School soccer stars following within the footsteps of NFL dads

The progeny of prodigies will at all times get our consideration. We will’t assist however to have a look at those that have the DNA of an elite-level athlete. It is like they have got been given tremendous serum, grafted their bones with adamantium, have been bitten via a rogue Alchemax spider and drank the heart-shaped herb.

When any person reaches the prime, athletic watermark set via one or either one of their organic folks, I do not believe there may be a lot we adore extra.

Mix nepotism with herbal talent, get admission to to an atmosphere constructed for the scion to jump, and sufficient paintings ethic and want to be nice, and you have got a different skill. 

Listed below are 9 present school soccer standouts who’re following within the footsteps in their dads.

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

How do you inform me you might be WR1 with out telling me you might be WR1? You assert, “My identify is Marvin Harrison.”

Harrison Jr. is the most productive broad receiver in school soccer and is broadly anticipated to be a top-five select in subsequent yr’s NFL draft. The gifted Buckeye pass-catcher stuck 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns whilst main Ohio State to the School Soccer Playoff closing season.

His father, former Indianapolis Colts standout Marvin Harrison Sr., is a member of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Status. He performed 13 NFL seasons, all with the Colts, and hauled in 1,102 passes for 14,580 yards and 128 receiving touchdowns. He led the NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns throughout the 2002 marketing campaign, and was once decided on first- or second-team All-Professional on 8 separate events. Harrison ranks 5th all-time in receptions.

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

His daddy is High. If that does not put the rub in your brisket, you might be on the unsuitable barbeque pit.

It does not get stated sufficient: Shedeur was once born in Tyler, Texas. Not anything cushy is popping out of Tyler, Texas.

In two seasons at Jackson State, Sanders threw for six,963 yards and 70 touchdowns, whilst additionally finishing 68.4% of his passes. He’s the one participant within the historical past of the game to win the Jerry Rice Award as essentially the most exceptional freshman within the FCS — the primary participant from an HBCU to win the award — and the Deacon Jones Trophy, awarded to the country’s easiest HBCU participant.

Sons of NFL Greats Making Their Mark in CFB

FOX Sports activities’ RJ Younger seems in school soccer standouts who’re following within the footsteps in their dads.

Frank Gore Jr., RB, Southern Omit

Frank Gore Sr. was once a 2001 nationwide champion with the Miami Hurricanes. He loved a dominant 16-year NFL occupation, which incorporated 5 Professional Bowl alternatives.

In the meantime, his son, Frank Gore, Jr., led Southern Omit in speeding yards for the second-straight yr with 801 yards on 179 carries whilst averaging 4.5 backyard in line with clip. He has publish 2,891 speeding yards and 16 speeding touchdowns in 3 seasons at Southern Omit.

Brenden Rice, WR, USC

His daddy is Jerry Rice. If that does not prepare dinner your ramen, son, you might be on the unsuitable soup kitchen.

In 3 years — two at Colorado and one at USC — Brenden has stuck 66 passes for 1,030 yards (15.6 avg) with 9 TDs. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound pass-catcher had a breakout season closing yr for the Trojans, totaling 39 catches for 611 yards and 4 ratings.

With Caleb Williams again underneath middle, be expecting an excellent larger season for Brennan in 2023.

Cristian Motive force, ATH, Penn State

He’s the son of Tremendous Bowl champion and five-time Professional Bowl variety Donald Motive force.

Cristian’s present head trainer at Penn State, James Franklin, was once Donald’s broad receivers trainer in Inexperienced Bay again in 2005. The older Motive force performed school soccer at Alcorn State, and till Shaq Leonard entered the league in 2018, Donald carried HBCU soccer on his again.

Christian, who redshirted in 2022, performed highschool ball for Jason Witten at Liberty Christian in Flower Mound, Texas, the place he went each techniques and received the Texas Affiliation of Non-public and Parochial Faculties (TAPPS) lengthy bounce state identify in Department 6A.

Antonio Gates Jr., WR, Michigan State

Antonio Gates Sr. was once a three-time first-team All-Professional. Ahead of Baker Mayfield went from walk-on to Heisman, Gates Sr. went from Joe to Professional, being an undrafted loose agent out of Kent State who advanced into an All-Professional. The previous Chargers standout stuck extra TDs than some other tight result in NFL historical past with 116.

In the meantime, his son, Antonio Gates Jr., redshirted in 2022.  Popping out of Detroit’s Fordson Prime, Gates, Jr. stuck 55 passes for 925 yards and 16 touchdowns, notched two INTs, together with one returned for a landing, and 9 move breakups on protection as a senior.

Gates Jr. is predicted to play a bigger function for the Spartans this season, particularly with the departure of Keon Coleman.

Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

He’s the son of 2006 NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr and three-time first-team All-Professional Jason Taylor, and the nephew to Zach Thomas and Pleasure Taylor

Mason is predicted to play a large function in LSU’s offense in 2023 after catching 38 passes for 414 yards with 3 TDs in 14 video games closing season. He stuck the game-winning two-point conversion in LSU’s win towards Alabama closing yr as a real freshman.

Christian Harrison, DB, Tennessee

Harrison’s father is two-time Tremendous Bowl champion and two-time Professional Bowl variety Rodney Harrison. The previous New England Patriot nice has essentially the most sacks via a security in NFL historical past with 30.5, and holds the file for tackles made in Tremendous Bowl historical past with 33.

Popping out of Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Christian was once a top-50 participant within the state. He picked off 5 passes and compelled two fumbles as a senior.

E.J. Smith, RB, Stanford

E.J. Smith is the son of Professional Soccer Corridor of Status RB Emmitt Smith, who is thought of as one of the most peak working backs in NFL historical past. Emmitt performed 15 seasons within the NFL, basically with the Dallas Cowboys, and is on the peak of the NFL’s all-time speeding listing with 18,355 yards and 164 speeding touchdowns.

E.J.’s first lift of the 2022 season was once an 87-yard TD run. He appeared to be on tempo for a breakout marketing campaign sooner than struggling a season-ending damage in Stanford’s moment sport of the season closing yr. He rushed for 206 yards and 3 TDs in two video games sooner than the damage.

RJ Younger is a countrywide school soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities and the host of the podcast “The Quantity One School Soccer Display.” Observe him on Twitter at @RJ_Young and subscribe to “The Quantity One School Soccer Display” on YouTube.

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