Three players who have local ties to the Charlotte area played major roles in Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVI.

Two of those players will soon be wearing some new bling after the Giants topped the Patriots 21-17 in a game that came down to the last play.

Giants’ wide receiver Hakeem Nicks led all receivers in the game with 10 receptions for 109 yards.  Nicks was born in Charlotte, played football at Independence High School and was rated one of the top receiving prospects in the state.

He went on to play for the UNC Tar Heels and started 36 games, scoring a school-record 21 TDs in three years.  Nicks was drafted by the Giants in 2009 in the first round, 29th overall.

In three years with the Giants including the playoffs, Nicks has 46 catches for 3,438 yards and 28 touchdowns and one big blue ring.

SLIDESHOW: Giants hold off Patriots

Giants’ defensive lineman Chris Canty recorded one tackle in Sunday’s Super Bowl win over the Patriots.  Canty was born in the Bronx, New York and attended Charlotte Latin School.

Canty did not start playing football until his junior year and helped Latin to win the NCISAA State Championship in 1999.  Canty went on to play at Virginia and then was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys where he played for four seasons before signing with the Giants.

In 2011, Canty registered career-highs in tackles with 47 and recorded four sacks.

Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes will not be getting a ring this season, but the former Crest High School standout will most likely have another shot at it eventually.

Spikes tied for the lead in team tackles on Super Bowl Sunday, recording 11 tackles.

Spikes was born in Shelby and was considered one of the best linebacker prospects in the nation in high school and chose to attend the University of Florida.

Spikes played with Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow and won two national championships while at Florida. He was drafted in the second round by the Patriots in 2010.

Spikes has 108 tackles in two seasons and recorded one interception.