Tag: baby gronk

‘Baby Gronk’ pays visit to football powerhouse Bishop Gorman

Bishop Gorman is trying to get a head start on recruiting with Baby Gronk, Class of 2031.

If we don’t feel old already, consider this: Perennial Super 25 football contender Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) had a recruiting visit from the player known as Baby Gronk.

The viral social media sensation would be in the Class of 2031. That isn’t a mistake: 2031, it is.

Madden Sam Miguel, Baby Gronk’s actual name, has committed to colleges prior to settling on a high school.

In May, he announced he would attend Ohio State University. But then in June, he flipped to Oregon. That was only after he had committed to Washington, too.

Miguel has committed to numerous other schools. Pretty, pretty good for someone who has completed fifth grade.

He’s not allowed to formally commit to a school until seventh grade at the earliest.

Truth be told, by the time he is ready for higher education, no one will recognize what college football is going to look like.

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Baby Gronk’s dad was ripped for feeding answers to his son in an uncomfortable podcast interview

He needs to stop exploiting his son.

We’re entering a new era in youth sports where name, image and likeness present opportunities for athletes to capitalize on their talents well before they step foot on a college campus. We’ve already seen that with incoming Memphis freshman Mikey Williams having a Puma shoe deal in high school. And in turn, it opens the door for exploitive parents to cash in as well.

But nothing really compares to what Jake San Miguel is doing with his 10-year-old son, Madden, who goes by “Baby Gronk.” Despite Baby Gronk being four years away from high school — an age where it’s nearly impossible to project football talent — San Miguel has promoted his son as the next big thing in football. Baby Gronk was the recent focus of a viral TikTok meme with Livvy Dunne, and his dad continues to put Madden in front of a camera at any and every opportunity.

It’s getting tough to watch at this point, and you have to feel sorry for Madden who seemingly isn’t allowed to be a normal kid.

A clip went viral on Twitter on Tuesday showing Baby Gronk’s recent appearance with his dad on the Bring The Juice Podcast. The show’s hosts would ask Baby Gronk questions only to have San Miguel jump in, tell Baby Gronk what to say and have the hosts ask their questions again.

That went on repeatedly in the clip, and the answers got increasingly brutal to hear.

While San Miguel has been dismissive in the face of criticism about his son — including from J.J. Watt — this latest clip was gross and sad. Everything about it was bad, including the hosts’ willingness to go along with San Miguel’s inappropriate behavior.

As the video spread on social media, San Miguel was deservedly the focus of intense backlash.

Young recruit’s story recalls Lane Kiffin moment at USC

Remember when #USC’s Lane Kiffin offered a scholarship to a 13-year-old? @DonJamesSports talks to an even younger recruit.

You might recall that when he came to USC as the Trojans’ head coach over a decade ago, Lane Kiffin offered a scholarship to a 13-year-old, David Sills, who gave his verbal commitment to USC before entering high school.

Back then, Sills hoped to be a quarterback. It didn’t turn out that way, but Sills — who eventually played college football at West Virginia — turned into a very good receiver. Today, at age 26, Sills plays for the New York Giants of the NFL. What seemed like a preposterous recruiting story — how can a 13-year-old make a serious recruiting choice? — did not lead to a dead end. It led to the NFL. There was actually some substance there all along.

Are we going to see another very young recruit turn into something special?

Madden San Miguel, also known as Baby Gronk, may be just 10 years old, but he has found himself the center of attention over the last couple of years on social media. He has entered the NIL space. He participates in football camps and academies. He presents himself as a Class of 2031 recruit.

Maybe USC can use a pass-catching tight end in eight years.

San Miguel has dreams of being an NFL star, telling Sports Illustrated that he wants “to go to the NFL and be the first draft pick.”

The fourth grader from Frisco, Texas, has over 300,000 followers on Instagram and has taken unofficial visits to LSU, Texas, Florida State and Oregon.

Believe it or not, San Miguel considers USC one of the top schools where he would like to play. Learn more about him in the conversation below.

I sat down with the football prodigy — with his father in the room — to do one of the more fun interviews I’ve done at Trojans Wire.

Trojans Wire: Who is the coolest celebrity that you’ve met or had contact with so far?

Baby Gronk: Olivia “LIVVY” Dunne from LSU. She shows me the value of NIL and how to capitalize as a college athlete.

Trojans Wire: How did you get the nickname Baby Gronk?

Baby Gronk: My dad saw me at recess one day, dragging kids across the playground. He said it looked like Rob Gronkowski in his prime. 

Trojans Wire: Do you have a favorite USC player of all time?

Baby Gronk: Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and LenDale White.

Trojans Wire: Celebrity crush?

Baby Gronk: Livvy Dunne is my celebrity crush.

Trojans Wire: What message do you have for any naysayers?

Baby Gronk: Only time will tell. Freshman-year high school football will say a lot. But even without football as an influencer I plan on being good for life.

Trojans Wire: What separates you from competitors your age ?

Baby Gronk: I would say my Football IQ, footwork, and route running.

Trojans Wire: How has your dad helped you every day, handling the hype and viral success?

Baby Gronk: He’s applied pressure and made me understand it.

Trojans Wire: Are you excited about a potential visit to USC?

Baby Gronk: Yes, I love L.A! USC is in my top three schools.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm2b6MuoNGk/

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NFL Mock Draft: Baby Gronk to New England?

Would the Patriots let him wear No. 87?

Could the man-child nicknamed “Baby Gronk” soon be headed to play for the team Rob Gronkowski played the majority of his future hall of fame career with?  Before setting nearly every tight end record at Notre Dame, [autotag]Michael Mayer[/autotag] wasted no time making an impact as a true freshman in 2020.  At some point in his first collegiate season fans started calling him “Baby Gronk” as Mayer sported the No. 87 jersey.

Fast forward roughly 27 months and Mayer has declared for the NFL draft. To me there is no question he’s not only the best tight end in the draft, but was the best tight end in college football both of the last two seasons, regardless of who the Mackey Award went to.

Patrick Conn of College Wire put together his latest 2023 NFL mock draft that’s worth checking out.  In it he has Mayer going just before the halfway point of the first round – to the New England Patriots at 14.

With a nickname like “Baby Gronk,” it would be fitting to have him suit up for the Patriots. Mayer would give Mac Jones a big target up the seams and in the red zone.

I think most draft forecasters and experts would be pretty surprised if Mayer’s name isn’t called on the first night.  It is worth noting however that Conn didn’t include Isaiah Foskey in his first round after a so-so week from the edge defender at the Senior Bowl.

Check out the entire College Wire Mock 4.0 here!

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