Super Bowl LV: 6 under-the-radar players who could swing the outcome

Super Bowl LV is chock-full of superstars on both teams.

From quarterback to the offensive skill positions to the defensive front sevens to defensive backs, everywhere fans look on the field this Sunday there will be a player or two who are among the NFL’s most prominent and celebrated stars.

But the magic of a one-off title game like the Super Bowl is that, oftentimes, there’s a player or two who has flown a bit under the radar who steps up on the biggest stage and makes a large impact on the outcome.

Who are the under-the-radar players on the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers who could have that type of influence on Super Bowl LV?

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We’ve picked out three from each team who we could see swinging the momentum in their team’s favour.

Mecole Hardman, WR/KR, Chiefs

Hardman went from potential scapegoat to game-breaker in the AFC title game, muffing a punt in the first quarter that handed Buffalo a nine-point lead before rebounding to punch in a touchdown on a screen pass and break off a lightning-quick 50-yard run to set up another first-half score.

Mecole's got WHEELS #RunItBack #NFLPlayoffs

: #BUFvsKC on CBS
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/RTcXvhOR4u pic.twitter.com/qtgGe0jzhd

— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2021

As we saw in the win over Buffalo, Hardman has the tools to burn a team in multiple ways. Nicknamed “The Jet” on a team with Tyreek Hill speaks Hardman’s jaw-dropping speed and Andy Reid showed zero hesitation to get him back involved after his misplayed punt two weeks ago.

Hardman could be used in a similar way in the Super Bowl as the Bucs focus in on trying to limit Hill and Travis Kelce in the Chiefs’ electric offence.

Leonard Fournette, RB, Buccaneers

While Ronald Jones was Tampa’s preferred running back throughout the regular season, “Playoff Lenny” has out-touched his teammate in the two post-season games they’ve both played in.

Fournette is not the speediest or nimblest of running backs but he has averaged more than 4.5 yards per carry in two of the Buccaneers’ three playoff games and has at least four receptions out of the backfield in every game.

In the NFC Championship, Fournette also delivered one of the game’s more memorable plays.

Playoff Lenny hits different @_fournette @Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/51jUNBUxx2

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 28, 2021

Whether or not Jones is fully healthy, the Bucs have appeared to lean towards the running-back-by-committee strategy so it’s fair to expect Fournette will have an impact on Sunday.

Vita Vea, DT, Buccaneers

The Buccaneers defensive line is stacked and so Vea, one of the unit’s most dominant players, has fallen a bit under the radar this season, mostly because he missed a significant amount of time due to a broken leg.

But don’t sleep on Vea, who suited up in the NFC title game for the first time since October, played 33 snaps against the Packers and created problems for one of the league’s best offensive lines.

Vita Vea suffered a nasty ankle break in October that was thought to keep him out for the year. Yesterday he returned, played 33 snaps and did Vita Vea things: make life miserable for interior OL with his power.

(: @BillyM_91) pic.twitter.com/X0astKpiQz

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 25, 2021

Edge rushers Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett get a lot of the attention on the Bucs defensive line, and with good reason, but Vea has the potential to be a game-wrecker.

If things don’t go well for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on Sunday it wouldn’t be a surprise if Vea is a big reason why.

Darrel Williams, RB, Chiefs

The health of Clyde Edwards-Helaire could be a factor for Williams, but if you remember back to last year’s Super Bowl, it was an unexpectedly big game from running back Damien Williams that put the finishing touches on the 49ers to seal the win for K.C.

It’s entirely plausible Edwards-Helaire steps back into the lead role for the Chiefs on Sunday after time to allow his high-ankle sprain to heal, but don’t count out the Chiefs’ other D. Williams.

Darrel Williams has seen an increased workload in the post-season as CEH and Le’Veon Bell have dealt with injury, and he turned in a pair of decent performances against the Browns and Bills – including a bruising touchdown run versus Buffalo.

Darrel Williams stretches for the goal line and the @Chiefs take the lead! #RunItBack #NFLPlayoffs

: #BUFvsKC on CBS
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/RTcXvhOR4u pic.twitter.com/6zheNqEHQ1

— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2021

Daniel Sorensen, S, Chiefs

There are big names on the K.C. defence in the likes of Tyrann Mathieu, Chris Jones and Frank Clark, but Sorensen could play a vital role in how the Chiefs defend in the Super Bowl.

While he might not be the most dominant safety, Sorensen has played 100 per cent of the defensive snaps in each of the Chiefs’ last nine games, was the team’s leading tackler this season and has a knack for making big plays in big moments both on defence and on special teams.

Sorensen made a number of important plays in last season’s stunning divisional round comeback win over the Texans.

And, while controversial due to what looked like a helmet-to-helmet hit, Sorensen made a game-changing play at the goal line in the divisional round win over the Browns a few weeks ago.

Dirty Dan loves making plays in the playoffs

: https://t.co/F3ZHh8BQRq pic.twitter.com/Xmf1LfBlft

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 17, 2021

Cameron Brate, TE, Buccaneers

While Brate was seldom used by Tom Brady as a pass-catching option throughout the regular season, the seventh-year tight end has seen his targets increase in the post-season.

Brate already has eight catches and a touchdown in the playoffs compared to just 28 catches and two scores in the regular season. Brady has been looking to Brate more often in the post-season as Rob Gronkowski and O.J. Howard continue to be non-factors through the air.

In the NFC championship game, Brady targeted Brate five times for three catches and a score, and he’s an option to keep an eye on this Sunday when the Bucs offence is looking for points in the red zone.