DeVante Parker, a wide receiver out of Louisville, was chosen by the Miami Dolphins with the 14th overall choice in the first round. Miami now has a legitimate No. 1 receiver in Parker, something it hasn’t had since trading Brandon Marshall in March 2012.
His career totals at Louisville were 156 receptions for 2,775 yards and 33 touchdowns; however, those totals may have been higher if not for injuries that occasionally afflicted him.
With a broken bone in his left foot, Parker missed the first half of the season as a senior. While many receivers would have been confused by the unsettled quarterback situation when he returned midway through the season, Parker was able to demonstrate his talent.
At the end of his senior year, Parker had 43 receptions for 855 yards and five scores. In terms of yards and average, it was comparable to his junior season, when Teddy Bridgewater served as his quarterback the entire time.
It’s easy to sum up Parker’s contribution to Miami’s offense by stating that he is the team’s new No. 1 receiver. It goes more than that, though.
If Parker can get off to a quick start, he emerges as the Dolphins receiver who is most likely to face a double team. He stands taller than the majority of cornerbacks in the league and excelled at gaining separation during his college career.
How fast is DeVante Parker?
At the combine, DeVante Parker ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds and had a 36.5-inch vertical leap. Parker can catch just about anything thrown his way thanks to his size, speed, and vertical ability, which throughout his four NCAA seasons made him a key component of the Cardinals’ attack.