Preston Parker
Encyclopedia
Preston Parker is an American football
wide receiver
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
at Northern Alabama
.
in 2006. PrepStar Magazine awarded him All-American honors following his senior season. After catching 45 passes for 1,150 yards with 11 touchdowns as a senior, The Florida Sports Writers Association selected Parker to the All-State first team in Class 5A. Rivals.com
ranked him as the No. 12 wide receiver and gave him four stars. In 2006, on the Preseason Florida Top 100, Rivals also listed him as the second ranked wide receiver as well as the number 18th ranked overall player in the state of Florida. He finished his varsity career with 90 receptions for 1,960 yards, 30 touchdowns and, as a defensive back, received Class 5A all-state second team honors. He chose Florida State
over Miami
, Minnesota
and NC State
.
, Parker played in 10 games. He received playing time in the Seminoles' Emerald Bowl
victory over the UCLA
. He caught two passes for 26 yards and rushed for 13 yards on three attempts. He also returned one kickoff for 21 yards. During the 2006 season
, he and one other player were the only two true freshmen wide receivers to record a reception.
against Kentucky
. As a wide receiver he started in three games (Miami, Virginia Tech and Kentucky) and then two games at running back
(Maryland, Florida). Rivals.com and Phil Steele
awarded him All-ACC second team honors as a wide receiver. As a punt returner, he was an All-ACC third team selection by Steele. Parker led the team in all purpose yards(1,513) and catches. He was second on the team in receiving yards,rushing attempts as well as rushing yards and was the team's leading punt returner. Out of anyone with more than five carries, he had the highest average yards per rush. With 9.82 yards per play, he placed ninth among all freshmen and sophomores in the FBS and was third in the FBS amongst sophomores in average yards per play. At the conclusion of the season, he was nationally ranked 75th in all-purpose yards, 30th in punt returns and also 91st in receptions per game. He finished the season in the top 10 in the ACC for receptions per game (fifth), punt return average (third), all-purpose yards (seventh) and receiving yards per game (eighth).
Parker was the first player to ever play for Bobby Bowden
to garner 80 yards rushing, receiving and returning kicks in a single game in the same season. He acquired averages of 116 yards of total offense per game, 61 yards per game and 13 yards per catch as a wide receiver. He accounted for 51 first downs(team high) and tied for the team lead with five touchdowns. Against Maryland
, he garnered 133 yards on 20 carries(career high) when he was forced into a starting rotation at running back due to injuries sustained by all three of the Seminoles' running backs. Parker had only five days to learn the new position and still had the second most productive rushing performance of the season by any Florida State running back. In 10 of the 12 games he played at as wide receiver he had at least four catches. He went on to finish the season tied for 10th all-time in single season receptions at FSU. He was the Seminoles' 2007 MVP.
and UTC, Parker led all of the wide receivers with 40 catches and was also second on the team with 372 yards. In the last seven regular season games of the 2008 season he caught 34 passes which were twice as many as any other wide receiver on the team. In four of the last seven regular season games he had 50 yards or more receiving and averaged almost five catches per game after the win at NC State. In a win over Clemson
, he recorded 169 all-purpose yards and 127 all-purpose yards in a loss at Georgia Tech
.
On January 2009, Parker was arrested for DUI after police found him passed out behind the wheel of his car. His blood alcohol content
was 0.054, which is well below the Florida legal limit of 0.08. Police said a urine sample was a "presumptive positive" for marijuana. Police also stated that Parker admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana the night before. With this being his third arrest, he was dismissed from the team. He finished his collegiate career at the University of North Alabama
.
He made the team after performing cool during the preseason. He garnered very little playing time and caught four passes in 9 games played.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Northern Alabama
North Alabama Lions football
The North Alabama Lions football team represents the University of North Alabama in the NCAA Division II competing as a member of the East Division of the Gulf South Conference . UNA plays its home games at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama...
.
High school
Parker graduated from Atlantic High SchoolAtlantic High School
Atlantic High School may refer to:* Atlantic Community High School * Atlantic High School...
in 2006. PrepStar Magazine awarded him All-American honors following his senior season. After catching 45 passes for 1,150 yards with 11 touchdowns as a senior, The Florida Sports Writers Association selected Parker to the All-State first team in Class 5A. Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
ranked him as the No. 12 wide receiver and gave him four stars. In 2006, on the Preseason Florida Top 100, Rivals also listed him as the second ranked wide receiver as well as the number 18th ranked overall player in the state of Florida. He finished his varsity career with 90 receptions for 1,960 yards, 30 touchdowns and, as a defensive back, received Class 5A all-state second team honors. He chose Florida State
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
over Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
, Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
and NC State
NC State Wolfpack football
The NC State Wolfpack football team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Wolfpack currently compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference....
.
Freshman season
In 2006, as a true freshman for the SeminolesFlorida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, Parker played in 10 games. He received playing time in the Seminoles' Emerald Bowl
Emerald Bowl
The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually at 40,800-seat AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, in San Francisco, California, since 2002...
victory over the UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
. He caught two passes for 26 yards and rushed for 13 yards on three attempts. He also returned one kickoff for 21 yards. During the 2006 season
2006 Florida State Seminoles football team
The 2006 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2006 college football season. Florida State entered the 2006 season as the defending ACC Champion, coming off an 8-5 record in 2005...
, he and one other player were the only two true freshmen wide receivers to record a reception.
Sophomore season
Parker played in every game that season for the Seminoles, including the Music City BowlMusic City Bowl
The Music City Bowl is a post-season American college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1998.-Site:The first Music City Bowl was played at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998...
against Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
. As a wide receiver he started in three games (Miami, Virginia Tech and Kentucky) and then two games at running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
(Maryland, Florida). Rivals.com and Phil Steele
Phil Steele
Phil Steele is an American sportswriter and analyst who focuses exclusively on college and professional football. He currently writes a column for the Orlando Sentinel, and is considered a "highly respected prognosticator" within the sports media...
awarded him All-ACC second team honors as a wide receiver. As a punt returner, he was an All-ACC third team selection by Steele. Parker led the team in all purpose yards(1,513) and catches. He was second on the team in receiving yards,rushing attempts as well as rushing yards and was the team's leading punt returner. Out of anyone with more than five carries, he had the highest average yards per rush. With 9.82 yards per play, he placed ninth among all freshmen and sophomores in the FBS and was third in the FBS amongst sophomores in average yards per play. At the conclusion of the season, he was nationally ranked 75th in all-purpose yards, 30th in punt returns and also 91st in receptions per game. He finished the season in the top 10 in the ACC for receptions per game (fifth), punt return average (third), all-purpose yards (seventh) and receiving yards per game (eighth).
Parker was the first player to ever play for Bobby Bowden
Bobby Bowden
Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons...
to garner 80 yards rushing, receiving and returning kicks in a single game in the same season. He acquired averages of 116 yards of total offense per game, 61 yards per game and 13 yards per catch as a wide receiver. He accounted for 51 first downs(team high) and tied for the team lead with five touchdowns. Against Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, he garnered 133 yards on 20 carries(career high) when he was forced into a starting rotation at running back due to injuries sustained by all three of the Seminoles' running backs. Parker had only five days to learn the new position and still had the second most productive rushing performance of the season by any Florida State running back. In 10 of the 12 games he played at as wide receiver he had at least four catches. He went on to finish the season tied for 10th all-time in single season receptions at FSU. He was the Seminoles' 2007 MVP.
Junior season
Parker opened the season with a two game suspension due to legal issues. He played in 10 games and made eight starts. Even though he missed two games versus Western CarolinaWestern Carolina University
Western Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system....
and UTC, Parker led all of the wide receivers with 40 catches and was also second on the team with 372 yards. In the last seven regular season games of the 2008 season he caught 34 passes which were twice as many as any other wide receiver on the team. In four of the last seven regular season games he had 50 yards or more receiving and averaged almost five catches per game after the win at NC State. In a win over Clemson
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, he recorded 169 all-purpose yards and 127 all-purpose yards in a loss at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
Legal troubles
Throughout his career at Florida State, Parker gathered numerous charges. In November 2006, he was arrested after Tallahassee police said he tried to steal a DVD. He entered a diversionary program and the charge was later dismissed. On April 2008, he was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed firearm (felony) and possession of marijuana (misdemeanor).On January 2009, Parker was arrested for DUI after police found him passed out behind the wheel of his car. His blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content , also called blood alcohol concentration, blood ethanol concentration, or blood alcohol level is most commonly used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes....
was 0.054, which is well below the Florida legal limit of 0.08. Police said a urine sample was a "presumptive positive" for marijuana. Police also stated that Parker admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana the night before. With this being his third arrest, he was dismissed from the team. He finished his collegiate career at the University of North Alabama
University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is a coeducational university located in Florence, Alabama, and the state's oldest four-year public university....
.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After the 2010 collegiate season, Parker signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.He made the team after performing cool during the preseason. He garnered very little playing time and caught four passes in 9 games played.