It is not very often that a former Appalachian State player gets a chance to play in the biggest football game in the world.

For Daniel Kilgore, that opportunity comes this Sunday when his San Francisco 49ers square off against the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.

Kilgore will be the second player from ASU to appear in a Super Bowl. Former Mountaineer Matt Stevens played for the 2001 New England Patriots that defeated the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Kilgore is hoping to become one of a few select players to have won a Football Championship Subdivision National Championship, as well as a Super Bowl. Ironically, Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco saw Kilgore’s Mountaineer squad beat his Delaware team in the 2007 title game.

The 6-3, 308-pound offensive lineman was an integral part to the Mountaineer offensive line during his career there. In 2006, he redshirted before playing nine games in 2007. Kilgore also got credit for a touchdown in the 2007 FCS National Championship Game when he recovered a fumble in the endzone by tailback Kevin Richardson. The following season, Kilgore started all 14 games at right tackle. During his junior and senior seasons, he started nearly every game, but at different positions across the line, which may have played a key role in why several teams wanted to take him in the NFL Draft.

Eventually, San Francisco called his name with the 163^rd pick in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Kilgore has appeared in each of San Francisco’s 18 games this season, and was mentioned specifically during media interviews by 49ers’ head coach Jim Harbaugh as being an important part to an offensive line that has been one of the best in the league. San Francisco ranked fourth in the NFL in total rushing yards this season with 2,491.

Overall, Kilgore will be the fourth App State player to be part of a Super Bowl team. Tight end Daniel Wilcox was on the roster for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII and John Settle was on the roster for the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXVI. Neither players appeared in the game, but both were on winning teams. Kilgore hopes to make it a perfect 4-0 for former Mountaineer players in the Super Bowl.