Like father like son? Well, not exactly. Anquan Boldin Jr., son of former Super Bowl champion and three-time Pro Bowler Anquan Sr., has accepted a D-I scholarship. Not to play football, though. Instead, he’ll embark on a college basketball career at the University of Buffalo.
Boldin Jr. announced he chose the Bulls over Eastern Michigan, Manhattan, and North Carolina A&T on Twitter.
Boldin, a 6’5″ guard who prides himself in being a “two-way” player, was a hoops standout at IMG Academy in Florida. The academy has produced several stars, including Michael Beasley, Anfernee Simons, and reigning Naismith Player of the Year, Zach Edey.
It’s thrilling and surreal to see Boldin pass the torch to his son, tasking Anquan Jr. with carrying on the family name at Buffalo. His father played briefly in Buffalo before retiring two weeks into training camp in 2017. There’s something both nostalgic and deeply unnerving about seeing Bronny James and Arch Manning ship off to college for their first years. It’s a reminder of our mortality as fans, old enough to have experienced multiple generations of athletes from the same family.
I’d be willing to bet someone reading this has in their possession—perhaps dangling from a forgotten hanger in a closet full of other childhood relics—a red Cardinals jersey with Boldin’s name on it, paying quiet tribute to one of the most decorated and enduring receivers of all-time (14th in career receiving yards).
These days though, Boldin is more interested in being a proud papa to Anquan Jr., beaming with fatherly pride at his son’s latest accomplishment.
About Jesse Pantuosco
Jesse Pantuosco joined Awful Announcing as a contributing writer in May 2023. He’s also written for Audacy and NBC Sports. A graduate of Syracuse’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a master’s degree in creative writing from Fairfield University, Pantuosco has won three Fantasy Sports Writers Association Awards. He lives in West Hartford, Connecticut and never misses a Red Sox, Celtics or Patriots game.