TAMPA, FL. - Keyvone Lee felt right at home at Ray Jay on New Year’s Day. The Penn State sophomore played in front of family and friends in the Outback Bowl. The St. Pete native had always wanted to play on the same field as his beloved Tampa Bay Bucs.

“I came out here and I soaked it all up,” said Lee. “I just looked around for a couple and I was like ‘yea, I’m really home.’”

Keyvone has been dreaming big since his high school days at little American Collegiate Academy in Clearwater.

“It motivates us and humbles us to come out and dominate every team we play,” said Lee back in 2018 while training on Clearwater Beach.  

At the time the 4-star back had made a verbal pledge to the Florida Gators. But not long after, he re-opened his recruiting and fell in love with a school up north.

“Penn State is a place that I love,” said Lee, who announced his commitment August 26, 2019. “I went up there to visit, it was the only place that I took an official. The coaches treat me like family.”

From the time Keyvone got to Happy Valley, he fit right in.

“He’s 230lbs, he breaks tackles, and he falls forward,” said Penn State head coach James Fraklin.

Keyvone earned a lot of praise during the pandemic riddled season of 2020.

In 2021 he established himself as the lead back – rushing for a team high 530 yards to go along with two touchdowns. And on the first day of 2022, Keyvone got to run out on to his hometown field in the Outback Bowl with his family cheering from the stands.

“I was just so excited, I was telling everybody,” said mom Eugenia Broxton. “I was just too excited. It means everything to me and my family. We’re so proud of him. Every time he gets out on that field he makes an impact.”

Penn State didn’t win the Outback Bowl, but that didn’t stop Keyvone from  enjoying the whole experience of playing at Ray Jay. For the kid from St. Pete, who used to train in front of tourists on Clearwater Beach, it’s all about slowing down and taking in each moment.

“At the end of the day I’m still happy, I am still satisfied,” said Lee. “I got a chance to play in my hometown, close to home. It felt like it was just yesterday and now I’m on my second year and time is rolling.”

Keyvone Lee is heading into his junior season at Penn State. He has plenty of goals in front of him. But he knows in order to move forward; he has to look back to where he’s from and who helped him get there. It all came full circle at the Outback Bowl.