Jared Green, the son of Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green, is perfectly fine with that label—for now. After transferring from the University of Virginia to Southern University last year, Green is now an NFL hopeful who recently showed what he can do in the AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. In the first of Green’s two-part Draft Diary, an exclusive to ProPlayerInsiders.com, he looks back on his time as a Cavalier and discusses being the son of a living legend. Follow him on Twitter @JaredGreenTheWR.

I feel like I’m very different than a lot of kids coming out this year. My whole college career has been a lot of potential, but not as much opportunity. That’s why the AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl was just another opportunity to show people what I can do. Due to different things going on in a young man’s college football career, I just haven’t been able to be the Jared Green that I know I can be.

I’m just so glad that I got the opportunity to go to UVa. I have a degree from the University of Virginia—I think that’s huge. I played for Al Groh. Those people that know who Al Groh is and know his history, know that that’s not only an honor, but it’s really something that prepares you to play in the NFL. I really enjoyed playing under Al Groh. As a redshirt freshman, we went to the Gator Bowl. I got to play with guys like Chris Long, Eugene Monroe, Branden Albert, Kevin Ogletree—so many guys that have helped shape the player that I am today. The most that I’ve gotten from UVa. is the mentoring and the lessons following a coach like Al Groh and players such as those that are in the league now.

I haven’t gotten tired of all the questions about my dad. It comes with the territory and this is my life. I decided to play football, and if you’re Darrell Green’s son and you decide to play football, this is what comes with it. People want to know. Just like I would want to know if Kobe Bryant had a son that was playing basketball; I would ask all about Kobe. I think that it’s a privilege to be in this position.

-As told to ProPlayerInsiders.com’s Khalil Garriott