Chad Pennington was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft to the New York Jets. Today, he's a 47-year-old father to a college football player — his son, Cole Pennington, who recently got his first start for his dad's alma mater.
Not only did Chad play for Marshall, but his son is playing there now, too. Cole had his first start in Week 11 as Marshall defeated Georgia Southern 38-33. The Thundering Herd improved to 5-5 as Cole completed 15 of 20 passes—a 75% completion percentage—for 201 yards and an interception.
Last night in Cole Pennington first start, his completion percentage was 75% ? pic.twitter.com/A2lKD8OSTA
— Barstool Marshall (@BarstoolMU) November 12, 2023
Cole is a redshirt freshman and was 3-star recruit coming out of high school. He's 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds. In addition to Marshall, he had four other scholarship offers from Football Championship Subdivision and G5 schools.
Before the game, his father, Chad, told him to "go out there and be a leader."
Cole Pennington says his Dad told him before the game he was proud that he put himself in this position and to ?go out and be a leader? pic.twitter.com/BRcK6WbDJA
— Keith Morehouse (@KeithMorehouse) November 12, 2023
His dad played a total of 11 years for the Jets and Miami Dolphins before retiring in 2010. He won the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2006 and 2008.
In addition to Cole's statistical performance, he recovered two fumbles on a fourth-quarter drive that secured the win for his school.
Seeing Cole, the son of a star of the school, start the game made the win that much sweeter.
This win came on the 53rd anniversary of the Southern Airways Flight 932 crash, on Nov. 14, 1970, that killed 75 Marshall football players, coaches and others on board.
Your starting quarterback at Marshall this evening @herdfb pic.twitter.com/jjLSdAScwZ
— Keith Morehouse (@KeithMorehouse) November 12, 2023
This was Marshall's first victory in five games. They started the year 4-0 but fell to 4-5 after losing to North Carolina State, Georgia State, James Madison, Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State.
It's unclear if Cole will start the rest of the way; but as a redshirt freshman, he's got plenty of time to take over the starting job.
Marshall rounds out the year against South Alabama and Arkansas State.
