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PHOTO: Former NFL stars Jerome Bettis, Ike Taylor and Plaxico Burress pose with their sons, who are committed to Notre Dame
Jerome Bettis, Ike Taylor, and Plaxico Burress, all former NFL stars, are celebrating a new chapter as their sons have committed to play for the University of Notre Dame.
Their sons are now making names for themselves on the football field. Ivan Taylor, a four-star defensive back, mirrors his father Taylor's position and ranks as a Top 50 prospect according to 247 Sports and ESPN.
Jerome Bettis Jr. has shifted from his father's running back legacy to play as a wide receiver. He is a three-star recruit and turned down offers from Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Georgia Tech to join Notre Dame, his father's alma mater.
Elijah Burress, another promising wide receiver, also boasts four-star status on ESPN's recruiting site and will be joining the Fighting Irish.
Bettis, a Hall of Fame running back, and Taylor, a longtime cornerback, shone with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Burress, a wide receiver, played for the Steelers and the New York Giants.
Ike Taylor has won two Super Bowls in his career (in 2005 and 2008 with the Steelers). Jerome Bettis (2005) and Plaxico Burress (in 2007 with the Giants) won one each.
Jerome Bettis highly praises his son's potential
Jerome Bettis Jr., son of Hall of Fame running back Jerome "The Bus" Bettis, committed to Notre Dame in March. Bettis Jr. stands out as a wide receiver due to his impressive attributes.
"He's a big receiver with a very large catch radius," Bettis said (via NBC). "His speed is really good and that's a area of of importance for us. We're working on it this summer to get him a little bit faster. ... He's got a great vertical. He can go up and get it and he's a hands catcher, so he's a really good receiver.
For Bettis, seeing his son play at Notre Dame would be a dream come true.
"You know, it'd be a dream come true," Bettis said. ... I want my son to come and play for the Fighting Irish, wear that gold helmet and have that success. Now that's just a dream as a father and to see that it potentially can come true, that's a special thought for me."
In 2023, at Woodward Academy, Jerome Bettis Jr. excelled as a two-way player with 30 receptions for 369 yards and four touchdowns, plus 34 tackles and two interceptions. In 2022, he was pivotal for Westminster's AAAA playoff run in Georgia.
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