Minnesota Gophers Offer Donovan McNabb’s Son

The Minnesota Gophers are hot on the recruiting trail following their 8-5 season and Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over Virginia Tech. They landed a commitment from Louisiana’s Mr. Football earlier this month and have sent offers to a four-star running back and a four-star defensive end in the 2026 class.
At wide receiver, they seem to have an affinity for former NFL players’ sons. Cristian Driver (son of Donald Driver) has played for the Gophers for two seasons, after transferring in from Penn State. On the recruiting trail, Fleck has found his way into Brophy College Prep in Phoenix, AZ, where many former NFL players have their kids enrolled.
PJ Fleck, Minnesota Gophers offer Donovan McNabb Jr.
For the 2026 class, Minnesota offered Daylen Sharper (son of Darren Sharper) and Devin Fitzgerald (son of Larry Fitzgerald) back in October. This week, the Minnesota Gophers offered another Brophy WR, this time for the 2027 class, Donovan McNabb’s son — Donovan McNabb Jr.
Donovan McNabb Jr. managed just 226 all-purpose yards and a touchdown during his sophomore year, catching only nine passes on the season. But that’s what happens when you are an underclassman playing behind two other NFLer kids who are older than he is.
Related: Gophers Finish Way Higher than Projected in Final Top 140 of 2024
But the talent in McNabb Jr. is undeniable. The high school sophomore already stands at six feet, 170 pound. He’s reportedly getting looks from Syracuse as well, which is his dad’s alma mater.
Former Gophers wide receivers who made/are making an impact in the NFL
The Golden Gophers have had success over the past couple of decades developing wide receivers for the NFL. Daniel Jackson will be a day two or day three pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, this April. Before him, Rashod Bateman, a three-year starter at Minnesota, had his best season yet for the Baltimore Ravens after being taken in the first round of the draft in 2021.
A couple years ahead of Bateman, Tyler Johnson arrived on campus and became the most prolific touchdown scoring wide receiver in Gopher history (30), before becoming a 2020 day three NFL Draft selection in 2020.
Related: Gophers QB Max Brosmer Climbing into Late Round NFL Draft Conversations
A decade before Bateman and Johnson, it was Eric Decker (2006-2006) who blew up the WR record books in Dinkytown, where his 3,119 career receiving yards is still a school record. Before Decker, there was Ron Johnson an incredibly productive eight-year NFL career, which included a Super Bowl appearance.
Donovan McNabb spent the last year of his career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2011 when his son was just a toddler. His oldest child, Lexi, is a junior guard on the Syracuse women’s basketball team while his other daughter Sariah is a twin with Donovan Jr.
More About:Minnesota Gophers Football