Super Bowl 2012: 8 Players Who Will Make a Statement in 1st Super Bowl

The New England Patriots are squaring off against the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, sound familiar? Eli Manning vs. Tom Brady, still familiar?

However, Victor Cruz vs. Rob Gronkowski is entirely uncharted territory.

Both of these teams have evolved over the past four years, and have new threats on both sides of the ball. Here are the eight new faces to watch on the big stage.

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Victor Cruz (WR, Giants)

The Giants' postseason chances are in Cruz control.

The undrafted receiver out of UMass is one of the year's best stories. Coming off of a 10-reception, 142-yard performance against the 49ers, Cruz is a threat on every snap.

Leading the Giants receiving corps, look for Cruz as both a deep threat and slot receiver when the Giants are backed up out of the red zone.

Jake Ballard (TE, Giants)

In 2007, Kevin Boss replaced Jeremy Shockey and played a lead role in the Giants' Super Bowl victory.

This season, Jake Ballard has shown flashes of potential in close games when every play means that much more. Contributing with solid games in the mid-season, Ballard has been a bit of an enigma for the past several weeks as he only has three catches this postseason.

The Super Bowl is the one people remember though, and with the Pats' defense paying so much attention to Cruz, Nicks and Manningham, Ballard will have to step up in a big way.

Rob Gronkowski (TE, Patriots)

Rob Gronkowski has been a man amongst boys this season. Standing tall at 6'6", the former second-round pick by the New England Patriots has been nothing short of stellar this season. Setting tight end records for both touchdowns and yardage, "Gronk" has been unstoppable.

With 15 receptions, 232 yards and three touchdowns this postseason, look for Gronk (despite a minor ankle injury) to make a big impact when it matters most.

Aaron Hernandez (TE, Patriots)

Aaron Hernandez perfectly compliments Rob Gronkowski's power and size with his own unique speed and agility given his 6'2'', 245-pound frame.

Drafted by the New England Patriots a mere two rounds after Gronk, Hernandez has actually caught only 15 fewer balls in his career.

A perfect one-two punch, look for the attention placed on Gronkowski to free up Hernandez on crossing routes of his own in the middle of the field.

Jason Pierre-Paul (DE, Giants)

Jason Pierre-Paul doesn't really know that much about football, only that he's very good at playing it. In this piece, Pierre-Paul guesses that he has watched about five football games in his lifetime, outside of film study.

A former first-round pick of the 2010 draft, Pierre-Paul is simply an incredible athlete. He will be a factor in whatever he does this Sunday, most notably pressuring Tom Brady.

Julian Edelman (WR/DB/PR, Patriots)

A rare two-way player, it's difficult to conceive of a way in which Julian Edelman is not a factor against the Giants on Sunday.

The former seventh-round pick has been a diamond in the rough for the Pats this season. Though only catching four passes all season, Edelman has been active on the defensive side of the ball and on special teams.

With a punt return for a touchdown, 18 tackles and four receptions to his name this season, Edelman will find at least one area to contribute in when it counts.

Steve Weatherford (P, Giants)

Steve Weatherford? Yes, Steve Weatherford. Special teams never quite gets enough attention in the big games until something goes wrong, just ask Matt Dodge. Weatherford was brought in this season to provide consistency and stability at the punter position.

Weatherford, the former New York Jet, has been to three NFC championship games but never the Super Bowl. This postseason, he is averaging a respectable 46.7 yards per punt, and the Giants' special teams has yet to give up a touchdown return.

Special teams is where close games are decided, and Weatherford's experience will give the Giants an edge.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis (RB, Patriots)

BenJarvus Green-Ellis has never fumbled the ball in his four years in the NFL. Let that sink in.

It will be Green-Ellis' reliability rather than his ability that get him the ball in the Super Bowl. Though he only averages 3.4 yards per carry this postseason, the Patriots are a pass-first offense and will only be feeding "The Law Firm" the ball for a change of pace and to potentially run the clock out near the end of the game.

With sure hands, Green-Ellis might not give the Patriots a home run threat on every down, but he won't strike out.