When UCLA offered Cordell Broadus a scholarship, the Bruins were doing more than trying to attract a promising sophomore wide receiver and defensive back for Diamond Bar (Calif.) High. In essence, the program was staking a claim to territory in the L.A. pop culture spotlight, for one very clear reason: Cordell Broadus is Snoop Dogg's son.
As reported by the ESPNLA and the National Football Post, UCLA coach Jim Mora Jr. recently offered a scholarship to Broadus, despite the fact that the rising sophomore has spent just one year in high school, and played on the Diamond Bar freshman squad during that campaign. At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, the younger Broadus -- Snoop Dogg's legal name is Calvin Broadus -- has a body which could develop into that of a legitimate Division I prospect, but no one knows whether he'll continue to grow.
Of course, Broadus isn't the first son of a rapper to land with the Bruins. Justin Combs, the son of Sean "P-Diddy" Combs, signed to play at UCLA beginning in fall 2012 after an impressive prep career at Iona Prep in suburban New York City. Combs is expected to play at defensive back for the Bruins, so it's even possible (though highly unlikely) that the Bruins could use both the son of P-Diddy and Snoop Dogg in the same defensive backfield come fall 2015.
Regardless of the younger Broadus' potential, it's hard not to feel that Mora Jr. may be offering him a scholarship at least in large part for PR benefits. Snoop Dogg officially claims to be a USC fan, so snapping up a commitment from his son could give the school requisite street cred and offer a certain buzz to a program which sorely needs just such a jolt of excitement.
Diamond Bar's head football coach, for one, was quick to indicate that getting in early on Snoop Dogg's progeny might be a very wise move for the Bruins.
"We're expecting him to really lead us the next three years," Diamond Bar's Ryan Maine, who first tweeted the news of Broadus' scholarship offer, told ESPNLA. "Hopefully [our athletes] get bigger, stronger and keep leading this team."
As for Cordell Broadus himself, the teen said he feels more settled now as a sophomore in Diamond Bar than he did after a sudden transfer from Long Beach (Calif.) Polytechnic High made him a member of the Brahmas just before the 2011 season, as he told ESPNLA.
"The move was difficult when it first happened, meeting new friends and a new team," Broadus said. "It's been good ever since. The competition level at Long Beach Poly is a whole lot different than it is down here, but I've learned that it's all on me and how hard I work."
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