"The Missile", and former University of Texas-El Paso and New York Dragons receiver Sulaiman Ismail, nicknamed "The Bomb". His father, Ibrahim, died when he was 10; his mother, Fatma, was sometimes referred to as "The Launch Pad" because of her sons' nicknames Rocket, Missile, and Bomb. He converted from Islam in his early teens after his Muslim father died and he was sent to live with his grandmother, a member of an Assemblies of God church. Ismail has been described as a "devout Christian". Ismail is now an inspirational speaker, and enjoys speaking for corporations, schools and churches. As of the 2019 season, his son, Raghib "Rocket" Ismail Jr., plays for the University of Wyoming football team. References External links Player page at ESPN.com Official Notre Dame bio 1969 births Living people American football return specialists American football wide receivers Canadian football return specialists Canadian football wide receivers Carolina Panthers players Dallas Cowboys players Los Angeles Raiders players Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's track and field athletes Oakland Raiders players Toronto Argonauts players All-American college football players Canadian Football League Rookie of the Year Award winners Slamball Sportspeople from Elizabeth, New Jersey Sportspeople from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Players of American football from Pennsylvania African-American players of American football African-American players of Canadian football African-American Christians American former Muslims American Protestants Converts to Protestantism from Islam 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American sportspeople