Super Bowl LVI: Where every player was rated coming out of high school

Matthew Stafford, Cam Akers, Joe Mixon, Tee Higgins among 12 former five-star recruits playing in Sunday's big game.

Highlights of Florida State's Cam Akers during his senior season at Clinton (MS).

Cam Akers high school football highlights 6,902 views 2:25

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.

Graphic by Ryan Escobar

Cincinnati Bengals

Quarterbacks

Joe Burrow, Athens (The Plains, Ohio)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 280 | Position rank: No. 8 dual-threat quarterback

Brandon Allen, Fayetteville (Ark.)

Class: 2011 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 354 | Position rank: No. 8 pro-style quarterback

Running Backs

Joe Mixon, Freedom (Oakley, Calif.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 5

Overall rank: 19 | Position rank: No. 1 all-purpose back

Samaje Perine, Hendrickson (Pflugerville, Texas)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 244 | Position rank: No. 14 running back

Chris Evans, Ben Davis (Indianapolis)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 338 | Position rank: No. 9 all-purpose back

Trayveon Williams, King (Houston)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 313 | Position rank: No. 8 all-purpose back

Wide Receivers

Ja'Marr Chase, Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, La.)

Class: 2018 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 84 | Position rank: No. 15 wide receiver

Tee Higgins, Oak Ridge (Tenn.)

Class: 2017 | Stars: 5

Overall rank: 19 | Position rank: No. 2 wide receiver

Tyler Boyd, Clairton (Pa.)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 125 | Position rank: No. 14 wide receiver

Trent Taylor, Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport, La.)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,760 | Position rank: No. 238 wide receiver

Mike Thomas, DuSable (Chicago)

Class: 2012 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Stanley Morgan, St. Augustine (New Orleans)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 397 | Position rank: No. 53 wide receiver

Trenton Irwin, Hart (Newhall, Calif.)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 70 | Position rank: No. 8 wide receiver

Tight Ends

C.J. Uzomah, North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.)

Class: 2011 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 246 | Position rank: No. 19 athlete

Drew Sample, Newport - Bellevue (Bellevue, Wash.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,272 | Position rank: No. 56 tight end

Mitchell Wilcox, Tarpon Springs (Fla.)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,498 | Position rank: No. 54 tight end

Offensive Line

Jonah Williams, Folsom (Calif.)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 5

Overall rank: 17 | Position rank: No. 2 offensive tackle

Quinton Spain, Petersburg (Va.)

Class: 2010 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 192 | Position rank: No. 8 offensive guard

Trey Hopkins, North Shore (Houston)

Class: 2010 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 70 | Position rank: No. 1 offensive guard

Hakeem Adeniji, Garland (Texas)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Isaiah Prince, Eleanor Roosevelt (Greenbelt, Md.)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 101 | Position rank: No. 5 offensive tackle

D'Ante Smith, Grovetown (Ga.)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,440 | Position rank: No. 116 offensive tackle

Jackson Carman, Fairfield (Ohio)

Class: 2018 | Stars: 5

Overall rank: 17 | Position rank: No. 2 offensive tackle

Trey Hill, Houston County (Warner Robins, Ga.)

Class: 2018 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 62 | Position rank: No. 3 offensive guard

Fred Johnson, Royal Palm Beach (Fla.)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,360 | Position rank: No. 144 offensive tackle

Defensive Line

Trey Hendrickson, Apopka (Fla.)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 2

Overall rank: 2,159 | Position rank: No. 101 weak-side defensive end

Sam Hubbard, Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 192 | Position rank: No. 13 athlete

D.J. Reader, Grimsley (Greensboro, N.C.)

Class: 2012 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 373 | Position rank: No. 18 offensive guard

B.J. Hill, West Stanly (Oakboro, N.C.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,121 | Position rank: No. 55 strong-side defensive end

Tyler Shelvin, Notre Dame (Crowley, La.)

Class: 2017 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 54 | Position rank: No. 4 defensive tackle

Cam Sample, Shiloh (Snellville, Ga.)

Class: 2017 | Stars: 2

Overall rank: 2,590 | Position rank: No. 123 strong-side defensive end

Josh Tupou, Buena Park (Calif.)

Class: 2012 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,184 | Position rank: No. 80 defensive tackle

Khalid Kareem, Harrison (Farmington Hills, Mich.)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 196 | Position rank: No. 9 strong-side defensive end

Wyatt Ray, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,028 | Position rank: No. 47 weak-side defensive end

Zach Kerr, Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, Md.)

Class: 2008 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 564 | Position rank: No. 40 defensive tackle

Linebackers

Logan Wilson, Natrona County (Casper, Wyo.)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 2

Overall rank: 3,208 | Position rank: No. 377 wide receiver

Germaine Pratt, High Point Central (High Point, N.C.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 396 | Position rank: No. 29 safety

Clay Johnston, Wylie (Abilene, Texas)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,213 | Position rank: No. 74 outside linebacker

Markus Bailey, Hilliard Davidson (Hilliard, Ohio)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 991 | Position rank: No. 45 outside linebacker

Keandre Jones, Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 98 | Position rank: No. 9 outside linebacker

Defensive Backs

Mike Hilton, Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.)

Class: 2012 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 975 | Position rank: No. 57 running back

Eli Apple, Eastern (Voorhees, N.J.)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 52 | Position rank: No. 7 cornerback

Chidobe Awuzie, Oak Grove (San Jose, Calif.)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,548 | Position rank: No. 112 safety

Vonn Bell, Ridgeland (Rossville, Ga.)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 5

Overall rank: 26 | Position rank: No. 2 safety

Jessie Bates III, Fort Wayne Snider (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,741 | Position rank: No. 124 safety

Jalen Davis, Helix (La Mesa, Calif.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 2

Overall rank: 3,337 | Position rank: No. 274 cornerback

Trae Waynes, Kenosha Bradford (Kenosha, Wis.)

Class: 2011 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,174 | Position rank: No. 86 cornerback

Tre Flowers, Judson (Converse, Texas)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,070 | Position rank: No. 75 safety

Michael Thomas, Nimitz (Houston)

Class: 2008 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 651 | Position rank: No. 40 athlete

Ricardo Allen, Mainland (Daytona Beach, Fla.)

Class: 2010 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 569 | Position rank: No. 42 cornerback

Vernon Hargreaves III, Wharton (Tampa, Fla.)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 5

Overall rank: 3 | Position rank: No. 1 cornerback

Kicker

Evan McPherson, Fort Payne (Ala.)

Class: 2018 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,486 | Position rank: No. 1 kicker

Punter

Kevin Huber, Archbishop McNicholas (Cincinnati)

Class: 2005 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Long Snapper

Clark Harris, Southern Regional (Manahawkin, N.J.)

Class: 2002 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Los Angeles Rams

Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford, Highland Park (Dallas)

Class: 2006 | Stars: 5

Overall rank: 6 | Position rank: No. 1 pro-style quarterback

John Wolford, Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 937 | Position rank: No. 38 pro-style quarterback

Bryce Perkins, Chandler (Ariz.)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 565 | Position rank: No. 17 dual-threat quarterback

Running Backs

Cam Akers, Clinton (Miss.)

Class: 2017 | Stars: 5

Overall rank: 3 | Position rank: No. 2 running back

Sony Michel, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 5

Overall rank: 20 | Position rank: No. 3 running back

Darrell Henderson, South Panola (Batesville, Miss.)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,905 | Position rank: No. 159 running back

Jake Funk, Damascus (Md.)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,421 | Position rank: No. 90 running back

Buddy Howell, Coral Gables (Fla.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,345 | Position rank: No. 83 running back

Wide Receivers

Cooper Kupp, Davis (Yakima, Wash.)

Class: 2012 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Odell Beckham Jr., Newman (New Orleans)

Class: 2011 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 135 | Position rank: No. 20 wide receiver

Van Jefferson, Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tenn.)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 106 | Position rank: No. 11 wide receiver

Ben Skowronek, Homestead (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 772 | Position rank: No. 118 wide receiver

Brandon Powell, Deerfield Beach (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 393 | Position rank: No. 34 athlete

Tight Ends

Tyler Higbee, East Lake (Tarpon Springs, Fla.)

Class: 2011 | Stars: 2

Overall rank: 2,162 | Position rank: No. 91 tight end

Kendall Blanton, Blue Springs South (Blue Springs, Mo.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,046 | Position rank: No. 50 tight end

Brycen Hopkins, Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,977 | Position rank: No. 73 tight end

Offensive line

Andrew Whitworth, West Monroe (La.)

Class: 2001 | Stars: 5

Overall rank: 38 | Position rank: No. 1 offensive guard

David Edwards, Downers Grove North (Downers Grove, Ill.)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 638 | Position rank: No. 21 tight end

Brian Allen, Hinsdale Central (Hinsdale, Ill.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 293 | Position rank: No. 3 center

Austin Corbett, Reed (Sparks, Nev.)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Rob Havenstein, Linganore (Frederick, Md.)

Class: 2010 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 649 | Position rank: No. 30 offensive guard

Joe Noteboom, Plano (Texas)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 848 | Position rank: No. 44 strong-side defensive end

Tremayne Anchrum, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 486 | Position rank: No. 24 offensive guard

Coleman Shelton, Loyola (Los Angeles)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 2

Overall rank: 3,193 | Position rank: No. 227 offensive tackle

Bobby Evans, Allen (Texas)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 171 | Position rank: No. 13 offensive tackle

Alaric Jackson, Renaissance (Detroit)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 631 | Position rank: No. 57 offensive tackle

Defensive Line

Aaron Donald, Penn Hills (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Class: 2010 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 353 | Position rank: No. 30 defensive tackle

A'Shawn Robinson, Arlington Heights (Fort Worth, Texas)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 5

Overall rank: 31 | Position rank: No. 2 offensive tackle

Greg Gaines, La Habra (Calif.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 711 | Position rank: No. 48 defensive tackle

Bobby Brown II, Lamar (Arlington, Texas)

Class: 2018 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 182 | Position rank: No. 17 defensive tackle

Michael Hoecht, Oakwood (Dayton, Ohio)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Marquise Copeland, Bedford (Ohio)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 838 | Position rank: No. 39 weak-side defensive end

Sebastian Joseph-Day, Stroudsburg (Pa.)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,199 | Position rank: No. 57 strong-side defensive end

Linebackers

Von Miller, DeSoto (Texas)

Class: 2007 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 288 | Position rank: No. 17 outside linebacker

Leonard Floyd, Dodge County (Eastman, Ga.)

Class: 2012 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 140 | Position rank: No. 14 outside linebacker

Ernest Jones, Ware County (Waycross, Ga.)

Class: 2018 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 926 | Position rank: No. 62 outside linebacker

Christian Rozeboom, Sioux Central (Sioux Rapids, Iowa)

Class: 2015 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Troy Reeder, Salesianum (Wilmington, Del.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 500 | Position rank: No. 22 inside linebacker

Travin Howard, Longview (Texas)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,192 | Position rank: No. 104 safety

Justin Hollins, Martin (Arlington, Texas)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 797 | Position rank: No. 43 weak-side defensive end

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Alief Taylor (Houston)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 535 | Position rank: No. 23 weak-side defensive end

Terrell Lewis, St. John's (Washington, D.C.)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 67 | Position rank: No. 6 weak-side defensive end

Chris Garrett, Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee)

Class: 2017 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Defensive Backs

Jalen Ramsey, Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 5

Overall rank: 16 | Position rank: No. 2 cornerback

Darious Williams, Creekside (St. Johns, Fla.)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Donte Deayon, Summit (Fontana, Calif.)

Class: 2012 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 714 | Position rank: No. 50 cornerback

Taylor Rapp, Sehome (Bellingham, Wash.)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 471 | Position rank: No. 27 safety

Nick Scott, Fairfax (Va.)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 560 | Position rank: No. 47 athlete

Eric Weddle, Alta Loma (Calif.)

Class: 2003 | Stars: 2

Overall rank: 1,529 | Position rank: No. 124 cornerback

Grant Haley, Lovett (Atlanta)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 657 | Position rank: No. 46 cornerback

Antoine Brooks, DuVal (Lanham, Md.)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 2

Overall rank: 2,471 | Position rank: No. 165 athlete

Terrell Burgess, San Marcos (Calif.)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 3

Overall rank: 1,038 | Position rank: No. 91 cornerback

David Long, Loyola (Los Angeles)

Class: 2016 | Stars: 4

Overall rank: 65 | Position rank: No. 7 cornerback

Jake Gervase, Assumption (Davenport, Iowa)

Class: 2014 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Kicker

Matt Gay, Orem (Utah)

Class: 2012 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Punter

Johnny Hekker, Bothell (Wash.)

Class: 2008 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Long Snapper

Matt Orzech, Paloma Valley (Menifee, Calif.)

Class: 2013 | Stars: 0

*Not ranked coming out of high school.

Super Bowl LVI: Where every player was rated coming out of high school

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