Not all “athletes” are created equal in high school recruiting. There are some players that are labeled as “athletes” that happened to play multiple positions in high school but are clearly a prospect at a specific position once they get to college. Calvin Parker isn’t like that. Calvin Parker is a true athlete, and a really good one at that.
Calvin Parker III (goes by “Tre”) is one of the purest athletes you will find at the high school level, with the ability to play multiple positions on both sides of the ball at a very high level. He doesn’t have the height to play on the outside (5’9″ 180), but he can play literally any other skill position on the field.
Ball Carrying
The most glaring place where his athleticism shines is as a ball carrier. When the ball is in his hands, he is absolutely electric and anything could happen on that play. He is extremely fast and elusive with the agility to change direction on a dime. He pairs that with fantastic vision of the field – not only in a traditional running back situation when taking a hand off, but in every situation as a ball carrier. He understands the flow of the defense at a high level, and thus he gets how best to exploit it. Whether he is returning a punt, a kickoff, or running up field after a catch, he will make the most of what’s in front of him every single time.
This is what he is most natural at doing. He has played a hybrid role of running back and slot receiver throughout the first three years of his high school career. The experience with the ball in his hands shows at this point, and he has every tool needed to succeed in either position on offense.
Football IQ
Tre Parker is a student of the game. He lives and breathes football. This is abundantly clear after being around him for any length of time. He spends countless hours in the film room learning more about the various positions that he is playing, increasing his understanding and confidence with whatever role he is being asked to fill at that time.
He is now the starting free safety for his team in his senior year, and that’s a new position for him to be playing. He only played on offense in the past, so there is still plenty of room to grow in the position, but he has already shown immense ability. The reason he has been so good there this season is because of his great understanding of the game. He is gradually gaining an instinct on defense, understanding what the play is and where the ball is going, and flying to the ball at a high speed.
Attitude
Being a true multi-positional athlete requires a lot of talents on the field, but it also requires a very important off-field trait: selflessness. Tre Parker never puts himself above the team, and is willing to contribute in whatever way the coaches ask him to. He runs on kickoffs, screaming down the field and making tackles all the time. He gives his team explosions as a returner. He plays all over the field on both sides of the ball, being a true two-way player this season. LCA puts a lot on his plate, but he is able to do it all because of the attitude he brings to this game. He is hard working (3.6 GPA) and team-centered with how he talks about the game. He believes in the guys around him and acts like a leader in how he approaches the game. He is the first person to give all of the credit to anybody he can think of other than himself. More than anything else, his attitude is one of a person with high character that you want in the locker room with you.
Conclusion
It’s not particularly useful to look at the position-specific tools Parker has at this point in his career. Some general things have been discussed, but his future position is so unclear at this point that attempting to guess and provide a more accurate analysis of his future at that guess seems completely futile. Tre Parker is a great football player, the rest will sort itself out in time.
What got you into football in the first place? What makes you love it?
I first started playing soccer when I was 3. But I was tackling people, so they kicked me out and told me to play flag football. But then I started tackling people in flag football too, including the Governor’s grandson. So they kicked me out of that too. Then my dad put me in tackle football, and that was that.
What’s your favorite football memory?
Truly, all of my favorite memories are from being in high school and being in the championship game making plays. In past years in the superdome, I was the first person to have my name called because I was on the kickoff team and the returner came my way. Making the tackle on the kickoff and hearing the name Calvin Parker III, that’s just something special.
What is your biggest strength on the field?
My best attribute on the field is my field vision and IQ. My cousin has been a mentor to me. He’s short, he’s built just like me, and he knows what I’m going through as a fast but short football player. He’s taught me the game in all the aspects it can be taught. I’ve been studying the game since I was younger. I’m at a level now where I know what’s about to happen before it even happens. I’m blessed to have somebody helping me. God gave me the ability to play, and my coaches put me in the right position at the right time to make plays. I can’t be more thankful for the people in my life who helped me with my game.
What’s your favorite position to play on the field?
It’s tough because it’s different. On offense, you’re trying to score touchdowns. On defense, you’re trying to stop people from scoring touchdowns. The most excited I ever got was when I caught a pick six. It’s a different feeling that you get. When you read a play and jump a play, I feel like it is just different. Touchdowns are common in the football. But you rarely see people get pick sixes. As a DB, you have to have a mindset to take it when somebody catches a ball in front of you. It’s going to happen. What are you going to do next. I feel like it’s more challenging to play defense, but I love the challenge. But then playing on defense makes me a better player on offense.
To answer your question, I truly don’t have a favorite position. I like playing offense because it helps me on defense. I like playing on defense because it helps me on offense. They go hand in hand.
It sounds like you’re the sort of guy that is going to be ok playing any position your coaches ask you to play in college. Is that true?
That’s absolutely right. The coaches I’ve talked to have asked me that. He was saying to play running back more, but I was saying “Coach, I’ll play whatever you need me to. If you need me to go play special teams, to be the best special teams guy you need me to be, I’ll be there. My freshman and sophomore years, I played special teams the whole season, and I made plays in special teams. I had great guys in front of me, so I just waited my turn. If I have to play it at the next level, I’ll be the best special teams player I can be. And then I’ll work my way up until I get what I deserve.
Which NFL player do you try to emulate the most with your own game?
Three players come to mind. First one is Tyran Matthieu. He comes from the New Orleans area, I’m from the New Orleans area. We’re the same height, same weight. His mentality in a game is what I enjoy. In high school, he did what I did. He played the slot receiver, the safety, the special teams player. I have to give him as #1.
For an offensive player, I’d say Deebo Samuel. He plays running back, and he can play the slot, he can play outside.
For Defense, I’d say Travis Hunter or Deion Sanders. Their mentality to go get the ball and to not let anyone get the best of them. Deion was going against Jerry Rice. Rice got a catch, and the next play Deion got a pick against him. It’s just that mentality.
What has been your biggest improvement to your game over the last few years?
I definitely got faster. I returned a punt [for a touchdown] against Carenco. Also my confidence and ability to get back there and make a play when the ball is in the air. At DB, for sure, I got more confident in trusting my technique. This summer I moved to primarily playing defense. I still go all out with my reps on offense, but now I’m the starting free safety for the team. It’s a big change form the first three years of high school where I was solely playing running back and in the slot. The whole summer, I’ve been training and trying to perfect my craft on defense.
What has the recruiting process been like for you?
My first offer was Graceland last year. Over the summer, Arkansas St offered me. Hendrix offered me this summer after I went for a visit up there. Finally, Louisiana College offered me after week 1 this year.
What are some goals for yourself and your team this year?
I want to start making more impact plays in times that we need touchdowns. We play a really tough first 5 games. I want to make impact plays to take pressure off my QB or my defense. If I can return a punt, that’s the plan so we don’t feel like “oh, we have to score,” or “oh, we have to get a stop.”
For the team, I want us to get healthy. Once we get healthy, we’ll start playing like us, we’ll make a run. I’ll say this now – we lost two games early to two really good teams, but two teams that were beatable. We let the games slip. We still have everything in front of us – we have the district championship in front of us, we have playoffs in front of us, we still have a chance to get a bye, and we still have the championship most importantly. We will shake back, get back in the lab, and make something happen.
What do you do outside of practice to improve?
I watch a lot of film. After practice, I try to rest my body throughout the week. I want to work on my mental game throughout the week. I watch an hour and a half of film every night. I take an ice bath, I go to physical therapy, I try to get my body healthy.
Is there anything I haven’t asked about that you would like to talk about?
I would like to thank my coaches for giving me the opportunity to play both sides. I’d like to thank God for protecting me every time I go on the field. God has been a major part of the recruiting process and through life. He puts me in positions I shouldn’t even be in, and to make plays that I shouldn’t make. God gave me the ability to make something out of nothing. People expect me to do it, but it’s God’s chapter in my life, I just have the opportunity to do it. I thank God for giving me the ability and the mindset I have, and the situations he puts me in to help me grow as a person.
I would also like to thank my dad and mom for all the training and camps they put me throughout. I just want to thank them for all of the sacrificing they have done.
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