<span style="">Every year, many players joining the National Football League come from families rich in athletic tradition. Here is a list of draft prospects who had family members compete at either the collegiate or professional level in the world of sports.
THE QUARTERBACKS
FAMILY MEMBERS WITH NFL EXPERIENCE…
CHRIS PIZZOTTI – Harvard…Grandfather, FRANK "BOLEY" DANCEWICZ, was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1946 NFL Draft by the Boston Yanks. Dancewicz played football at Notre Dame (1943-45), where he earned second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press, United Press International, Football News, The Sporting News and Football Writers Association as a senior quarterback. He went on to play in the East-West Shrine Game and College All-Star Classic…Father, Steve, played football at Northeastern…Brother, Dave, was the starting quarterback at Boston University.
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WITH COLLEGIATE OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE…
NATE DAVIS – Ball State…Brother, Jose, set most of the passing records at Kent State (1997-99), where he completed 552 of 1,000 passes for 6,722 yards. Jose holds the MAC single-game TD pass record (8 vs. Central Michigan in 1997). He recently played for the Arena Football League's Kansas City Brigade.
JOSH FREEMAN – Kansas State…Father, Ron, played for the United States Football League's Orlando Renegades.
GRAHAM HARRELL – Texas Tech…Younger brother, Clark, is a sophomore quarterback at Abilene Christian.
MARK SANCHEZ – Southern California…Brothers, Nick (Yale in 1992-94) and Brandon (DePauw in 1997) played college football.
PAT WHITE – West Virginia…Older brother, Bo, is the wide receivers coach at Bluffton University…Younger brother, Coley, is a redshirt quarterback vying to replace Pat as West Virginia's starting quarterback.
JOHN PARKER WILSON – Alabama…Father, Parker, played minor league baseball in the Boston Red Sox organization.
THE WIDE RECEIVERS
FAMILY MEMBERS WITH NFL EXPERIENCE…
BRANDON GIBSON – Washington State…Uncle, VAUGHN WILLIAMS was a defensive back for the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts in the 1980s.
NICK MOORE – Toledo…Brother, LANCE, has been a wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints since 2005 and caught 79 passes in 2008.
BRIAN ROBISKIE – Ohio State…Father, TERRY, was a standout running back at Louisiana State, becoming the first player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season (1976) and the first to gain over 2,500 yards for a career (1973-76). Terry was later drafted in the eighth round by Oakland and spent five years in the NFL with the Raiders (1977-79) and the Miami Dolphins (1980-81). Upon his retirement as a player, he joined the Raiders as an assistant coach in 1982, serving as their offensive coordinator from 1989-1993. He spent the next seven seasons as a coach with Washington before moving on to Cleveland in 2001. He was named interim head coach of the Browns in 2004, moving on to Miami as a receivers coach before serving in that same position for Atlanta in 2008.
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WITH COLLEGIATE OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE…
RAMSES BARDEN – Cal Poly…Father, Al, played basketball for New York University and reached the NCAA Final Four in the early 1960s.
AUSTIN COLLIE – Brigham Young…Father, Scott, played football at Brigham Young (1979-1982) as a receiver and for the Hamilton Tigercats in the CFL...Older brother, Zac, played receiver for BYU (2004-06).
JARETT DILLARD – Rice…Sister, Tai, was a standout basketball player at Texas and is presently playing with San Antonio in the WNBA.
DERRICK WILLIAMS – Penn State…Older brother, Domonique, played running back and quarterback at North Carolina and finished his career at North Carolina A&T.
THE TIGHT ENDS
FAMILY MEMBERS WITH NFL EXPERIENCE…
CHASE COFFMAN – Missouri…Father, PAUL, played for the Green Bay Packers (1978-1985), twice earning Pro Bowl honors, and the Kansas City Chiefs (1986-87). Prior to that, he was a standout tight end for Kansas State, leading the team in scoring while garnering Academic All-Big Eight honors in 1977...Brother, Carson, was a teammate of Chase's at Raymore-Peculiar High School and presently is a quarterback at Kansas State.
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WITH COLLEGIATE OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE…
DAN GRONKOWSKI – Maryland…Older brother, Gordie, Jr., was a first baseman for Jacksonville University from 2003-06…Brother, Chris, was a teammate at Maryland for two seasons (2005-06), where he played fullback. Chris later transferred to the University of Arizona, and is presently competing as an H-Back for the Wildcats, playing alongside their younger brother, Rob, a Freshman All-American tight end.
CAMERON MORRAH – California…Brother, Eric, was a teammate and linebacker at Cal (2006-07) after transferring from Kent State.
THE RUNNING BACKS
FAMILY MEMBERS WITH NFL EXPERIENCE…
RASHAD JENNINGS – Liberty…Brother, BUTCH, played at Virginia Military Institute and Liberty before moving on to the NFL's New York Giants as a running back in the 1990s…Another brother, BRYAN, was a tight end at Virginia Tech and later with the San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans.
LE SEAN MC COY – Pittsburgh…Older brother, LE RON, was a receiver for Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and spent two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2005-06) and one year with the San Francisco 49ers (2007) before signing with the Houston Texans in 2008.
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WITH COLLEGIATE OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE…
CHRIS PRESSLEY – Wisconsin…Uncle, Greg Ross, played football and participated in track at Bethune-Cookman.
KORY SHEETS – Purdue...Mother, Krystal McKenzie, participated in track and field at Morgan State University.
THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
FAMILY MEMBERS WITH COLLEGIATE OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE…
EBEN BRITTON – Arizona…Brother, Gus, is a track performer, competing in the jumps…Father, Jeff, played basketball at Jacksonville University.
ANDY LEVITRE – Oregon State…Brother, Erick, was an offensive guard at the University of Arizona (2002-06).
AUGUSTUS PARRISH – Kent State…Older brother, Justin, was an All-American linebacker at Kent State (2002-05) and holds the school season and career records for sacks.
THE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
FAMILY MEMBERS WITH NFL EXPERIENCE…
JARRON GILBERT – San Jose State…Father, DAREN, was an offensive tackle at Cal State Fullerton and played for the New Orleans Saints (1985-88).
PERIA JERRY – Mississippi…Cousin, DWAYNE RUDD, was an All-American linebacker at Alabama (1994-96) and was selected in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft by Minnesota, playing for the Vikings (1997-2000), Cleveland (2001-02) and Tampa Bay (2003)...Cousin, Derek Pegues, was an All-Southeastern Conference defensive back at Mississippi State (2005-08)…Brother, John, is an offensive lineman and teammate at Mississippi (2006-present)…Cousins, linebacker Eddie Strong (1998-2002) and running back Toward Sanford (1999-2002), both played at Ole Miss…Sanford's brother, defensive back Jamarca (2005-08), played on the Rebel defense alongside Jerry.
FILI MOALA – Southern California…Cousin is former Oregon defensive tackle HALOTI NGATA (2002-05), now with the Baltimore Ravens.
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WITH COLLEGIATE OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE…
IAN CAMPBELL – Kansas State…Brother, Jared Jarnagin, played football at the University of Wyoming (1996-99), starting his final two seasons at middle linebacker.
PAUL KRUGER – Utah…Was joined on the Utah defensive line by younger brother, Dave...Father, Paul, played football at Oregon State. Paul married his college sweetheart, Jennifer, who was a member of Oregon State's women's track and field team.
ORION MARTIN – Virginia Tech…Uncle, Bobby, lettered at Virginia Tech from 1986-89…Younger brother, Cam, was a teammate and standout weak-side linebacker for the Hokies (2005-present).
BRIAN ORAKPO – Texas…Uncle, Chike, played football at Iowa.
MATTHEW SHAUGHNESSY – Wisconsin…Grandfather, James, played football at Arnold College.
DAVID VEIKUNE – Hawaii…Cousin, Tony Fulilangi, was the fourth-ranked light heavyweight boxer in the world at one point. After fighting George Foreman, he went on to train Paea Wolfaram, who won a silver medal for the Tongan Islands at the 1996 Olympics Games in Atlanta…Cousin, Mapa Malupo, was a running back at College of the Canyons in California.
THE LINEBACKERS
FAMILY MEMBERS WITH NFL EXPERIENCE…
JASPER BRINKLEY – South Carolina...Twin brother, CASPER, was teammate and defensive end at South Carolina (2006-07) before signing a free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers in 2008.
MAURICE CRUM – Notre Dame...Father, MAURICE CRUM, SR., was a Butkus Award finalist and 1990 All-American linebacker at the University of Miami (1987-90), leading the team in tackles in each of his last three seasons, totaling 354 tackles in his college career. His father also spent parts of two seasons playing for Miami's baseball team before signing as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
AARON CURRY – Wake Forest…Father, REGGIE PINKNEY, was the Lions' sixth-round pick in the 1977 NFL Draft out of East Carolina…Brother, Patrick Pinkney, is a quarterback at East Carolina (2005-08).
CLAY MATTHEWS – Southern California…Grandfather, CLAY SR., was on the football, wrestling and swim teams at Georgia Tech in the 1940s and then played in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s…Father, CLAY JR., was a four-year (1974-77) linebacker at USC who played on the 1974 national championship team and earned All-American honors in 1977. He went on to play with the NFL's Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons from 1978 to 1996… Uncle, BRUCE, was a three-year (1980-82) letterman offensive guard at USC who earned All-American honors in 1982 and then played with the NFL's Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans from 1983 to 2001…Older brother, Kyle, lettered at safety on USC's 2003 national championship team…Brother, Casey, is a sophomore linebacker at Oregon... His cousin, Ashley Nick, is a senior on the USC women's soccer team that captured the 2007 NCAA championship.
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WITH COLLEGIATE OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE…
SCOTT MC KILLOP – Pittsburgh…Brother, Chris, was a teammate and starting defensive end at Pittsburgh (2004-07)…Brother, Robert, was a heavyweight wrestler at Slippery Rock University.
THE DEFENSIVE BACKS
FAMILY MEMBERS WITH NFL EXPERIENCE…
DARIUS BUTLER – Connecticut…Cousin, running back WILLIS MC GAHEE, was a first-round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills in 2003 and is currently with the Baltimore Ravens …Uncle, GENE ATKINS, was a standout defensive back who played in the NFL from 1987-1996 with the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins.
JAIRUS BYRD – Oregon…Father, GILL BYRD, SR., was a 1983 first-round draft pick out of San Jose State and a two-time Pro Bowl selection at cornerback for the San Diego Chargers (1983-1992). Gill Sr. went on to join the coaching ranks, serving as the secondary coach for the St. Louis Rams (2003-05) before joining the Chicago Bears staff as a defensive quality control coach in 2006…Older brother, Gill, Jr., was a defensive back at New Mexico State (2004-06).
VONTAE DAVIS – Illinois… Brother, VERNON, played tight end at Maryland and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the sixth overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.
LONDEN FRYAR – Western Michigan…Father, IRVING, was selected by the New England Patriots with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1984 draft. He caught 851 passes for 12,785 yards and made five Pro Bowl appearances during his 17-year NFL career with the Patriots (1984-1992), Miami Dolphins (1993-95), Philadelphia Eagles (1996-98) and Washington Redskins (1999-2000).
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WITH COLLEGIATE OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE…
LOUIS DELMAS – Western Michigan…Brother, Greg Joseph, plays safety at Florida Atlantic.
MICHAEL HAMLIN – Clemson…Brothers, Markee and Marquais, play for South Carolina State. The two teams played each other in 2008, with Clemson earning a 54-0 win.
CHRISTOPHER OWENS – San Jose State…Older brother, Alvin Owens, Jr., played for the San Diego Riptide of the Arena2 Football League.
DEREK PEGUES – Mississippi State…Cousin, Peria Jerry, was an All-American defensive tackle at Mississippi (2005-08).
MORGAN TRENT – Michigan… Mother, Tina, was a diver at the University of Nebraska, the same school where his father, Phillip, was a member of the football team.
THE SPECIALISTS
FAMILY MEMBERS WITH NFL EXPERIENCE…
DAVID BUEHLER – Southern California…Uncle, GEORGE BUEHLER, lettered in football at Stanford for three years (1966-68) and then played guard with the Oakland Raiders (1969-78) and Cleveland Browns (1978-79)…Father, John, was a three-year letterman (1969-71) on USC's track team as a shot putter…Uncle, Charles, lettered in football at Stanford for three years (1960-62).
