Texas Attracting Relatives of NFL and NBA Stars is Raising Eyebrows Across College Football
Texas Attracting Relatives of NFL and NBA Stars is Raising Eyebrows Across College Football originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Whether fans are ready or not, the next wave of athletes has a high chance of making one feel old.
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The athletes that many of us grew up watching now have children set to hit the college or professional ranks. While these players are scattered throughout the country, there seems to be a hotbed forming in Austin, Texas, at the most important position in football.
Following the departure of Quinn Ewers, who was drafted in the seventh round with the 231st overall pick by the Miami Dolphins, the Longhorns will turn to former five-star and No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class, Arch Manning. Although he has two starts under his belt, fans have long been clamoring for the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning to take over.
While the Manning name has plenty of notoriety, the Texas quarterback room has a chance to be headlined by the son of a former pro athlete for years to come.
The Longhorns hold a commitment from 2026 five-star Dia Bell, the son of former Phoenix Suns star and two-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection, Raja Bell. They are also in the mix for a 2027 four-star Gunner Rivers, who is the son of eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Philip Rivers.
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With Steve Sarkisian and Texas having a chance to obtain so much potential star power with famous relatives, fans online are taking notice.
"Which would be indicative of NFL QBs believing in Sark's QB development," pointed out one fan.
"That'd be insane," said another.
"I sense a pattern there 🤔," suspected a third.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning takes the field before his team's College Football Playoff game against the Clemson Tigers at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Dec. 21, 2024.Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
As it stands, Rivers doesn't hold an offer from the Longhorns, but the No. 1 player in Alabama did recently attend a camp.
"My first time here, it went well, enjoyed, and good talking to all the coaches," Gunner Rivers told On3 about his Longhorns visit. "I had a great time."
This past season for St. Michael Catholic, he threw for 3,927 yards and 36 touchdowns, leading his team to the semifinals of Alabama's 4A playoffs. As for Bell, he threw for 2,597 yards with 29 touchdowns while leading American Heritage to a 9-2 record before he suffered a season-ending injury in the playoffs.
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While there's a chance this quarterback succession of relatives of former pros doesn't happen, Texas is clearly on track to attract the biggest names for years to come.
Related: Rule of Legendary NFL Coach May Prevent Arch Manning From Entering 2026 NFL Draft
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.

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New York Times
25 minutes ago
- New York Times
Seven takeaways from Eagles minicamp: Offense remains a force, Tyler Steen a front-runner, and more
PHILADELPHIA — The summer has officially arrived. After six workouts during OTAs, the Eagles fielded perfect attendance in their one-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. The reigning Super Bowl champions will break for just over a month before training camp begins in late July, kick-starting the official beginning of their title defense. Advertisement A series of important questions awaits a franchise seeking to extend its golden era. Nick Sirianni, whose contract was recently extended, oversees a coaching staff managing two major transitions. First-time offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo is still fleshing out his first system with a pool of assistants that includes new-hires Parks Frazier and Scot Loeffler. Vic Fangio, who's entering his 22nd season as an NFL defensive coordinator, is still sorting out those who'll replace eight key members of a top-rated defense that helped win the city's second Super Bowl. Tuesday's viewing of minicamp afforded indications of the answers. In a numbered sequence, here are my takeaways from the final look at the Eagles before the summer begins. 1. The Eagles offense appears empowered by its roster stability. Charting completions and yards per rush is a fruitless exercise in May and June. That Jalen Hurts led a smooth operation throughout workouts is as promising a sign as the Eagles can expect, given the uncharted portions of Patullo's playbook. Hurts said Tuesday that it's 'too early' yet for him to have even spoken to Patullo about the way he intends to call plays in 2025. The Eagles are 'far from what we're going to be' in terms of their offensive identity, Hurts said. But the core elements are clear. Saquon Barkley at age 28 still embodies the strength of what has been a run-oriented attack, and, as if not to be forgotten, Hurts unfurled a long touchdown to DeVonta Smith along the left sideline (with rookie linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. chasing) during Tuesday's 7-on-7 drills to demonstrate the potency that still remains in the passing game. The only apparent hiccups were in the offense's roster holes. Right guard is the only position without a returning starter, and starting center Cam Jurgens is still sidelined while recovering from offseason back surgery. During team situation drills, backup center Brett Toth skipped a snap to Hurts, killing the play, and, on the first-team rep, right guard Tyler Steen was flagged for a false start. The seniority of this unit suggests it will remain a substantial force. 2. Speaking of Tyler Steen… It's evident Steen is the front-runner to start at right guard for yet a second summer. He was the first-team right guard throughout OTAs and in minicamp. Will Steen hold onto the job this time? I asked two-time All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson what he's seen from Steen this offseason, and Johnson was quite complimentary of how much Steen has developed, particularly with his strength. 'He's just a physically gifted dude, man,' Johnson said. 'He's a lot stronger than what he was when he first arrived. So, I think his playing strength is starting to show, and I know he's ready for camp to start. And yeah, man, he's just been putting in work, and I think you've seen traits of him where he can be a dominating player.' Johnson has started beside 10 different right guards in the last five seasons. Steen, a 2023 third-round pick, has started in two games next to Johnson. Steen's top competition appears to be Matt Pryor, who started in five games next to Johnson in 2020. Pryor took second-team snaps at right guard on Tuesday. Kenyon Green, the player portion of the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade package, has been taking third-team snaps at left guard — his primary position with the Houston Texans. Training camp will reveal more about how much further Green has to go. Advertisement 3. Kelee Ringo finished the offseason with a strong practice. The Eagles entered the offseason knowing they'd need a succession plan for parting with Darius Slay, and their subsequent low-investment additions at cornerback, plus Fangio's hybrid plan to keep Cooper DeJean at nickel, underlines how the organization has confidence that Ringo can become a competent option opposite Quinyon Mitchell (in non-base packages). Ringo was the first-team outside cornerback in 7-on-7 and team drills on Tuesday — his most flashy workout of the offseason. Ringo held his own while isolated against A.J. Brown during a team-drill rep; Hurts checked down to Barkley. 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It's not hard to understand why the Eagles wouldn't spend a second-round pick on Mukuba only to start him out at nickel, the position in which his trajectory flatlined during his sophomore and junior seasons. But those two years of experience still factored into the front office's decision to pick Mukuba. The departure of Avonte Maddox hasn't been a major storyline this offseason. Cut last offseason, re-signed to a team-friendly, one-year deal, Maddox still supplied 345 defensive snaps for the Eagles in 2024 — often as the team's second slot corner in dime packages. Mukuba played dime for the first time on Tuesday. It's notable that Sydney Brown, one of Mukuba's competitors in the safety battle, was paired with Reed Blankenship at safety during those reps. It signals that the Eagles believe in Mukuba's coverage skills more, at least in slot matchups. It also revealed how much flexibility the newest members of the secondary are affording Fangio in 2025. DeJean to corner in base? Mukuba to the slot in dime? 5. Jihaad Campbell wore a helmet during individual drills for the first time. This was a notable sign for the No. 31 overall pick, who has been gradually increasing his workload since undergoing pre-draft labrum surgery. He still hasn't yet participated in 7-on-7 or team drills, but he'd only before observed individual drills during OTAs. Tuesday didn't suggest that Campbell is ahead of schedule in his recovery. (Fangio said last week that Campbell 'won't hit the practice field' until 'sometime in August'; Sirianni wouldn't offer a timeline on Tuesday.) But it's important to discuss how Campbell's recovery is different from DeJean's last year. DeJean, drafted as a corner, suffered a hamstring injury while working out in the summer, and returned Aug. 13 on a learning track that took him until Week 6 to start at nickel — 'a drastically different position' from outside corner, according to Fangio. Campbell's focus has only been at inside linebacker. Fangio also said he's personally taken Campbell to the side to do individual drills, 'that's suited to what he can do right now.' Linebacker, of course, is a complex position, especially if Campbell is to fill in for Nakobe Dean as the defense's Mike. There's also no substitute for reps, of which Campbell is projected to miss at least July's portion. But how quickly can Campbell acclimate himself after being given a full summer to mentally absorb Fangio's system? Sooner than Week 6? 6. Trevor Keegan was taking snaps at center during individual drills. The right guard battle is crowded. Steen. Pryor. Green. The Eagles also added Hollin Pierce as an undrafted free agent; the 6-8, 341-pound Rutgers product has been seeing time at right guard with the third-team offense. Keegan's Tuesday work at center during individual drills shows how he can solidify his spot on the 53-man roster. He's a 2024 fifth-round pick who spent almost the entirety of his rookie season inactive. (He had 35 snaps in his Week 18 debut against the New York Giants.) Steen is the apparent front-runner at right guard, and Pryor offers the Eagles versatility as a seventh-year veteran who can also play offensive tackle. What else can Keegan add as a reserve lineman? Long-time position coach Jeff Stoutland regularly cross-trains his linemen. While not new in general, it's interesting involving Keegan. Three-time Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson has been Philadelphia's backup center. Could Keegan distinguish himself from other linemen, like Brett Toth, and offer reliability behind Jurgens? 7. Do the Eagles have a No. 4 WR? The Eagles may be weary of the years-long discourse about whether they've secured a No. 3 wide receiver behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. General manager Howie Roseman increased depth by acquiring Jahan Dotson in a training camp trade last year. Dotson, who had 19 catches and 216 yards in 2024, has an opportunity to silence the WR3 discussion after his first full offseason in Philadelphia. Tuesday offered a glimpse at another opportunity that might supply the Eagles with a new wrinkle in their 2025 system. Advertisement During 11-on-11 drills with the first-team offense, Terrace Marshall, who signed a one-year, $1.05 million deal in the offseason, caught a short crosser with DeJean in coverage and sprinted for an explosive gain. Later, during 7-on-7s, Marshall hauled in a long completion against Adoree' Jackson, who's competing with Ringo for the starting job at outside cornerback. Both plays reflected why Marshall, 25, was chosen by the Carolina Panthers No. 59 overall in 2021. He'd come to prominence during LSU's 2019 national championship season as Joe Burrow's third option behind Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. 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CNN
26 minutes ago
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Aaron Rodgers says continuing to play football was ‘best for my soul' as he reveals he's now married
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Washington Post
34 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Andrew Abbott throws 3-hitter and Spencer Steer drives in only run as Reds beat Guardians
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