Super Bowl 2012: 8 Players Who Will Shine in 1st Super Bowl Appearance

Super Bowl XLVI between the New England Patriots and New York Giants features several young and talented players. Many will be tasked with containing the excitement of playing in the first Super Bowl of their career.

So who will combat the butterflies and prove they are masters of the big stage?

Both teams possess many options for big-game candidates. Here is a look at eight players, four from each team, that will shine come Super Bowl Sunday.

Julian Edelman

By default, Julian Edelman will have a positive impact on Super Bowl XLVI. He plays in all three facets of the game.

With tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez receiving the primary coverage, wide receivers should gain a bit more breathing room. After Wes Welker and Deion Branch take the secondary coverage, guys like Edelman will benefit greatly.

As a cornerback, Edelman mostly covers slot back receivers. This means he'll take on Mario Manningham or even Victor Cruz at times. He has the speed and the hands of a receiver; it's just a question of his coverage skills.

It's not crazy to think Edelman can get the job done. In the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens, he effectively covered Anquan Boldin on several plays.

Julian Edelman also returns punts. The New York Giants are well-disciplined on special teams, with ball-hawks like linebacker Jacquian Williams, who had a game-changing forced fumble against the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago. Edelman must learn from others' mistakes and secure the football.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

"The Law Firm" should be another guy who benefits from the coverage of Gronkowski, Hernandez and Welker. Another benefit will be the expectation for the Patriots to throw, opening up opportunities for the run game.

Against the stingy Baltimore Ravens' defense, Green-Ellis rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown. Though the defensive front four for the Giants are playing at a Super Bowl-caliber level right now, the rest of the defense doesn't compare to the Ravens.

If BenJarvus Green-Ellis can get help from his blockers up front and find the holes, he will have an even bigger game than two weeks ago.

Rob Gronkowski

Hobbled or not, we will see the "Gronk-Spike" on Sunday.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski has been slowed all week by an ankle injury, but it's the Super Bowl, so Gronkowski will play.

Even with an injured ankle, Gronkowski will garner double coverage. He is 6'6'' and 265 pounds with amazing hands.

He likely won't be any kind of deep threat whatsoever. But where Gronkowski will show up is on short yardage plays near the end zone. Look for Gronk to find his way to the back or corner of the end zone for a touchdown or two.

Aaron Hernandez

That other Patriots tight end is pretty good too.

At 6'1'' and 245 pounds, Hernandez is another big guy to cover. He's also got great catching ability and the speed of a running back. He blocks, he catches, he's fast and he'll see more open looks than Gronkowski.

With his talents and Gronkowski's injury, look for Hernandez to have the biggest game of his life and of any other Patriot on Super Bowl Sunday.

Kenny Phillips

A definite New York Giants dark horse candidate, safety Kenny Phillips should have a huge game.

Phillips's postseason stats have yet to reflect the work he's done in the regular season, but it will be necessary for Phillips to produce come Sunday.

Covering Gronkowski and Hernandez is going to be extremely difficult. In this facet of the game, Phillips should simply provide assistance deep down field. Keeping the tight ends (and receivers for that matter) in front of him will be huge.

Look for Phillips to not only help cover Gronk and Hernandez, but take on Wes Welker alone many times. When the Giants' defensive line rushes Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Phillips could be the guy to capitalize on a mistake.

Against a throw-first offense with stud receivers, Phillips will have plenty of opportunity to make big plays.

Jason Pierre-Paul

Jason Pierre-Paul made the most of the downs he played two weeks ago against the San Francisco 49ers. The defensive end recorded six tackles, an assisted sack and deflected a pass.

Going into Super Bowl XLII, Justin Tuck provided relief for starters Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan. He ended up having a monstrous game with two sacks and a forced fumble.

In Super Bowl XLVI, we'll be having déjà vu.

This time it will be Jason Pierre-Paul coming into the game to relieve Umenyiora and Tuck, while earning his monster Super Bowl performance.

Victor Cruz

Victor Cruz caught 10 passes for 142 yards against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game two weeks ago.

Imagine what he can do against the New England Patriots' secondary.

He likely will receive the most coverage of any Giants player, but he should have similar stats in Super Bowl XLVI. Short yardage plays worked very well against the 49ers. The Giants would be wise to work in similar fashion Sunday.

10 yards here and 13 yards there becomes quite the headache for defenses if it continues all game.

Hakeem Nicks

Hakeem Nicks will have a bigger game than Victor Cruz.

Nicks has almost 100 more yards receiving than Cruz and four more touchdowns in the 2012 playoffs. It is because teams continue to focus on Cruz.

Look for the trend to continue. The Patriots' secondary will have a very difficult time covering New York's wide receiving corps. They'll likely put their best cornerback on Cruz.

Nicks will have an 90-yard, two touchdown performance on Sunday.