The State Of Oregon Represented Well (Albeit One-Sided) In The Super Bowl

Andre Waldron | Oregon Sports News

There is no doubt that the upcoming Super Bowl this Sunday will generate a great deal of excitement.   The Kansas City Chiefs will be looking for their 3rd Super Bowl in 5 years. A win this Sunday will cement their status as a dynasty. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers will seek revenge for their Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs four years ago.

The 49ers seemingly had the Super Bowl wrapped up four years ago. However, they blew a 10-point 4th quarter lead, allowing the Kansas City Chiefs to score 21 unanswered points and win the game.

Oregon will undoubtedly be represented at the Super Bowl. A few individuals playing in Super Bowl LVIII have either resided or played for a high school or university within the state.

It may be that residents of Oregon may have to cheer for the 49ers. It turns out that all the local Oregon athletes represented in the Super Bowl played for the 49ers.   We will feature all of these local athletes represented in this piece.

Ben Bartch – Offensive Guard, San Francisco 49ers 

Ben Bartch is playing in his 5th season. He is an offensive guard for the 49ers. He was signed to the 49ers off of the Jacksonville Jaguars’s practice squad in November 2023.

Ben Bartch was drafted in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played college for St Johns College in Minnesota out of Division III. He defied the odds as being one of a few players from a Division III program to make it to the NFL.

Ben Bartch was born in Dayton, Oregon, and played his high school football for Blanchet Catholic School in Salem. While there, he played the tight end and linebacker positions.

Ben Bartch’s rise to the NFL is remarkable because he did not have a lot of success at the high school level. He was a backup who did not record many receptions or tackles. He wasn’t recruited at all during his high school football career.

His football career really started to take off while he was at St Johns College. Coaches noticed his incredible knack for blocking and convinced him to move to the offensive line during his junior year. Bartch’s journey to the NFL is truly unconventional and is an inspiring tale of perseverance.

Arik Armstead – Defensive Lineman – San Francisco 49ers

Arik Armstead is in his 9th season in the NFL. He has spent his entire career as a 49er.   Armstead will be making his 3rd Super Bowl appearance for the 49ers. He has been a mainstay on the 49ers defensive line. He has over 300+ tackles and 33.5 sacks in his career so far.

Armstead made his mark locally as a defensive lineman for the Oregon Ducks from 2012 to 2014.

As a freshman, he made his mark immediately, with 26 tackles and a half sack.   Armstead recorded his best numbers during his junior season. He had 46 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble.

His impact on the Oregon Ducks did not go unnoticed by NFL scouts. He was the 17th overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Deommodore Lenoir – CB – San Francisco 49ers

Deommodore Lenoir is in his 3rd year as a defensive back for the San Francisco 49ers. So far, he has amassed 163 tackles, 1 sack, 14 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions.

Lenoir was a four-year starter for the Oregon Ducks from 2017 to 2020. He was a key part of the Oregon Ducks’ secondary, as he had a total of 158 tackles, 21 pass deflections, 6 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles.

Lenoir was drafted in the 5th round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Terrance Mitchell – Cornerback – San Francisco 49ers. 

Terrance Mitchell is in his 9th season in the NFL and 1st with the 49ers. He is currently on their practice squad. Mitchell has played with the Cowboys, Bears, Texans, Chiefs, Browns, Patriots and Titans.

During his career, Mitchell has had over 300+ tackles, 63 deflections, 10 forced fumbles, and 9 interceptions.

Mitchell also played college football for the Oregon Ducks. During his three-year career at Oregon, Mitchell had 144 tackles, 25 pass deflections, 7 interceptions, and 4 forced fumbles. One of Mitchell’s interceptions was a Pick 6.   Mitchell was selected in the 7th round in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

Talanoa Hufanga, safety for the 49ers, was born in Corvallis but is not listed here due to a torn ACL. He is not on the active roster and will not be playing Sunday.