Sure we would have loved another Bucs appearance in the Super Bowl. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. But Tampa Bay isn’t on the sideline completely today. Four players have ties to the area and will hope to win the Tom Bra… I mean Vince Lombardi trophy.

• Matt Gay ... then

  Not a native Floridian, but Matt Gay was clearly a good pick for the Bucs back in the 2019 NFL draft. He was waived when the Bucs signed Ryan Succop.

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  A post shared by Matt Gay 🎱 (@mgtweetymonster)

• Matt Gay... now

  Gay replaced an injured kicker last year. He had a solid game when the Rams beat the Bucs to advance to the NFC Championship Game. His field goal gave the Rams the 30-27 win.

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  A post shared by Matt Gay 🎱 (@mgtweetymonster)

• Vernon Hargreaves III... then

  A graduate of Wharton High School, Tampa’s Vernon Hargreaves went on to be a Florida Gator.

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• Vernon Hargreaves III... now

  Hargreaves was actually a Buc for a few years. He was a first round draft pick in 2016. He was a Houston Texan and then became a Bengal just a few months ago.

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  A post shared by Vernon Hargreaves III (@vhiii)

• Jacob Harris... then

  Palm Harbor is represented today by tight end Jacob Harris! Harris also played soccer back then.

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  A post shared by Jacob Harris (@jacobharris87)

• Jacob Harris... now

  He’s not necessarily the tight end wearing #87 we were hoping to see in the Super Bowl today, but it’s good to see a Champa Bay grad doing well for the Rams.

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  A post shared by UCF Football (@ucf.football)

• Mitch Wilcox... then

  USF standout Mitch Wilcox also played basketball for Tarpon Springs High School. Wilcox finished his collegiate career at USF with a record-setting 100 receptions, 1,326 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns.

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  A post shared by MITCH WILCOX (@mitch_w89)

• Mitch Wilcox... now

  He once played for the Bulls… today he’ll play for the Bengals.  This is his second year in the league.

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  A post shared by MITCH WILCOX (@mitch_w89)

• Tyler Higbee... then

  Another success story from Tarpon Springs!

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  A post shared by Tyler Higbee (@higbeedoe)

• Tyler Higbee... now

  Unfortunately he’s injured and won’t play today, but the tight end had 4 touchdowns this season and played in every game for the Rams.

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  A post shared by Tyler Higbee (@higbeedoe)

• Lots and lots of Gators!

  In terms of colleges, the Florida Gators are tied with LSU for the number of players that made it to the big game today.

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  A post shared by Florida Gators (@floridagators)

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