UPDATED: SCSU’s Hargrave in big game again; Crews is KC VP

The two-time HBCU Defensive Player of the Year was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles team that fell to Kansas City 38-35 in last year’s NFL Championship game.

During the offseason, Hargrave signed a four-year $84 million contract to join San Francisco. Sunday, he hopes to help lead the 49ers to their first championship since 1995, when they defeated the San Diego Chargers.

“We know it’s going to take everybody,” Hargrave said during his media availability in Las Vegas this week. “When you make it to these games it’s good on good. It’s doesn’t matter how much talent you have because talent won’t win this game. It’s whoever plays the best.”

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named Most Valuable Player in last year’s Super Bowl after completing 21-of-27 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns. Hargrave was held without a sack.

“(Mahomes) sees the rush,” Hargrave said. “He doesn’t just look or stare at it, but he feels it. Even if you’re winning (when you rush), he knows how to make somebody miss and get the ball out quick.”

Hargrave finished last year’s game with five tackles, including four solo tackles and a tackle for loss.

“It’s not like (Mahomes) is trying to run the ball, it’s just he makes somebody miss and makes a big play,” Hargrave said.

When asked if he would rather have a game-winning sack or game-winning scoop-and-score, Hargrave smiled and said … sack.

Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft, Hargrave spent three seasons in Philadelphia before signing with San Francisco this offseason.

Sunday will be a rematch of Super Bowl LIV, which was held in Miami. Kansas City defeated San Francisco 31-20 with Mahomes once again being named MVP after throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for a third.

“We just all have to play together and swarm,” Hargrave said of the San Francisco defense. “We need to get back to playing our brand of football because it’s going to take everyone. There’s no one person that can win this game, it will take all of us having a good game.”

Super Bowl LVIII is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. at Allegiant Stadium home of the Las Vegas Raiders. You can watch the game on CBS, Nickelodeon or stream on Paramount+ or the NFL App.

SC State and Super Bowl

Hargrave, the two-time HBCU Defensive Player of the Year during his SC State playing years, in 2023 became the 14th Bulldog to play in a Super Bowl.

Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft, Hargrave was called unblockable on the field during his SC State playing days (2012-15).

Bulldogs in the Super Bowl:

• Phillip Adams, New England (XLVI)
• Alex Brown, Kansas City (LIV)
• Charlie Brown, Washington (XVII, XVIII)
• Barney Bussey, Cincinnati (XXIII)
• Harry Carson, NY Giants (XXI)
• Chartric Darby, Tampa Bay, Seattle (XXXVII, XL)
• John Gilliam, Minnesota (VIII, IX)
• Antonio Hamilton, Kansas City (LV)
• Javon Hargrave, Philadelphia (LVII)
• Dwayne Harper, San Diego (XXIX)
• William Judson, Miami (XVII, XIX)
• Donnie Shell, Pittsburgh (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
• Christian Thompson, San Francisco (XLVIII)
• Javon Hargrave, Philadelphia (LVIII)

Hargrave’s participation on Sunday will mean that SC State will have had a player in 23 of the 58 Super Bowls played. Three times during Super Bowl history, the Bulldogs were represented on both teams.

Chiefs’ communications VP

On the other side from Hargrave on Sunday will be NFL media relations veteran Ted Crews. He is a 1999 SC State graduate who rose through the NFL’s ranks to become the Chiefs’ executive vice president of communications in 2021 after originally joining the franchise as the vice president of communications in 2012.

Crews serves as the Kansas City’s primary contact and spokesperson for the team’s communications efforts for both football and business operations. Crews received the Distinguished Young Alumnus Award from SC State in 2014.