Ravens new 6-foot-6 wide receiver looks to follow in Super Bowl champion father's footsteps

There's no question that nepotism runs deep in the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens have notoriously been fond of bringing in the family members of former stars, and their latest signing continued their mantra of being a family business. On Monday, the Ravens signed Qadir Ismail, the son of Quadry Ismail.

Ravens Sign Wide Receiver Qadir Ismail  

Qadir started his college career as a quarterback at Villanova, eventually transitioning to receiver. He posted 182 yards on 11 receptions in 2021 in the new position. He eventually transferred to Samford, where he played two seasons, totaling 16 catches for 156 yards.

Qadir went to John Carroll School in Bel Air, where he played football and basketball and ran track & field. He amassed 2,000 passing yards, 500 rushing yards, and 25 touchdowns on the gridiron in high school.

If it seems surprising that Baltimore would add a player so unaccomplished, it's because it is. However, Ismail must've impressed enough in the team's rookie minicamps to earn the opportunity to play on the 90-man roster. Even if he doesn't make the team, Baltimore deserves credit for giving the massive-framed playmaker the chance to compete for a roster spot.

His father told Jamison Hensley of ESPN his son had gotten calls from other teams, but seeing his son in purple and black was special. "I'm having a hard time with it in a way -- in a very good way. It's just fun. It really is. It's a cool thing."

Who Was Quadry Ismail?

Quadry Ismail was a second-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 1993 NFL Draft. He was called "The Missle," and his brother Raghib was nicknamed "Rocket" due to his impressive speed. Quadry played for five teams over 10 seasons, catching 353 passes for 5,137 yards and 33 touchdowns.

He notably ran a 4.28 40-yard dash at his pro day. The former Syracuse star didn't participate in the NFL Scouting Combine, so that time was never verified. Still, his on-field speed was evident.

Is Qadir Ismail Related to Rocket Ismail?

Yes. Qadir Ismail is Rocket Ismail's nephew. Rocket Ismail played at Notre Dame from 1987 until 1990 as an offensive weapon. He totaled 1,015 rushing yards and 1,565 receiving yards over three seasons.

The Los Angeles Raiders selected the Heisman Trophy runner-up in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He enjoyed a solid nine-year career, producing two 1,000-yard seasons. The eldest Ismail finished with 363 receptions, 5,295 yards, and 28 touchdowns.