St. Rita's Darius Fleming Once Dreamed of Bowling, Now in the Super Bowl for the Patriots

Three players who once trod the fields at St. Rita High, Homewood-Flossmoor High and Lincoln-Way Central High beneath Friday-night lights will be under the brightest of lights at Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, clad in the uniform of the New England Patriots.

Remember Darius Fleming, Michael Buchanan and Rob Ninkovich? All three Southland natives play on defense for the AFC champions. Ninkovich is a starter. H-F’s Buchanan and St. Rita’s Fleming come off the bench. In the Patriots’ 45-7 win over Indianapolis in the AFC championship game, Fleming recovered a fumble. He plays linebacker.

St. Rita coach Todd Kuska isn’t surprised by his former player’s ascent to the NFL.

“I knew he was going to be a special player his junior year,” St. Rita coach Todd Kuska said. “I remember watching a few of his game clips that year. I told one of my assistants, ‘This guy is going to be unbelievable.’ He was our hardest worker. He’s an even better person. One of the nicest kids I’ve ever coached.” » more by Pat Disabato via the Daily Southtown

Fleming, a native South Sider and son of a steelworker, was on the San Francisco 49ers’ roster in 2013 for the Super Bowl. But he almost gave up on football. He once pondered a transfer from St. Rita to Brother Rice to join the bowling team. He thought about becoming a pro bowler. His coach convinced him to stay at St. Rita, and he helped the team win a state championship in 2006 before going on to Notre Dame.

If you didn’t know, now you’ve got some Southland connections to root for.

PREVIOUSLY POSTED ON PATCH

• Getting to Know Patriots Rookie Defensive End Michael Buchanan
• New Lenox’s Rob Ninkovich Gets Glowing Story on ESPN

ON PATRIOTS.COM

• Rob Ninkovich
• Michael Buchanan
• Darius Fleming