Sep 06, 2013 12:33 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Apparently Jon Bon Jovi has some athletic genes because his son, Jesse Bongiovi, has made the University of Notre Dame (UND) football team as a walk-on, CSN Chicago reported.

Bongiovi made the Fighting Irish as a cornerback, but his walk-on status means he was not courted whatsoever by UND coaches or the school itself. As a walk-on, the son of the New Jersey rock star made the team after a tryout and an impressive preseason during the summer.

Now that fall is returning, and with it football, Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly said he is proud to have Bongiovi on the team.

"Jesse has earned his spot on the 105," Kelly told CSN Chicago Friday. "The kids really like him. They respect him. They don't look at him as a rock star's son. They look at him as a kid that loves Notre Dame and wants to play football and help this team."

As if to reaffirm the "Jersey Strong" workman persona enforced by rock acts like Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen, Kelly called the 5'9, 183-pound corner "a tough kid."

Jon Bon Jovi does not have an apparent connection to UND other than being a fan of the football team. Kelly admitted to being a fan of his cornerback's dad's band.

"I'm a huge fan of Bon Jovi - didn't have to have his son to make that apparent," Kelly said. "He had a reputation here... He's a great guy. He's a grounded guy. You think a rock star, (he'd be) an unapproachable guy."

Kelly also said Jon Bon Jovi should be able to come to home games and not worry about being flooded by the media and fans. Also on the Fighting Irish are the sons of former Cincinnati Bengals all-pro wide receiver and current NBC broadcaster Cris Collinsworth and other pro football players.

Also on the Fighting Irish is wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr., the son of Detroit Tigers' outfielder Torii Hunter and Corey Robinson, son of two-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer David Robinson.

"We got a lot of famous people," Kelly said. "(Bon Jovi) could probably get in the stadium and put a hat and glasses on and make it through the game. A guy that can't is David Robinson. He comes in the stadium, he's a guy that everybody knows who he is."

Kelly said no matter who the player's father is, his players still know how to conduct themselves.

"We have a lot of those guys in our program that are high profile, but they handle themselves, and have in the past, with great class."

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