Josh Atkinson is trying to earn playing time at cornerback for Notre Dame this year.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound sophomore-to-be is making sure he is staying on top of his progress by getting constant updates from cornerbacks coach Kerry Cooks.
Cooks gives Atkinson a grade every week, and the cornerback shares the report with his father, former Oakland Raider defensive back George Atkinson Jr.
"It's very different," Cook said of what the conversation is with Atkinson each week when he gives him the grade. "He's up and down. One week, he may have performed at a B. The next week, he may have performed at an F.
"I give him the truth, and I tell him why. It's all in fun, but it shows me that it is important to him to want to get better. It's a serious conversation."
Cooks said you can tell Josh and his bother George are the sons of a former NFL player.
"You definitely can tell he's been coached hard," Cooks said. "You definitely can tell his dad instilled hard work, effort, energy, 100 percent, yes or no, sir-type of kid. You can see that in both his sons. You can see some of those characteristics of having an NFL dad and having that background."
