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Bringing the Heat - A breakout star of the 2012 season, Colin Kaepernick is generating buzz that he can help the San Francisco 49ers punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. BET.com takes a look at the quarterback’s back story. — Britt Middleton (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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A Star Is Born - Colin Rand Kaepernick was born on Nov. 3, 1987, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At five weeks old, he was adopted by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick. He has two siblings. He is of mixed racial backgrounds. He has never met his birth mother in person. (Photo: twitter/Kaepernick7)

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Early Days - Kaepernick’s family relocated to Turlock, California, where he first starting playing football at age 8. In high school, he was a triple threat, excelling in football, baseball and basketball. He turned down many baseball scholarships and decided to pursue football professionally, landing a football scholarship at the University of Nevada in 2006. (Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

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Staying Focused - Kaepernick was actually drafted to the Chicago Cubs in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, but declined in order to play football with the University of Nevada Wolf Pack. (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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College Grad - In December 2010, Kaepernick graduated from the University of Nevada Reno with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Into the Big Leagues - The 6-foot-5 star was drafted 36th to 49ers in the 2011 NFL draft. Kaepernick previously served as backup for quarterback Alex Smith. He stepped in after Smith suffered a concussion last November. (Photo: NFL via Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: NFL via Getty Images

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Ye Ole Switcheroo and Controversy - Though Smith was cleared to play a few weeks later, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh benched Smith in favor of Kaepernick, whose on-the-field prowess helped lead the team to the upcoming NFC West Championship on Jan. 20. They will face the Atlanta Falcons. (Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

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One for the Record Books - Sweetening his 45-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 12 was surely the pride Kaepernick felt after learning he broke Michael Vick’s record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a playoff game, racking up 163 yards on 12 carries. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

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Distinguishing Traits - Like many professional athletes, Kaepernick is known for the dozens of tattoos that cover his body, including a large back piece depicting two angles fending off devilish ghouls. Many of his tattoos contain biblical scriptures. (Photo: twitter/Kaepernick7)

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Giving Back - In 2011, the quarterback signed a four-year, $5.2 million contract with the 49ers and donated some of his earnings to Camp Taylor, an organization supporting children with congenital heart defects. The condition took the lives of two of his siblings. (Photo: twitter/Kaepernick7)

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An Unlikely BFF - Kaepernick has had a pet tortoise named Sammy since he was 10 years old. Sammy has now grown to be over 100 pounds. (Photo: twitter/Kaepernick7)

Photo By Photo: twitter/Kaepernick7