NC State Coach Celebrates Former Players in Super Bowl

Doeren proud of players who overcame long odds to reach the NFL

Feb. 3, 2026 at 7:23pm

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NC State football coach Dave Doeren is celebrating the success of three of his former players who are competing in the Super Bowl this year. The players all faced long odds in making it to the NFL after arriving at NC State, but have persevered to reach the biggest stage in professional football.

Why it matters

Doeren's ability to develop overlooked players into NFL talent is a point of pride for the NC State program and highlights the school's reputation for producing professional-caliber athletes, even from players who may not have been heavily recruited out of high school.

The details

The three former NC State players competing in the Super Bowl are defensive tackle B.J. Hill for the San Francisco 49ers, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers for the New England Patriots, and cornerback Juston Burris for the Los Angeles Rams. All three players had to work hard to earn playing time and make the most of their opportunities at NC State before being drafted into the NFL.

  • The Super Bowl is scheduled for February 11, 2026.

The players

Dave Doeren

The head football coach at NC State University.

B.J. Hill

A defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers who played at NC State.

Jakobi Meyers

A wide receiver for the New England Patriots who played at NC State.

Juston Burris

A cornerback for the Los Angeles Rams who played at NC State.

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What they’re saying

“I'm so proud of the way these guys have worked and fought to get to this point. They're great representatives of our program and it's exciting to see them on the biggest stage.”

— Dave Doeren, Head Football Coach, NC State University

The takeaway

Doeren's ability to develop overlooked talent into NFL-caliber players is a testament to his coaching skills and the strength of the NC State football program. The success of these former Wolfpack stars in the Super Bowl will only further boost the school's reputation as a pipeline to the pros.