Interview: Nevada TE Parker Houston makes Jr. Day rounds at Boise State, OSU, and UNR
The recruiting game is a fresh new world for dward C. Reed High School’s Parker Houston. The 6’4”, 228 pound, tight end exploded onto the scene during his junior season helping the Raiders to an 11-4 record with a state championship runner-up finish to national champs Bishop Gorman in 2014. During the season Houston caught 40 passes for 525 yards with 10 touchdowns establishing him as one of the state’s best players.
At the conclusion of the season Houston racked up a mantle covering number of personal honors: First-Team All-League, First-Team All-Region, Second-Team All-State, and Team co-Offensive Player of the Year. With the acknowledgements came the college recruiters wanting to get a better look at the every down tight end. So far Houston has made Junior Day visits to University of Nevada-Reno, Boise State, and Oregon State with at least six other schools trying to get him on campus for a visit or for a camp.
In an exclusive Recruiting News Guru interview Houston sat down to talk about his various visits, his offseason activities, and all the other campuses he may visit heading into the summer.
Houston, what have you been up to since we last talked?
“Baseball, Nevada-Reno Junior Day, Boise State Junior Day, Oregon State Junior Day, still working out with my trainer but pretty much just baseball, baseball, baseball.”
How is the season going for you guys?
“We’re alright we could be doing a lot better. I’m a little disappointed, we should be one of the top ranked teams in the state and we should not have as many losses as we have. We have three really dominating pitchers that should play in college.”
What’s the team’s record right now?
“I think we’re 10-7.”
How are you doing on the field?
“It’s going well. My fielding is going really well. I’ve been able to pitch a little in long and quick relief. The first batter I faced almost hit a grand slam off of me but it stayed in the yard.”
How was your visit to Nevada-Reno for their Junior Day?
“The visit was nice. I went with a lot of my teammates. We explored around the campus. I got to see what their football practice is all about. I got to see the inside of my hometown football team.”
How was everything left with UNR? Do you have an offer coming?
“I feel like I should be higher up on their recruiting list. UNR is my hometown team. I left the visit on good terms with all the coaches. Coach (Brian) Polian and Coach (Mike) Bradeson are good guys.”
How did your visit to Boise State go?
“First of all Marc Paul, the assistant athletic trainer, is a friend of my dad’s. He helped my dad coach our football team when they lived here. I got there two days early. The first day Marc took me around. I got to meet the coaching staff and did a quick overview of everything. Day Two I got to sit in on position and team meetings then I got to watch the team practice.”
What did you take away from watching the BSU practice and sitting in on the meetings?
“I was very impressed with the way Coach (Bryan) Harsin (head coach) and Coach (Kent) Riddle (tight ends coach and special team coordinator) ran things. Everything was smooth and informative. The tight ends were great guys. It was good to see how the older guys carry themselves and act. The practices were intense.”
Where was everything left in terms of an offer with BSU?
“I’m expecting a call sooner or later.”
Over the weekend you took an unofficial to Oregon State. How did that visit go?
“It was awesome. It’s great to go a lot of different colleges. At OSU I was the only tight end that showed up. I got to do a one-on-one with tight end Coach (Dave) Baldwin. Coach (Gary) Andersen (head coach) seems like a really great guy. They’re doing a big renovation to the locker room and some of the other facilities so we didn’t get the full tour but we got enough to know it is a wonderful campus and program.”
How was everything left with Oregon State at the end of your visit?
“They have an offer out to a guy that has a lot of bigger schools coming after him. They really want a guy that can go down in the trenches in a three point stance and go out and catch some passes.”
Did you tell them that you are that guy?
“I told them I would be perfect for their offense. I’m the guy! I can do everything you want me to do. We run the same formations with our high school team.”
What was the coaches’ response?
“I got a nice warming smile from Coach Baldwin.”
What other Junior Days are planning on attending?
“I’m not 100 percent sure on which spring games or Junior Days I will attend next. I’m trying to go to Idaho, San Diego State, San Jose, NAU (Northern Arizona), and possibly Arizona or ASU (Arizona State) maybe Toledo. Trying to figure out a way to hit as many as I can. All the schools I may visit have shown interest.”
Written by Ryan Wright
Photo credit: Parker Houston