Clarion Ledger

What Gore Sr. said after son not selected in draft

- Sam Sklar Hattiesbur­g American USA TODAY NETWORK

Frank Gore Jr. broke numerous Southern Miss football rushing records and, at times, carried the Golden Eagles through the mud in his four seasons with them.

It positioned him, some thought, into a viable NFL Draft prospect.

Yet, the star running back was not selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. Instead, he signed a deal with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent.

His father, Frank Gore Sr., took exception to that when speaking with CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson when the three-day draft concluded Saturday.

“We’re good,” Gore Sr. told Anderson, with the quote posted on her X account. “We’re going to Buffalo man to do our thing. Tell them they better be ready — trust me. I know what I’m raising. Folks slept on my son; they slept on me too — they’ll see. My bloodline is for real.”

Gore Sr. played 16 seasons in the NFL, holds the record for most games (241) played by a running back and his 16,000 career rushing yards are the third most of all-time. He starred in college at Miami and was a third-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers in 2005. Gore Sr. is the 49ers’ all-time leading rusher.

One of those 16 seasons he played was with the Bills in 2019 before retiring in 2020 after one season with the New York Jets.

Gore Sr. also told Anderson his son has similar traits to him. Gore Jr. was extremely durable at Southern Miss, never missing a game and leading it in rushing all four seasons.

“Our (pre-draft) testing was identical,” Gore Sr. said. “All the scouts were like you can tell that’s my son. I !@%$ with (Bills GM) (Brandon) Beane. He’s the real deal. I’m happy to get my son to this point. We’re coming to play. Buffalo got a dog; I promise you that. I don’t give a %#$ about a draft pick. We’re about to party and do our thing.”

 ?? ROBERT MCDUFFIE/USA TODAY SPORTS ?? Frank Gore Jr. holds off a Rice defender with a stiff-arm in the first quarter of the Lending Tree Bowl.
ROBERT MCDUFFIE/USA TODAY SPORTS Frank Gore Jr. holds off a Rice defender with a stiff-arm in the first quarter of the Lending Tree Bowl.

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