As the high school football season gets underway, a number of second-generation football players are in position to star for their schools — many with dad by their sides as coaches.
MORE: 11 players with big shoes to fill
Dylan McCaffrey, QB, Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
The Michigan commit is the son of former Denver Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and is ranked as the No. 3 pro-style quarterback in the Class of 2017 by the 247Sports Composite rankings. His brother Christian is the Heisman Trophy favorite at Stanford.
While leading Valor Christian (12-2) to a state title last fall, Dylan completed 64.7% of his passes for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and four interceptions.
“He’s so impressive,” ESPN analyst and quarterback guru George Whitfield told Gannett partner The Detroit Free Press. “The biggest thing I look for in young quarterbacks that are highly touted and they come very decorated is, how well do they handle everything, can they stay on top of everything? Nothing ever seems too big for him. He’s got a no-flinch mentality. … He is always the alpha dog, with a natural organic method of arriving there. How he carries himself, the rest of the guys, no matter where he is, seem to turn and go with him.”
Patrick Surtain Jr. (Photo: 247Sports.com)
Patrick Surtain Jr., DB, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
The No. 1 cornerback recruit in the nation and No. 9 player overall in the Classs of 2017 will play for his dad at Heritage, ranked No. 6 in the Preseason Super 25.
Patrick Surtain Sr. was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Miami Dolphins and played four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. Surtain Sr. was Heritage’s defensive coordinator last season before being promoted to head coach.
Will Allen Jr., DB, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
A 5-9, 165-pound senior, his father played 11 years in the NFL after being selected in the first round of the 2001 draft by the New York Giants. Allen Jr. lacks great size but is a terrific leaper who makes plays in the slot.
“We feel like we have the best defensive backfield in the nation,” Allen Jr. said. “But that’s on paper – we have to live up to that. We have to show out every week. We want to be great.”
MORE: Heritage defensive backs are elite all over the place
Drew Bledsoe’s son, John, also wears No. 11. (Twitter)
John Bledsoe, QB, Summit (Bend, Ore.)
The second son of former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe took Oregon high school football by storm last fall, leading Summit High to a Class 5A state title. Drew Bledsoe was the team’s offensive coordinator. John threw for more than 2,500 yards and passed for 31 touchdowns.
While likely to receive FBS offers as a senior, John Bledsoe opted to commit early to Northern Arizona.
Adam Boselli, TE, Episcopal (Jacksonville, Fla.)
The son of former No. 1 overall pick and Jacksonville Jaguar Tony Boselli is closing in on double-digit offers with Kansas, Memphis and Central Michigan among those showing interest.
Adam is a reliable pass catcher and has good size at 6-4, 210.
Quarterback Griffin Alstott (Photo: Tampa Bay Times)
Griffin Alstott, QB, Northside Christian (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
The passer plays for his father, former Tampa Bay Bucaneers fullback Mike Alstott, at Northside and is planning to follow his dad’s path to Purdue. As a junior, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Griffin threw for 1,725 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Northside Christian, completing 50.7 percent of his passes. He also rushed for four touchdowns.
Asante Samuel Jr. (Photo: 247Sports)
Asante Samuel Jr., DB, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Samuel is the son of the former NFL cornerback for the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons and plays the same positon as his dad. Samuel Jr. is ranked as the No. 16 corner in the Class of 2017 by the 247Sports Composite and plays for the No. 1 ranked team in the Preseason Super 25. Aquinas is noted for producing players whose fathers played in the NFL.
Tennessee coach Butch Jones with Kivon Bennett (Photo: 247Sports)
Kivon Bennett, DT, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
The son of Cornelius Bennett, who played on four Super Bowl teams with the Buffalo Bills, has committed to Tennessee over his father’s alma mater, Alabama.
Bennett is 6-3, 265 and ranked as the No. 37 defensive tackle in the Class of 2017.
Taron Vincent, DT, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
The son of former NFL Pro Bowler and current football operations executive vice president Troy Vincent transferred to IMG from Gilman (Baltimore). Taron is ranked is the No. 1 defensive tackle in the Class of 2018 and No. 14 player overall. He is 6-3 and 285.
RELATED: Troy Vincent: IMG is parents’ choice
Max Johnson, QB, Oconee County (Watkinsville, Ga.)
It might not be Johnson’s time just yet, but the Class of 2020 passer already has offers from Miami and his father’s alma mater, Florida State. Johnson is the son of Brad Johnson, who played for the Seminoles before a 15-year career as an NFL quarterback and a Super Bowl championship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002.
Oconee County is the high school that produced current Tennessee Titans QB Zach Mettenberger.