Troy freshman QB gets chance

TROY — Troy fans caught a glimpse of the past and future when No. 17 trotted onto the field early in the Trojans’ recent win over FIU.

It wasn’t Omar Haugabook, who led Troy to shares of Sun Belt championships as a quarterback the last two seasons, but freshman Dantavious Parker — who is about the same size (6-feet, 210 pounds) as Haugabook, but is left-handed.

Parker found out his redshirt was coming off not long after starter Jamie Hampton was lost for the season Oct. 6. Parker’s ability to run around and through tackles compliments starter Levi Brown’s passing ability.

But Brown isn’t near as mobile as Parker, one of the team’s fastest players, and Troy’s offense calls for a little mobility at the position.
Parker wasn’t even on the dress roster for Troy’s first five games.

“We (had) seven games left,” offensive coordinator Neal Brown said. “It’s not a deal where you have three or four games left. You’re not wasting a redshirt year if you play him seven games.”

He’s from south Florida, like Haugabook, but was simply assigned his number.

Parker was recruited by several schools in all divisions, but narrowed it down to Troy and Appalachian State when Troy coaches saw him practice for the Dade-Broward all-star game and extended an offer.

Troy had a quarterback commitment from Corey Robinson of Lone Oak, Ky., but wanted another one with more mobility.

“We only had one truly athletic quarterback who was a good runner and that was Jamie,” Neal Brown said. “We wanted another one that could do both.”

It helped that Parker had grandparents, aunts and uncles near Prattville and Selma. Parker quickly established that he wasn’t some giggly freshman during summer workouts.

“I was always raised that your first impression is probably going to be your last,” Parker said. “If they see you as a fool, they’ll think you’re a fool. If they see you as somebody ready to go to work, then it’s time to go to work.”

Parker’s number was called for the first time last week in Troy’s 33-23 win over FIU. He carried the ball four times for five yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run.

Rotating plays with Levi Brown and receiver Jerrel Jernigan hasn’t confused the freshman. It’s actually harder on his coach when he has just seconds to pick a play and formation.

“It would be difficult if I said, ‘Hey, man, you’re the starter,’” Neal Brown said. “Here’s the key to the car, let’s ride.”

Parker, nicknamed ‘Lieutenant Dan’ by his teammates, can throw, too. He’s not far off on comparisons to Haugabook, and Haugabook was already a junior in college when he got to Troy. Parker’s best football days are still ahead of him.

He might get to throw Saturday when Troy (4-2, 3-0 Sun Belt) plays at North Texas (0-7, 0-3), but he’s not giving away the game plan.
TV announcers were so surprised to see him come into the game Saturday that they referred to him as a “running quarterback.”

But they haven’t seen the best of Dantavious Parker yet.

“I’m a quarterback,” he said. “Whatever it takes to win a game.”