Donovan McNabb’s son, Donovan McNabb Jr., has committed to UNLV instead of Syracuse, his father’s alma mater. McNabb Jr. is a 2027 class wide receiver ranked No. 107 by 247Sports, coming off a 2025 season at Brophy College Prep with 23 receptions, 280 yards, a
Donovan McNabb will have to get used to seeing a different shade of school pride.
His son. Donovan McNabb Jr. has committed to UNLV. choosing a program other than Syracuse—McNabb’s own alma mater—according to multiple reports. McNabb Jr.’s pledge means the elder McNabb. a former Syracuse quarterback who spent his college years with the Orange. will now be watching his namesake wear a UNLV uniform instead.
McNabb Jr. is listed as the 107th-ranked wide receiver in the class of 2027 by 247 Sports. He is coming off a 2025 season at Brophy College Prep in which he recorded 23 receptions for 280 yards and five touchdowns.
Syracuse did make an offer to McNabb Jr. But the Arizona high schooler plans to join a Dan Mullen-led UNLV squad that went 10-2 in Mullen’s first season as head coach.
Mullen’s record is 113-65 over a 14-season Division I head coaching career. His stops include Mississippi State and Florida.
The McNabb–Mullen connection is part of what shaped the decision. Long before he became a head coach, Mullen worked as a graduate assistant for Syracuse, including during the 1998 season. That was the year Donovan McNabb finished as a Heisman Finalist after posting 2. 134 passing yards and 22 touchdowns against just five interceptions. He also rushed for 438 yards and eight touchdowns during that season.
The program shift lands in stark contrast to McNabb Sr.’s own football story. He played college football at Syracuse from 1995 to 1998. when he recorded 8. 389 passing yards and 77 touchdowns over four years with the Orange. He then went on to an 11-year NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles. where he earned six Pro Bowl selections. made four NFC Championship Game appearances. and reached Super Bowl XXXIX.
Now, the family’s football chapter is moving forward with a familiar name and a new destination—one that reflects McNabb Jr.’s commitment choices as his father watches the connection play out on the field, from a seat that is no longer tied to Syracuse.
Donovan McNabb Jr. UNLV Syracuse Dan Mullen 247 Sports Brophy College Prep wide receiver class of 2027
So he picked UNLV over Syracuse… guess loyalty doesn’t pay lol.
Wait I thought Syracuse was like the family destiny or whatever. Dan Mullen worked there too so that’s probably the real reason? Idk.
Brophy 23 catches 280 yards sounds small to me for a 2027 WR, but maybe stats don’t matter. Also UNLV 10-2 is crazy, like are we just counting one good year now?
I’m confused because Syracuse is his dad’s school, like wouldn’t he automatically go there? Feels like Syracuse messed up the offer or something. Plus I saw ‘McNabb Jr’ and thought it was already in the NFL or something, my bad.