Super Bowl Trivia: When It Comes to Local Connections, the 49ers Trump the Ravens

Given that the Redskins aren’t part of the action, the Super Bowl is up for grabs
for area football fans. But if you’re looking for a geographic reason to pick your
team, the San Francisco 49ers are the way to go. We combed through the rosters of
the Baltimore Ravens and the 49ers and discovered the California team includes four
players from the metro area: tight end
Vernon Davis, a DC native who played for Dunbar High School;
Ahmad Brooks, who was born in Fairfax and played for UVA;
NaVorro Bowman of District Heights, Maryland, who played for Suitland High School; and
Cam Johnson, who was born in Greenbelt and played for Gonzaga College High School. Brooks, NaVorro,
and Johnson are linebackers.

If you want a Redskins connection, the 49ers come up tops there, too. Kicker
David Akers did his rookie season with the Redskins in 1998, and cornerback
Carlos Rogers had six seasons in the Burgundy and Gold before signing with San Francisco in 2011.

The Ravens have only one former Redskin: defense tackle
Ma’ake Kemoeatu, who played for Washington in 2010.

The Ravens roster also includes one player who’s a Baltimore native, wide receiver

LaQuan Williams, and two players from Virginia: Quarterback
Tyrod Taylor was born in Hampton, Virginia, and wide receiver
Torrey Smith is from Richmond.

DC Mayor
Vincent Gray said he’s all in for the 49ers. His reason is a good one, too: He graduated from
Dunbar High School, same as Vernon Davis. Other Dunbar grads in the NFL include Davis’s
brother,
Vontae Davis, who plays for the Indianapolis Colts;
Joshua Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns; and
Arrelious Benn of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Carol Ross Joynt

Nicholas Hunt