From College Roommates to Super Bowl Rivals: Elijah Arroyo and Andres Borregales Set for Showdown in Super Bowl LIX
There’s something special about the Super Bowl that goes beyond the bright lights and confetti-it’s the stories that connect players long before they ever step on an NFL field. This year, Super Bowl LIX gives us one of those rare storylines: two rookies, once college roommates at Miami, now facing off on football’s biggest stage.
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo and New England Patriots kicker Andres Borregales are living out a dream that started back in Coral Gables. From dorm room debates to NFL sidelines, their journey comes full circle this Sunday.
According to Arroyo, Borregales reached out ahead of the big game. The exchange?
A healthy mix of trash talk and brotherly love. “We’re both competitors,” Arroyo said, keeping it light but clearly locked in.
It’s a moment neither could’ve scripted-missing Miami’s run to the national championship game, only to find themselves under the Super Bowl spotlight as rookies.
For Arroyo, the prep work hasn’t changed much. The routine, the film study, the grind-it’s all business as usual.
The only real difference? The media frenzy that comes with Super Bowl week.
“It’s the same process,” Arroyo noted. “Just more distractions.”
Still, he wrapped up his thoughts with a nod to his roots: “Go Canes.”
Arroyo’s rookie campaign was a solid one before it was cut short. He hauled in 15 catches on 26 targets for 179 yards, including one touchdown and seven first downs.
A late-season injury in Week 15 landed him on injured reserve, but Seattle brought him back just in time for the NFC Championship Game. He didn’t see the field, but his activation signals just how much the Seahawks value his potential.
Across the field, Borregales has been steady and reliable for New England. He wrapped up the regular season with 134 points, converting 27 of 32 field goals and hitting 53 of 55 extra points.
In the playoffs, he’s added another 18 points, going 4-of-6 on field goals and perfect on PATs. For a rookie kicker, that’s the kind of composure that earns trust fast-especially in a postseason run.
And there’s another Miami connection on the Patriots’ side. Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III, who also shared the field with Arroyo and Borregales in college, is now on New England’s practice squad. After a stint with the Jets, Taylor landed in Foxborough in October, adding another layer to this Miami reunion.
So while the headlines will focus on quarterbacks and coaches, don’t overlook the quieter, more personal narratives. Arroyo and Borregales may not be the stars of the show, but they’re part of what makes the Super Bowl feel bigger than just a game. From college teammates to NFL rivals, their story is a reminder of how small the football world can be-and how big these moments really are.