Son of NFL Legend Reveals Relationship with Father's SEC Alma Mater

Son of NFL Legend Reveals Relationship with Father's SEC Alma Mater originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Throughout his 17-year career in the NFL (2003 to 2020), former tight end Jason Witten proved to be very effective, playing in 271 games, racking up 1,228 receptions, 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns, also accompanied by 11 Pro Bowl selections.

Despite no longer being in the league, though, football still surrounds him, as his son, Cooper Witten, starts to garner a lot of attention as a talented linebacker in the 2027 recruiting class.

He's already put together a strong list of interests, with teams such as the Tennessee Volunteers, the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Clemson Tigers, the Georgia Bulldogs and the Texas Longhorns all extending offers.

Witten Reveals Relationship With SEC Squad

While talking to Rivals' Sam Spiegelman, the linebacker shared his impressions of the Volunteers throughout these early recruiting processes.

“It’s been great to see the program from a different lens this summer,” Witten said. “Coach Heupel has a clear vision of what he wants his program to be and stands for all the right things. Since June 15, my family and I have felt the love from the whole staff.”

Interest between the two parties certainly isn't shrinking either, as Steve Wiltfong also reports that the linebacker is set to visit Knoxville on Sept. 13 to watch the Volunteers take on Georgia.

Witten Would be a Huge Win for the Volunteers

It's no surprise to see Tennessee fighting with so many other high-powered programs, either, as Rivals Industry Rankings place Witten as a four-star recruit, the No. 1 linebacker and the No. 21 player in the nation.

Over the last two seasons for Liberty Christian High School, he's been impressive with 127 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, seven interceptions, 14 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.

Family Ties May Give Tennessee the Edge

If Witten were to end up with Tennessee, he would be considered a legacy, as his father spent three seasons with the program (2000 to 2002) and even received a degree in 2008 with a bachelor's in Sports Management.

During his playing days, Jason put up some solid numbers, appearing in 36 games with 68 receptions, 797 yards and seven touchdowns, which led him to be a third-round selection of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2003 NFL Draft.

However, considering he is getting ready for just his junior year of high school, Witten still has plenty of time to decide, with many recruits not announcing a commitment until the summer before their senior year.

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.