TAMPA, FL - Raymond James Stadium is home to the Bucs and Super Bowl LV. But someone else claims residency at Ray Jay – USF Football.

This Sunday the Bulls will have plenty to be proud of as two of their own compete for the Lombardi Trophy. Chiefs center Austin Reiter and Bucs Outside Linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul.

“It’s very memorable,” said Reiter, who will start Sunday night. “I don’t know if anybody else has played as many football games in that stadium as I have.”

“I’m happy, I’m excited,” said Pierre-Paul. “It doesn’t seem like it, but I am super excited. Just to play, I mean, this is an all-around home game for me.”

JPP came in as a JUCO transfer and played for Jim Leavitt in 2009. He is still USF’s highest draft pick - 15th overall in 2010 to the New York Giants.

It was that offseason when Austin Reiter came aboard from Lakewood Ranch High.

“Kind of crazy,” said Reiter. “I committed to Jim Leavitt. That was his last game there at the International Bowl. Four days later, for me there, they fired Leavitt and hired Skip (Holtz).”

Reiter was drafted in the 7th round of the 2015 draft by Washington. A year late he was with the Browns when he suffered a knee injury and thought he might never play again.

“That was tough for me because I had never had a serious injury before,” Reiter said, who started nearly every game of his USF career. “I knew nothing about knees or what the rehab was.”

If anyone knows about battling adversity, it’s JPP.

“Six years ago I went through a hand injury from a firework incident,” said JPP. “Last year I had a broken neck (from a car accident).”

The two have bounced back…and are both in their 2nd Super Bowls. JPP won with the Giants in 2011. Reiter won with the Chiefs just last season. Now the two meet at Ray Jay Sunday night, serving as examples of inspiration – especially to young people.

“You give that light, that hope to those kids,” said Reiter, who enjoys going back to high school practices to show players anyone can reach their dreams.

“It’s just about never quitting,” said JPP. “To those people out there facing something, you can do whatever you want to.”