AKRON, Ohio — Neither the Cleveland Browns or Cincinnati Bengals will play in Super Bowl 59 this year, but there are still ties to Ohio. 

Parris Campbell, a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, began his journey in Akron. He won seven state championship titles when he was at St. Vincent-St Mary High School. Five of them were in track and two were in football. Campbell’s little sister, Jeremiah Parker, said she’s so happy for her brother.

“I’m so proud of him and everything he’s doing and I’m so glad that he can be a role model for others and myself,” Parker said.

Campbell’s story has inspired kids like DeCarlo Prince, who’s a junior athlete at St. Vincent-St Mary’s.

“It’s like a role model to me, like I know I don’t really know him, but at the end of the day he’s where I want to be like in life,” Prince said.

Prince said he loves being a part of the Fighting Irish, which is a school most famous for being the home of Akron native LeBron James.

“It’s inspiring to a lot of people because a lot of greats come out of here,” Prince said.

Campbell wore number 21 in high school, which was a number passed to him by teammate Doran Grant.

“I was here at St. Vincent St Mary heading into my senior year heading into my senior year and I see this small kid, very small kid at the time, but he was just so athletic,” Grant said. “He was so youthful, cheerful and then as the season started rolling and I got to watch him play and see how he moved, I knew he was going to be special.”

Grant played alongside Campbell in high school and at the Ohio State University. 

“State champion in high school, national champion in college and now an opportunity to be a Super Bowl world champion. He’s at where the air is rare,” Grant said.

Grant said that Campbell deserves to win the Super Bowl.

“Him being a bright light in his family and the city to Ohio State and now really to the world,” Grant said.