Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling remains devoted to his college football program, the USF Bulls. If anyone doubts that, he can literally give you the shirt off his back. And that will expose an elaborate tattoo — from his shoulder blades to his waist — showing Valdes-Scantling's love for the Tampa Bay area and USF.
Just below his neck, there's a picture of the St. Petersburg skyline reflecting off the water. There's an image of Raymond James Stadium with USF's iconic "U'' logo above it. Then there's a smaller image of Valdes-Scantling, in full USF uniform staring at the stadium, near his lower back.
Valdes-Scantling, commonly known as "MVS,'' already has made USF fans proud with his five-year NFL career. Now he can join a prestigious fraternity if the Chiefs defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday's Super Bowl 57 in Glendale, Ariz.
"It would mean everything,'' said Valdes-Scantling, a 2018 fifth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in his first season with the Chiefs, during Tuesday's Super Bowl media interviews in Arizona. "It's a lifelong dream. It's what we work our whole lives for.
"I had to walk past (the Lombardi trophies) every single day in Green Bay for four years. So being able to put my hands on one of them is going to be great. It would mean the world.''
It would also mean a lot for USF's football program.
For the 10th time in the last 12 Super Bowls, a USF player will participate in the NFL's ultimate game. During that span, among state of Florida programs, only the Florida Gators (12) have more representation.
Valdes-Scantling, the St. Petersburg Lakewood High product, is the 15th different USF player to reach the Super Bowl. Valdes-Scantling, who played his final two college seasons at USF (2016-17) after originally signing with NC State, could become the 11th former Bull to earn a Super Bowl ring.
Former USF center Austin Reiter, who played in two previous Super Bowls with the Chiefs (winning a ring at Super Bowl 54), is on Kansas City's practice squad, along with quarterback Chris Oladokun, who played three seasons at USF before transferring to Samford, then South Dakota State. Reiter has now made the most Super Bowl team appearances for a USF player with his third and a Chiefs win would have him join Jason Pierre-Paul (Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants) as a two-time winner.
"I was so happy when Marquez went to USF,'' said Valdes-Scantling's mother, Tahisia. "I think it was the best thing that could have happened for him because that's where he picked up his fire. He went out there and lit it up. And that's what got him into the National Football League.''
Valdes-Scantling still holds USF's single-season record for receiving yards (879 yards on 54 catches in 2017) and the career mark for average yards per reception (17.3). He had a 95-yard touchdown reception from Quinton Flowers against UConn in 2017, tying the program's record for the longest passing play.
"We have a lot of great memories from Marquez's days at USF,'' said Valdes-Scantling's father, Marcellus. "He has come a long way since then, but we'll always remember being treated like family by the football program and the entire university. We love USF to this day and we're always promoting the Bulls. Marquez is definitely proud of his time there.''
Valdes-Scantling said he "put my blood, sweat and tears out there on the USF practice field'' and added that "USF will always be home for me.'' He hopes that current Bulls can look at him and "know it can be done, achieving your biggest dreams.''
One dream that didn't come true was on Feb. 7, 2021 — when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55 at Raymond James Stadium. Valdes-Scantling dreamed of winning a Super Bowl on his home college field, but the Packers were denied playing in the game after a 31-26 loss against the Bucs in the NFC Championship Game.
While the Tampa Bay area was abuzz over the Bucs winning a Super Bowl at home, Valdes-Scantling was at his Tampa home, about 10 minutes from Ray-Jay. He didn't watch one snap. He was playing video games.
"It was hard to come that close to achieving a childhood dream,'' Valdes-Scantling said. "But all you can do is go back to work.''
Now he has another opportunity.
In Green Bay, he worked with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Now he catches passes from Patrick Mahomes.
"Marquez works extremely hard and he's very talented,'' Mahomes said. "Whenever you get a new guy, you have to get on the same page. Marquez runs great routes, knows the overall concept of our offense and I trust him.''
That trust was rewarded in the AFC Championship Game victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, when Valdes-Scantling had six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. He also had a touchdown catch in the Chiefs divisional round playoff win over Jacksonville.
"Nobody works harder than Marquez,'' Lakewood High football coach Cory Moore said. "He's our hometown guy and nothing would make us happier than to see him lift that Lombardi Trophy and get that ring.''
Valdes-Scantling said he was cut from Lakewood's team as a freshman. He never quit. He hopes his determination can be inspiring for younger players who might have doubts.
"It's starting to feel a little bit surreal,'' Valdes-Scantling's mother said. "It seems like yesterday when we went to his games for Lakewood and USF. Now he's sitting here at the pinnacle.
"I'm not a really big football person and I was thinking he would just be playing another game. But no, I'm realizing it's bigger than that. I'm so proud of him. I really believe this will be a life-changing moment for him and we're so happy to see him at the Super Bowl.''
– Go Bulls –
