Pitt FB Recruiting
Ohio Sophomore Brian Parker II ‘Surprised’ as Pitt Becomes His First D-I Offer
Being versatitle as a player is very important and attractive to teams in all different sports. Sophomore lineman Brian Parker II was just that this past season and that became a big reason why he earned his first D-I scholarship offer on Saturday from Randy Bates and Pitt.
Parker (6’5″, 265) is an offensive lineman St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio and talked this morning with Pittsburgh Sports Now about the exciting news that he received yesterday from the Pitt program.
“That really meant a lot because you always want to be able to extend your football career because it’s a game that you love,” said Parker. “Getting the opportunity from Pitt to be able to do that meant a lot. It was very exciting and actually surprised me but I know that I have a long ways to go and I plan on keeping working hard and hopefully get better.”
When Parker mentioned being surprised, it wasn’t because he earned an offer, it was just the timing of it that he didn’t expect.
“When I got that call from Coach Bates I was pretty ecstatic. I just didn’t think it was going to come this soon. I thought I had a pretty good season but it’s pretty rare for a sophomore to get a big offer like that, so I didn’t think it was going to happen. I’m only a sophomore so I know that I need to keep working hard”
“I started the season at left guard and then five games into the season our center broke his hand so switched positions. I then played center for the rest of the regular season and then in the postseason, he returned and I moved back to left guard,” said Parker.
“Coach Bates just offered me as a lineman. They like the fact that I can play multiple positions because I can actually play all three line positions, tackle, guard and center. They liked that versatitly a lot. When he offered, Coach told me that I have a long ways to go but really likes the fact that I can player multiple positions well and that my high school head coach spoke very highly of me and he’s someone that Coach Bates respects a lot.”
As far as his knowledge of Pitt goes, Parker told me that he actually visited the campus once in 5th or 6th grade as he was with his older sister when she was looking for a college during her senior season of high school. He also mentioned the fact that he liked that Pitt has a facility with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Coach Bates told me to call him back next Friday so that we can talk more and that I can do some more research on Pitt.”
