No. 43 weak-side defensive end
Class: 2013 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 535 | Position rank: No. 23 weak-side defensive end
Class: 2016 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 67 | Position rank: No. 6 weak-side defensive end
Class: 2017 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Defensive Backs
Class: 2013 | Stars: 5
Overall rank: 16 | Position rank: No. 2 cornerback
Class: 2013 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Class: 2012 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 714 | Position rank: No. 50 cornerback
Class: 2016 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 471 | Position rank: No. 27 safety
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 560 | Position rank: No. 47 athlete
Class: 2003 | Stars: 2
Overall rank: 1,529 | Position rank: No. 124 cornerback
Class: 2014 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 657 | Position rank: No. 46 cornerback
Class: 2016 | Stars: 2
Overall rank: 2,471 | Position rank: No. 165 athlete
Class: 2016 | Stars: 3
Overall rank: 1,038 | Position rank: No. 91 cornerback
Class: 2016 | Stars: 4
Overall rank: 65 | Position rank: No. 7 cornerback
Class: 2014 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Kicker
Class: 2012 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Punter
Class: 2008 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
Long Snapper
Class: 2013 | Stars: 0
*Not ranked coming out of high school.
