When Philadelphia and San Francisco square off Sunday at Lincoln Financial Stadium for a spot in Super Bowl LVII, the game will feature a lot of players that flew under the radar during high school when it came to recruiting. The teams have a combined 27 players who weren't rated during their prep days.
The 49ers have the most out of the four remaining teams with 15, including starters Brandon Aiyuk, Charvarius Ward, Samson Ebukam and All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Philadelphia has 12, with seven being starters. Three of the seven were selected on the 2022 All-Pro team — Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson and Haason Reddick.
San Francisco has the fewest five-stars among the four teams playing on Sunday with two. All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead were both five-star recruits coming out of high school. The Eagles have five headlined by Miles Sanders, Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat.
Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, Fletcher Cox and C.J. Gardner-Johnson are some of the notable 13 four-star players for Philadelphia. Christian McCaffrey, Mike McGlinchey, Javon Kinlaw, Fred Warner, Talanoa Hufanga and Deommodore Lenior are among the 13 four-stars on San Francisco.
The Eagles have 16 former three-stars headlined by five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay. Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Trent Williams are among the 21 three-stars for the 49ers.
All-Pro cornerback James Bradberry headlines the 10 two-star recruits for Philadelphia. San Francisco has four former two-stars that includes Jimmy Garoppolo and Elijah Mitchell.
Another interesting aspect to Sunday's NFC championship game is it features three high schools that have one player participating for each team. Avonte Maddox (Eagles) and Ambry Thomas (49ers) graduated from
King (Detroit), Ian Book (Eagles) and Ross Dwelley (49ers) attended
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills, Calif.), and Christian Elliss (Eagles) and Christian McCaffrey (49ers) went to
Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.).
The player rankings are based off 247Sports composite rankings and it excludes players who are currently on injured reserve. The starters from the most recent depth chart for both teams are noted with an asterisk.
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterbacks (3)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 192 | Position rank: 4 (dual-threat)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 1,837 | Position rank: 70 (pro-style)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 517 | Position rank: 20 (pro-style)
Running backs (4)
Stars: 5 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 21 | Position rank: 1
Stars: 3 | Class: 2018
Overall rank: 1,614 | Position rank: 124 (athlete)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2013
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 4 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 191 | Position rank: 12
Wide receivers (5)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 36 | Position rank: 4
Stars: 4 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 62 | Position rank: 9
Stars: 2 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 2,253 | Position rank: 315
Stars: 0 | Class: 2012
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 3 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 1,677 | Position rank: 29 (all-purpose back)
Tight ends (3)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2013
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 3 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 779 | Position rank: 41
Stars: 4 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 227 | Position rank: 6
Offensive line (11)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 4 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 31 | Position rank: 4 (offensive tackle)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2006
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 5 | Class: 2012
Overall rank: 28 | Position rank: 1 (offensive guard)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2008
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 3 | Class: 2014
Overall rank: 1,505 | Position rank: 128 (offensive tackle)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2018
Overall rank: 193 | Position rank: 7 (tight end)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 1,162 | Position rank: 60 (offensive guard)
Stars: 2 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 2,277 | Position rank: 223 (offensive tackle)
Stars: 2 | Class: 2014
Overall rank: 2,840 | Position rank: 218 (offensive tackle)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 855 | Position rank: 91 (offensive tackle)
Defensive line (9)
Stars: 5 | Class: 2006
Overall rank: 16 | Position rank: 3 (inside linebacker)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2009
Overall rank: 157 | Position rank: 11 (defensive tackle)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2012
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 5 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 8 | Position rank: 1 (weak-side defensive end)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2018
Overall rank: 424 | Position rank: 29 (defensive tackle)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2007
Overall rank: 931 | Position rank: 83 (offensive tackle)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2008
Overall rank: 264 | Position rank: 7 (weak-side defensive end)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2005
Overall rank: 48 | Position rank: 6 (defensive tackle)
Stars: 2 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 2,651 | Position rank: 127 (strong-side defensive end)
Linebackers (7)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2014
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 2 | Class: 2014
Overall rank: 2,195 | Position rank: 180 (athlete)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2012
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 2 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 3,110 | Position rank: 208 (outside linebacker)
Stars: 5 | Class: 2019
Overall rank: 19 | Position rank: 2 (inside linebacker)
Stars: 2 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 3,022 | Position rank: 149 (strong-side defensive end)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 1,436 | Position rank: 95 (outside linebacker)
Defensive backs (11)
Stars: 2 | Class: 2011
Overall rank: 2,350 | Position rank: 156 (athlete)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 42 | Position rank: 4 (cornerback)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 1,736 | Position rank: 134 (safety)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2009
Overall rank: 1,446 | Position rank: 161 (wide receiver)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2014
Overall rank: 1,037 | Position rank: 88 (athlete)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2014
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 3 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 1,504 | Position rank: 99 (safety)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 953 | Position rank: 104 (cornerback)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2018
Overall rank: 109 | Position rank: 14 (cornerback)
Stars: 2 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 2,331 | Position rank: 229 (cornerback)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 315 | Position rank: 32 (cornerback)
Special teams (3)
Kicker
Stars: 2 | Class: 2013
Overall rank: 3,069 | Position rank: 28
Punter
Stars: 0 | Class: 2004
Overall rank: N/A
Long snapper
Stars: 0 | Class: 2011
Overall rank: N/A
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterbacks (3)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2018
Overall rank: 839 | Position rank: 36 (pro-style)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2004
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 2 | Class: 2010
Overall rank: 2,034 | Position rank: 67 (pro-style)
Running backs (4)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2014
Overall rank: 91 | Position rank: 2 (all-purpose back)
Stars: 2 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 2,993 | Position rank: 419 (wide receiver)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 1,714 | Position rank: 93
Stars: 4 | Class: 2019
Overall rank: 139 | Position rank: 8
Fullback (1)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2009
Overall rank: N/A
Wide receivers (5)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2014
Overall rank: 838 | Position rank: 112
Stars: 0 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 4 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 164 | Position rank: 6 (dual-threat quarterback)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 81 | Position rank: 6 (athlete)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2018
Overall rank: 517 | Position rank: 86
Tight ends (4)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2012
Overall rank: 1,535 | Position rank: 199 (wide receiver)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 138 | Position rank: 25 (wide receiver)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2013
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 3 | Class: 2011
Overall rank: 1,006 | Position rank: 46
Offensive line (9)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2006
Overall rank: 377 | Position rank: 22 (offensive guard)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 166 | Position rank: 17 (offensive tackle)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2011
Overall rank: 506 | Position rank: 9 (center)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2018
Overall rank: 921 | Position rank: 76 (offensive tackle)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2013
Overall rank: 172 | Position rank: 12 (offensive tackle)
Stars: 2 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 2,205 | Position rank: 93 (tight end)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2012
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 3 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 1,611 | Position rank: 163 (offensive tackle)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: N/A
Defensive line (11)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 4 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 341 | Position rank: 32 (offensive tackle)
Stars: 5 | Class: 2012
Overall rank: 14 | Position rank: 1 (athlete)
Stars: 5 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 8 | Position rank: 1 (strong-side defensive end)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2009
Overall rank: 932 | Position rank: 46 (strong-side defensive end)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 883 | Position rank: 42 (weak-side defensive end)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 430 | Position rank: 17 (weak-side defensive end)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2019
Overall rank: 56 | Position rank: 3 (strong-side defensive end)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2011
Overall rank: 1,456 | Position rank: 104 (defensive tackle)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 1,686 | Position rank: 66 (inside linebacker)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2013
Overall rank: 1,246 | Position rank: 61 (strong-side defensive end)
Linebackers (5)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 831 | Position rank: 60 (safety)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2014
Overall rank: 318 | Position: 28 (outside linebacker)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 2,026 | Position rank: 144 (outside linebacker)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2013
Overall rank: 626 | Position rank: 48 (outside linebacker)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: 1,656 | Position rank: 115 (safety)
Defensive backs (10)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2014
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 4 | Class: 2018
Overall rank: 88 | Position rank: 2 (athlete)
Stars: 3 | Class: 2008
Overall rank: 990 | Position rank: 79 (cornerback)
Stars: 4 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 64 | Position rank: 7 (cornerback)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 0 | Class: 2013
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 0 | Class: 2010
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 0 | Class: 2012
Overall rank: N/A
Stars: 4 | Class: 2017
Overall rank: 90 | Position rank: 12 (cornerback)
Stars: 2 | Class: 2016
Overall rank: 2,624 | Position rank: 240 (cornerback)
Special teams (3)
Kicker
Stars: 0 | Class: 2001
Overall rank: N/A
Punter
Stars: 0 | Class: 2012
Overall rank: N/A
Long snapper
Stars: 0 | Class: 2012
Overall rank: N/A
