“Tennessee, they didn’t end up coming out with the win, but it was still a great game, and the fans were going crazy and they really love Tennessee. They were showing that love, and you could just feel it through the air. I really enjoyed it. …
“It was better than what I expected, for sure — a lot more fans, and it was a lot more exciting.”
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Parker said he was encouraged by the way the Vols played against Pittsburgh, even in a 41-34 loss to the Panthers.
“I just like how Tennessee, they kept playing,” he said. “They kept playing hard, and they had a few injuries that happened in the game, and they didn’t miss a beat.
“They have some potential on the D-line. There’s always room for improvement, and looking at it, talking with (defensive line) coach (Rodney) Garner, he’s definitely doing a good job recruiting, trying to get more players to come and to coach up his guys that he has now.”
Parker said he “mostly” watched Tennessee’s defensive line and outside linebackers throughout the game.
“Of course, I want to see them win,” he said. “But the main thing I’m looking at is coaching and how they can develop me onto the next level. … I saw the outside linebackers, but just mostly D-line. You could tell they’re coached very well. They’ve still got more work to do, of course. Everybody can improve somewhere. They’re young, so that’s one thing.”
But Saturday’s game also showed Parker that he could have an opportunity to make an early impact on the Vols’ defense under first-year coach
Josh Heupel’s staff.
“That’s always been in my head, and they told me that more than once,” Parker said. “And I’ve been taking consideration of that.”
Parker said he spent time with some of Tennessee’s coaches — including defensive line analyst
Levorn Harbin, Garner and Heupel — both before and after the game and even got another brief tour of the campus and facilities.
“I talked to Coach Chop before the game, and Coach Garner,” Parker said. “And then after I talked with Coach Garner and then Coach Heupel. After the game, we toured the school again, so got to talk with them and ate some pizza or whatever.
“They really said I was a special player. They would love to have me on the defense. I’d fit right in. They said I could play early, and they want me to be a leader and come join the Vols.”
It’s a possibility he’s considering, although he’s not rushing to decide on a college. But after getting a scholarship offer from the Vols more than eight months ago and visiting them twice, he said Tennessee is currently high on his list.
“It definitely is,” Parker said. “I’ve still got more time, but they’re an option, for sure.”
The Vols have shown him plenty of attention since college coaches were allowed to begin contacting Class of 2023 prospects on Sept. 1. That includes Martinez’s trip to Phenix City for Central’s home game Sept. 3 against Smiths Station (Ala.) High School.
“Every few days, (they) call or text me, see how I’m doing, how we’re doing in practice and keeping up with who they play every week,” he said. “And they came down. Coach Martinez came down last week to see me play. I mean, I couldn’t talk to him, of course, in (person). … I found out the morning of the game that he was coming. I was excited to hear about it.”
