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In These Families, the Sons Also Rise

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Their last names can compel a sports fan or college scout to take immediate notice.

Keith Browner Jr., Marc Tyler and Virgil Hill Jr. are their father’s sons, expected to run faster, jump higher and compete harder because of the genes they inherited.

Each is a promising high school football player with no option for anonymity. Every achievement or failure they experience will be compared to and measured against their fathers’ sports successes.

“It’s pretty good to have people know me and know my father,” said Browner, a senior defensive end for Dorsey High whose father played linebacker at USC and in the NFL. “It puts a lot of pressure on because they expect a lot out of me. They’re saying I’m the next generation for the NFL. It’s exciting.”

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Peyton Manning knows something about following famous fathers. If there’s a road map to take, Manning found it. As the All-Pro quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, Manning has surpassed his father, Archie, who was a quarterback with the New Orleans Saints.

“One thing that really helps is the stance of the parents,” Manning said. “For me, my parents never pushed or pressured me into anything. They encouraged us to play sports because they think sports teaches teamwork, camaraderie and overcoming adversity.

“Unfortunately, you’ve heard about some kids of former athletes that have been pushed and pushed and they eventually pushed that kid away from sports. It is this kid’s time to live and play.”

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The Browner family from Warren, Ohio, produced six boys, each of whom received an NCAA Division I-A football scholarship. Three went to Notre Dame -- Ross, Jimmy and Willard. Two went to USC -- Joey and Keith. Four played in the NFL.

Keith Jr., who is 6 feet 6 and 235 pounds, is proud to be part of a family with such a rich football tradition.

“I always try to tackle my father and uncles whenever I see them,” he said. “They showed me techniques to use and tell me about their years in the NFL and their history.”

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Keith Sr., divorced, living in Stockton and working as a high school assistant football coach, said growing up in a sports family is not an added burden.

“It’s not really pressure,” he said. “It’s the legacy of a family. You don’t take it as a hindrance. You take it as a challenge to be the best you can be. It’s a great feeling to come from a family with so many athletes. The big thing is to have fun and don’t make it a burden. We did our thing; now it’s time” for Keith Jr.

Browner’s mother, Charisse, knew what she was getting into when she married into the family. She said from an early age, Keith Jr. had his sights on football.

“He says it was in his blood and he was born to play,” she said. “When he was 5 years old, he used to tackle me.”

Browner doesn’t mind people constantly asking, “Are you Keith Browner’s son?”

“It’s mostly parents who come up,” he said. “They automatically assume I’m going to be right in my father’s [footsteps]. I tell everybody, ‘I’m going to be better.’ ”

Browner is already starting a new path, spurning USC and committing to California.

Keith Sr., a second-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1984, is 43 and a little out of shape, but he insists he can still hold his own against his son.

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“He’s not ready for me yet, but getting stronger,” he said.

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Marc Tyler, a junior running back at Westlake Village Oaks Christian, is bigger and stronger than his father, Wendell, a Crenshaw graduate who played tailback for UCLA in the 1976 Rose Bowl and spent 10 years with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.

At 6-1 and 210 pounds, Tyler averaged 16.4 yards a carry last season and scored touchdowns almost every conceivable way -- rushing, receiving, on a kickoff return, a punt return, an interception return and a fumble return.

Even so, he still listens to his father’s lectures.

“He always preaches academics come first,” Marc said. “Then he says you have to hang out with the right crowd. He says when people are out partying, you have to be in the weight room. He says he used to get up in the morning when everyone else was sleeping.”

Because Wendell, 50, was such a prominent professional, college and high school athlete in Southern California, it has meant fans and others have instant recognition for his son. Marc, though, is still learning about his father’s playing days.

“Joe Montana told me how good my dad was, and I never believed him,” he said. “I was talking to Roger Craig last summer. We went to a 49ers exhibition game. He kept saying he was good. I believed he was fast but a little guy. He says if we would have played his school, they would have killed us because nowadays kids don’t work as hard as they did.”

Wendell has been trying to teach his son about dedication.

“He’s a confident kid and confident that he’s going to be better than other people, including his dad,” he said. “I’ve been where he dreams he wants to go. With that name comes expectations, and you have to step up to that standard on and off the field.”

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Virgil Hill Jr. is a junior receiver at Valencia whose family bloodlines make him the equivalent of sports royalty.

His father, Virgil Sr., is a boxing champion who has held the World Boxing Assn. light-heavyweight and cruiserweight championships. His mother, the former Denean Howard, is a four-time Olympian who won a gold medal as a member of 1,600-meter relay team in 1984 and won five state track championships at Granada Hills Kennedy.

“It’s an advantage for me because I have two parents who know what it takes to get to that level,” Virgil Jr. said. “They can help me out to get me where I want to go.”

His parents are divorced but remain influential in his life. Through his father’s connections, he has met Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson. Through his mother’s friends, he has met Olympic track champions.

“I get to meet a lot of important people,” he said. “You’ve got to mature real quick.”

His mother started coaching him for the first time last spring in the 400 meters, her specialty.

At first, Denean said she was reluctant to take on a coaching role.

“I was nervous because I didn’t know if I could train him because some parents can’t,” she said. “He persevered and did it.”

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Virgil Jr. ran a best time of 48.84 seconds and enjoyed his mother’s presence.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “I loved it. Even though she was my mom, she knew exactly how hard to push me. My mom and dad support me at whatever I do. I might put pressure on myself because I want to do as good as they did when I was their age.”

Virgil Jr. has been playing football for only one year after his mother gave in following years of lobbying.

“I got bombarded,” Denean said. “He’s been begging to play for six years. Finally, I let my guard down. He loves it.”

As for boxing, Virgil Sr. has given his son lessons, and his mother warned, “My son is a very loving kid, but he can defend himself.”

Virgil Jr. says he intends to keep pursuing football, track, basketball and, perhaps, baseball.

“I don’t really feel I’m supposed to play sports,” he said. “I do it because I love to compete.”

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Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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