DeVante Parker WR Louisville

[gettlemanjack]

Born and raised in Louisville (just like Muhammad Ali, NBA All-Star PG Rajon Rondo, Pro Bowl QB Phil Simms, Heisman-winner and NFL HOFer Paul Hornung, etc)

In high school, played in Class 6A and finished #5 in state history for career receiving yards and #4 in state history for single-season receiving yards (1,793)

Like his father, a former Louisville RB, he went to Louisville (which produced Johnny Unitas, 5x Pro Bowl WR Mark Clayton of the Dolphins/Dan Marino, 2x Pro Bowl WR Ernest Givins of the Oilers/Warren Moon, etc)

Parker finished #1 in Louisville school history for career receiving TDs and #1 in Louisville school history for single-season receiving TDs

Coming into last season, NFL.com rated him #1 on their list of "Most freakish athletes in college football," writing:

"Particulars: 6-3, 208, senior [Combine: 6-3/209]

Buzz: He was Teddy Bridgewater's favorite receiver at Louisville, but will have to go without Bridgewater this fall. Parker's high-level athleticism will help him get by. He has been clocked at 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash [Combine: 4.45], and his vertical jump has been measured at 36.5 inches [Combine: 36.5] and his broad jump at 10-foot-10 [Combine: 10'05"]. He can squat 455 pounds and bench press 335 pounds; he also can do 17 reps in the bench press at 225 pounds [Combine: 17 reps]. In addition, he has a wing span of 80 inches [Combine: 33 1/4 inch arms], so when you factor in his height and his vertical jump, his "catch radius" is exceptionally large, which should make new starting QB Will Gardner smile."

http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap2000000354297

[gettlemanjack]

yesterday, ex-scout Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com said:

"I've said it all along -- if you throw DeVante Parker in there as well, all three of these guys (Kevin White, Amari Cooper, Parker) are worthy of top 10 picks," Jeremiah said on NFL Network's "Path to the Draft." "They are three of the safest players in the draft, which is odd to say about wide receivers who are historically boom/bust in the top 10. These three are studs who will be ready to go right away."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000483712/article/jeremiah-top-three-wide-receivers-are-safest-picks-in-draft

[gettlemanjack]

CardinalAuthority.com on the Louisville Pro Day:

"More than 80 NFL scouts, plus three head coaches, made their way to the Derby City to see Louisville's next first round draft product... Parker kept his workout simple, running routes and catching passes throw by former Cardinal quarterback Brian Brohm. He was perfect in his varying routes, making crisp cuts and catching everything throw his way. His ability to run routes with precision and haul in passes lived up to the expectations that developed during his career at Louisville."

http://louisville.scout.com/story/1526248-devante-parker-close-to-living-his-dream?s=17

[gettlemanjack]

"Parker has a wing span of 80 inches [Combine: 33 1/4 inch arms], so when you factor in his height and his vertical jump, his "catch radius" is exceptionally large, which should make new starting QB Will Gardner smile."

http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap2000000354297

only 6 WRs had 33-inch arms at the Combine:

33 3/4 - Chris Conley (6-2 tall, 4.35 forty)

33 1/2 - Devin Funchess (6-4 tall, 4.70 forty, at Pro Day: 4.50)

33 1/2 - Cam Worthy (6-2 tall, injured for both Combine & Pro Day)

33 3/8 - Sammie Coates (6-1 tall, 4.43 forty)

33 1/4 - Darren Waller (6-6 tall, 4.46 forty)

33 1/4 - DeVante Parker (6-3 tall, 4.45 forty)

[gettlemanjack]

comments on Parker's performance vs Georgia in the bowl game:

CBS Sports Tom Fornelli @ TomFornelli

Dec 30

Whoever is at QB for Louisville the job is pretty easy: just get

the ball within like 10 feet of Devante Parker

Sports Anchor at ABC 11 Louisville Kent Spencer @ WHAS11Kent

Dec 30

You know the play where they just throw it up to DeVante

Parker ... They should do that more.

Yahoo Sports Dr. Saturday @ YahooDrSaturday

Dec 30

DeVante Parker is kinda good

Managing editor for UGASports.com Anthony Dasher @ AnthonyDasher1

Dec 30

DeVante Parker is the REAL DEAL for Louisville....

Dan Kadar @ MockingTheDraft

Dec 30

Wow ... DeVante Parker . I might not have him rated high enough.

13-year play-by-play voice of the Minnesota Vikings Paul Allen @ PAOnTheMic

Dec 30

There's a fair chance #Vikings could be interested in Lousiville

WR Devante Parker at 11. He's on ESPN right now, and is a

freaking stud!

AP College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo @ ralphDrussoAP

Dec 30

Devante Parker is a bad, bad man.

ESPN David Hale @ DavidHaleESPN

Dec 30

DeVante Parker is a bad, bad man.

CBS Sports Tom Fornelli @ TomFornelli

Dec 30

Devante Parker just snatching footballs.

[gettlemanjack]

DeVante Parker doing some serious work on the catch, picking up the 3rd and 20 in the bowl game vs Georgia

[gettlemanjack]

[gettlemanjack]

Matt Miller @ nfldraftscout

Dec 4

DeVante Parker has better hands than Funchess or Strong. He's

also a smoother, more explosive route runner.

[Password is Taco]

i wish he would fall to us. no chance though

[gettlemanjack]

ESPN on Parker's 2014 season:

"he was unstoppable... Florida State defenders can tell anybody that first-hand after he torched them for a season-high 214 yards."

http://espn.go.com/core/blog/acc/post/_/id/78377/why-devante-parker-made-first-team?src=mobile

Cryptid @ CardsFanTX

Nov 29

Without DeVante Parker , Louisville averaged 25 points/game

(FBS competition). With him, Louisville averaged 35 points/

game. #SpiderMan

Gabe Duverge @ GabeDuverge

Dec 10

If we assume DeVante Parker keeps his 145 yard per game

average throughout a full season he would have 1764. 108 more

than Amari Cooper.

Jeff Greer @ jeffgreer_cj

Dec 1

DeVante Parker finished with 35 rec., 735 yards and 5 TDs. With

that average over 12 games, he'd have had 84 rec., 1,764 yds

and 12 TDs.

Bruce Leroy @ OutkastCard

Nov 29

One of the greatest what ifs that will plague UL football history

will be "What if Devante Parker never got injured".

[gettlemanjack]

i wish he would fall to us. no chance though

We could trade up. On the main board there is a thread discussing a rumor that we are looking at trading up to the 16-20 range

Also, although it seems unlikely now, there is always a chance Parker will fall to us at #25. Every draft, there are always prospects that go much later than everyone thought

[gettlemanjack]

reactions to Parker's game vs Kentucky:

recent Alabama QB Greg McElroy @ GVMcElroy

Nov 29

DeVante Parker is a REALLY good football player.

Boston Globe Adam Himmelsbach @ AdamHimmelsbach

Nov 30

Mark Stoops, like Jimbo Fisher after FSU game, was gushing

about DeVante Parker in press conf before anyone even asked.

Kentucky beat writer for The Courier-Journal Kyle Tucker

@ KyleTucker_CJ

Nov 29

If you are an NFL team needing a receiver: flip a coin and pick

Amari Cooper or DeVante Parker . Monsters, both.

Nov 29

Mark Stoops seemed in awe talking about DeVante Parker after

game. "Just an exceptional player. He is a special, special

football player."

Mike Rutherford @ CardChronicle

Nov 29

"He's even better than I thought he was." --Bobby Petrino on

DeVante Parker

Courier-Journal Steve Jones @ SteveJones_CJ

Nov 29

Petrino compares DeVante Parker to former jags player [5x Pro Bowl WR] Jimmy Smith.

ESPN David Hale @ DavidHaleESPN

Nov 29

There are a lot of great receivers out there, but man, DeVante

Parker is something else...

nepatriotsdraft.com Mike Loyko @ NEPD_Loyko Nov 29

DeVante Parker is going off again

Sporting News Matt Hayes @ Matt_HayesSN

Nov 29

When in doubt, find DeVante Parker

[gettlemanjack]

compare to Alshon Jeffery's Pre-Draft Measureables:

Size:

6-3/216 - Alshon Jeffery Pro Bowl

6-3/209 - Devante Parker

40 Yrd Dash:

4.45 - Devante Parker

4.48 - Alshon Jeffery Pro Bowl

20 Yrd Dash:

2.61 - Devante Parker

2.63 - Alshon Jeffery Pro Bowl

10 Yrd Dash:

1.51 - Devante Parker

1.64 - Alshon Jeffery Pro Bowl

Vertical Jump:

36.5 - Devante Parker

36.5 - Alshon Jeffery Pro Bowl

Broad Jump:

10'05" - Devante Parker

10'02" - Alshon Jeffery Pro Bowl

225 Lb. Bench Reps:

17 - Devante Parker

DNP - Alshon Jeffery Pro Bowl

neither did 20 Yrd Shuttle or 3-Cone Drill at Combine (Parker foot, Jeffery choice)

Adam Lefkoe @ AdamLefkoe

Dec 30

If DeVante Parker can run a 4.48...he's Alshon Jeffery.

[WR film guru] Fusue Vue @ lifesyourcup

Nov 21

As far as movement skills, I think DeVante Parker is better than

Alshon Jeffery.

[gettlemanjack]

compare to AJ Green's Pre-Draft Measureables:

Size:

6-4/211 - AJ Green All-Pro

6-3/209 - Devante Parker

Vertical Jump:

36.5 - Devante Parker

34.5 - AJ Green All-Pro

40 Yrd Dash:

4.45 - Devante Parker

4.49 - AJ Green All-Pro

20 Yrd Dash:

2.61 - Devante Parker

2.63 - AJ Green All-Pro

10 Yrd Dash:

1.51 - Devante Parker

1.56 - AJ Green All-Pro

225 Lb. Bench Reps:

18 - AJ Green All-Pro

17 - Devante Parker

Broad Jump:

10'06" - AJ Green All-Pro

10'05" - Devante Parker

Brent Sobleski @ brentsobleski

Dec 19

I can't be the only one that's catching up on some DeVante Parker late in the season and see flashes of AJ Green in his game.

NBC 3 Louisville Sports Director Kent Taylor @ KentTaylorWAVE

Dec 16

[Louisville DC] Todd Grantham says DeVante Parker reminds him of AJ Green from his time at Georgia [Grantham was DC of Georgia]

Yahoo Sporta Pat Forde @ YahooForde

1 Sep 11

Devante Parker is a great talent. Got a little AJ Green in him.

Sports Anchor NBC 5 Dallas Pat Doney @ PatDoneyNBC5

Feb 21

[in reply to: "Pat Doney's been saying DeVante Parker is like AJ Green for years.”]

Best HS WR I've seen other than AJ.

Mel Kiper compares DeVante Parker to A.J. Green:

"We've seen about a dozen young receivers come into the NFL and take it by storm, which is something you don't usually see happen," Kiper said. "DeVante Parker could be the same type of player, coming in as a rookie and putting up big numbers. He's long. He's athletic. He has come back from that injury and put up monster numbers. You go back the last couple weeks, the way he's produced for this football team. He almost was a key guy in maybe leading them to an upset. They came up short but they scared the daylights out of Florida State."

"DeVante Parker has everything it takes. He kind of reminds me a little bit of A.J. Green."

http://louisville.247sports.com/Bolt/Mel-Kiper-compares-DeVante-Parker-to-AJ-Green--32886502