Locals In The NFL: Utah’s Four Biggest Colleges Represented In Super Bowl LX
Jan 30, 2026, 1:00 PM
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 10: The Super Bowl LX logo is unveiled as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during the Host Committee Handoff Press Conference at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on February 10, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Super Bowl LX will be played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home of the San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Michael DeMocker/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael DeMocker/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Beehive State will have its fingerprints all over Super Bowl LX as four of the state’s biggest universities will be represented in the national showcase.
The No. 1 Seattle Seahawks represent the NFC against the No. 2 New England Patriots of the AFC in Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8.
Former Weber State WR Rashid Shaheed, former Utah defensive end Connor O'Toole, and the Seattle Seahawks are headed to Super Bowl LX! 🏈#LocalsInTheNFL #SuperBowlLX pic.twitter.com/PYeO4RRxlQ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 26, 2026
Rashid Shaheed – Seattle Seahawks WR/KR | Weber State Wildcats
Coming out of the smallest school, dynamic kick returner Rashid Shaheed has transformed into one of the most electrifying weapons in the NFL—and a game-changing force on special teams.
Identifying a need, Seattle struck at the trade deadline, landing Shaheed for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2026 fifth-round pick swap.
In just nine regular-season games with the Seahawks, the former Wildcat delivered two return touchdowns—one on a punt, one on a kickoff—while adding 15 catches for 188 yards on offense. Precisely what Seattle was looking for.
Shaheed saved his best for the highest stakes —sprinting 95 yards for a touchdown on the opening kickoff of an NFL Divisional Round matchup with San Francisco, igniting the Seahawks’ run to the Super Bowl.
RASHID SHAHEED HOUSES THE OPENING KICKOFF 🤯
WHAT A START FOR SEATTLE 🔥🔥🔥
(via @NFL)
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 18, 2026
The San Diego, CA native finished his Weber State career as the FCS all-time leader in kickoff return touchdowns (seven). In 53 games with the Wildcats, Shaheed set the Weber State record for kickoff return average at 29.1 yards per return. As a senior, Shaheed was named an FCS First Team All-American as both a kick returner and punt returner. Shaheed is the only Weber State Wildcat to be named as an All-American four different times.
Shaheed signed with the Saints in April 2022 after he wasn’t selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The former Wildcat reportedly received one of the top contracts for an undrafted player that season.
As a rookie in 2022, Shaheed recorded 28 receptions for 488 yards and two touchdowns. He also had four rushes for 57 yards and a touchdown. In the return game, Shaheed had over 500 total yards on kickoffs and punts.
In 2023, he posted 46 receptions for 719 yards and five touchdowns. Shaheed also returned a total of 43 punts and kicks for 723 yards and a touchdown.
Last season, Shaheed played in just six games before going down with a season-ending injury. He was on a career pace to start the year with 20 receptions for 349 yards and three touchdowns.
Connor O’Toole – Seattle Seahawks LB | Utah Utes
Former Utah linebacker Connor O’Toole wasted no time making his mark in the NFL. The undrafted rookie carved out a role as a part-time contributor, logging 125 snaps in 2025.
O’Toole finished the regular season with five tackles and has already added two more on the playoff stage.
Connor O’Toole comes in for the sack 😤
LVvsSEA on @NFLNetwork
Watch live out-of-market preseason games on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/fR75wCw26h— NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2025
Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, O’Toole attended La Cueva High School, where he was rated as the No. 1 recruit in the state.
He joined the Utah Football program as a wide receiver in 2020. After no action in his first year and a limited opportunity in 2021, O’Toole transitioned to the defensive line in 2022.
On the other side of the ball, he really found his calling. O’Toole recorded 104 total tackles (52 solo), 15 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery across three seasons and 30 games on Utah’s defense.
Khyiris Tonga – New England Patriots DT | BYU Cougars
Khyiris Tonga took the long route to reach his first career Super Bowl. The former BYU defensive tackle caps a remarkable journey through five NFL seasons and four different teams.
The West Valley City native made an immediate impact with New England, appearing in 14 games and earning eight starts after signing a $2.7 million free-agent deal in March.
He had a career-high two tackles for a loss, finishing the year with 24 tackles and two QB hits. The 335-pound space eater has also played a handful of snaps in the offensive backfield during the playoffs.
Tonga has raised the intensity on the league’s grandest stage. In his second career playoff appearance, he’s already registered six tackles—two of them behind the line of scrimmage—helping power his team all the way to the Super Bowl.
Don’t forget about Mr. Khyiris Tonga pic.twitter.com/YS2rJL98Ee
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) January 26, 2026
Before his time at BYU, Tonga was a standout player for Granger High School. He was rated as a two-star player in the class of 2017 by 247Sports.
Tonga signed with BYU in early 2017 and stayed with the Cougars through 2020. During his collegiate career, he recorded 130 total tackles, 69 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, five quarterback hits, and 12 pass breakups.
The Chicago Bears selected Tonga with the No. 250 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He played his rookie season with the Bears before he was waived and picked up by the Vikings. Tonga played in 25 games with the Vikings over two seasons before packing up and heading to Arizona in 2024.
Chuckie Keeton – New England Patriots Coach| Utah State Aggies
Former Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton had two coaching stints in Logan before beginning his NFL coaching career as an offensive assistant with the Seahawks in 2024.
Keeton moved to New England for the 2025 season, serving as an offensive assistant under head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
From QB1 on Merlin Olsen Field to Offensive Assistant for the Super Bowl-Bound @Patriots, @ChuckieKeeton does it all on the field!! 😤
Safe to say who we’re rooting for next week! 🤘 pic.twitter.com/AqGl9Gb8Gi
— USU Football (@USUFootball) January 30, 2026
The Houston, Texas native set Utah State program records for career completion percentage (65.4 percent) and passing efficiency (145.2). In four seasons as an Aggie, Keeton threw 58 touchdown passes, while accounting for 6,378 passing yards and 7,621 yards of total offense.
What channel is Super Bowl LX on?
Super Bowl LX will be broadcast nationally on NBC. An Emmy Award-winning team of Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and former NFL wide receiver Cris Collinsworth (analyst) will be in the broadcast booth. Melissa Stark and Kaylee Hartung are the sideline reporters, while three-time Super Bowl referee Terry McAulay will provide expert rules analysis.
How to Watch:
Television
How can I stream Super Bowl LX?
Mobile/Streaming Devices
About #LocalsInTheNFL
For over five years, KSL Sports has provided coverage of all NFL players with ties to Utah.
Whether they attended Utah or BYU, or grew up in the Beehive State, we keep you up to date on how the locals are performing on the highest stage.
From highlights to trades and other breaking news, check out our Locals In The NFL coverage here.
Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
