College football players with famous fathers

Sports

College football players with famous fathers

List of college football players who have celebrity parents.

Some children must grow up in the shadow of their parents' accomplishments. For those with parents in the spotlight, the shadow becomes much larger. These are a few college football players striving to make a name for themselves apart from what their famous fathers accomplished.

As the son of "primetime," Deion Sanders Jr. has big cleats to fill. His father captured the sports world with his mesmerizing plays and larger-than-life personality. Now, it is Sanders Jr.'s time to shine. Through his first two seasons as a wide receiver for the SMU Mustangs, Sanders Jr. caught 30 passes for 233 yards. Like his father, he also returns kickoffs for the Mustangs.

Although he plays on a field and not a court, Corey Robinson is still putting his height to good use. Son of NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson, the 6-4 Notre Dame wide reciever is able to leap over smaller defensive backs to haul in passes. In his first two seasons for the Irish, Robinson has 49 receptions for 696 yards and six touchdowns. He may not have a nickname like "the Admiral," but the younger Robinson demands respect on the gridiron.

People may not recognize the last name Broadus, but they will recognize the name of Cordell Broadus' father Snoop Dogg. One of the most influential rappers of his time, Snoop Dogg has built a legacy that his son is trying to replicate. Ranked as the No. 26 wide receiver recruit in the 2015 class by 247 Sports, Broadus has comitted to play for the UCLA Bruins. As a senior at Bishop Gorman High School, Broadus caught 39 passes for 602 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Carrying the same name as your father can come with the pressure to do that name justice. For Barry Sanders Jr., son of NFL Hall-of-Famer Barry Sanders, comparisons are as commonplace as they are futile. Sanders Jr. currently plays running back for the Stanford Cardinal, and while he isn't going to break any records soon, he is averaging a very respectable 6.85 yards per carry.

Another player drawing comparisons to his father is Nick Montana, the son of Joe Montana who is considered by some to be the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Over the past several seasons, the Hall of Fame quarterback has watched his son lead the Washington Huskies and Tulane Green Wave from under center. In his college career, Nick Montana threw for 2,285 yards with 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He declared for the 2015 NFL Draft, but was not selected by any team and is now an NFL free agent.

Nico Marley is the son of former University of Miami linebacker Rohan Marley, and the grandson of legendary musician Bob Marley. Like his father, who led the Hurricanes in tackles in 1993, Nico is an undersized linebacker, but is lauded for his tenacity by coaches and teammates. Embracing the same passion for football that his father had, and that his grandfather placed in his music, Nico Marley is ready to make his own noise on the field.

Like fellow UCLA teammate Cordell Broadus, Justin Combs is also the son of a famous rapper. Sean "Diddy" Combs is no stranger to red carpets, and his son grew up in the spotlight as well. Unfortunately, the biggest news the pair has made at UCLA involves charges against the elder Combs who assaulted a Bruins coach for yelling at his son on the field. Justin Combs has only played in seven games as a defensive back and has recorded four tackles in his two seasons with the team.

As the son of one of baseball's most exciting players, Ken Griffey Jr., Arizona wide receiver Trey Griffey knows how to bring a crowd to its feet. Over his first two seasons with the Wildcats, Griffey averaged 12.6 yards per catch, and hauled in a 63-yard pass against Washington in 2014. Like his father, Griffey is blessed with tremendous athletic ability and a personality to match.

Another son of a baseball player, Torii Hunter Jr. is trying to make a name for himself as a wide receiver at Notre Dame. In 2014, Hunter Jr. recorded his first stats for the Fighting Irish, including a touchdown on his first reception of his college career. While his father, Torii Hunter, is busy winding down his career, Hunter Jr. is just starting his. In 2015, Hunter Jr. announced that he will join the Notre Dame baseball team, making him a two-sport athlete for the Irish.

Like his father, KJ Malone is continuing his athletic career in the state of Louisianna. Malone's father, Karl Malone, played basketball for Louisianna Tech before becoming the second-leading scorer in NBA history. Now, the younger Malone is fighting for a spot on the LSU Tigers' offensive line. If he is able to become a starter for the state's favorite football team, KJ will further cement the Malones' place in Louisianna lore.

While he has seen only limited time on the field , Notre Dame fans know the name Jesse Bongiovi. Son of musician Jon Bon Jovi, Bongiovi joins his fellow famous sons as part of the Fighting Irish. Recruited as a defensive back out of Poly Prep High School in New York, Bongiovi recorded only one tackle in 2013 before suffering a knee injury prior to the start of the 2014 season. Now fully healthy, Bongiovi is looking to make his father proud.

Although his father made a name for himself at cornerback with the Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders, Ray Buchanan Jr. has had a tougher time. After high school, Buchanan Jr. signed with the Arkansas Razorbacks, but redshirted his freshman season and decided to transfer after failing to record any stats during his redshirt freshman season in 2013. Now with the University of Northern Iowa, Buchanan Jr. played in 12 games for the Panthers in 2014.

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Some children must grow up in the shadow of their parents' accomplishments. For those with parents in the spotlight, the shadow becomes much larger. These are a few college football players striving to make a name for themselves apart from what their famous fathers accomplished.

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