Roscoe

[Webster Guy]

From USA Today:

 

Overview: Parrish was regarded as a home run threat every time he touched the ball at Miami. He has a rare combination of breakaway speed, a quick burst, an impressive change of pace and good catching ability. Parrish can elude tacklers in the open field or in traffic, and has a knack for making tacklers miss. He has been called by Hurricanes head coach Larry Coker as "the most exciting player I've ever coached." Rated the tenth-best prospect in the state of Florida at Miami Senior High in 2000, Parrish led the team to the District title and the third round of the Class 6A Playoffs, despite compiling a 7-6 record his senior year. He was perhaps the most explosive running and passing quarterback in Florida during the 2000 season, passing for 2,201 yards and rushing for 613 yards to earn first-team Class 6A honors. During his junior season of 1999, he passed for 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns with just five interceptions while completing 78 of 136 passes. He also rushed 60 times for 600 yards and six touchdowns and had ten tackles during the 1999 season. Parrish redshirted at Miami in 2001 and took over punt return duties the following year. He gained 336 yards on 25 returns (13.4 avg) and started two games on offense, catching 14 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown. He bruised his lungs in a violent collision during the second quarter of the 2003 Florida State game and was forced to sit out the Temple and Syracuse contests as a result. He finished the 2003 season with 24 catches for 322 yards (13.4 avg) and two touchdowns. Parrish also totaled 240 yards with a score on 23 punt returns (10.4 avg). The 2004 season saw Parrish become the offense's primary target. He started eight games and caught a career-high 43 passes for 693 yards (16.1 avg) and eight touchdowns. His eight scoring grabs rank eighth on the school's single-season record list. He also gained 324 yards on 20 punt returns (16.2 avg) with two touchdowns and carried eight times for 52 yards (6.5 avg). Parrish closed out his career with 81 receptions for 1,285 yards (15.9 avg) and eleven touchdowns in 35 games. His eleven scoring grabs are tied for tenth on Miami's all-time record list. He returned 68 punts for 900 yards (13.2 avg) and three scores. Only Santana Moss (six, 1997-2000) returned more punts for touchdowns in school history. His 900 yards rank fourth on the Hurricanes' career record list behind Kevin Williams (939, 1990-92), Eddie Dunn (1153, 1936-38) and Moss (1196). Parrish also carried 18 times for 178 yards (9.9 avg) and a touchdown.

 

Analysis: Positives...Has outstanding agility, balance, flexibility and acceleration...Smooth off the line, with the sudden moves needed to get vertically up field... Shows quickness running routes and the ability to separate in the open...Quick to see and adjust to the secondary coverage...Utilizes his sudden explosion to avoid the jam at the line of scrimmage...Able to make defenders miss as he accelerates past them...Has a good feel for the sticks and works back to the ball efficiently...Has the second gear to quickly uncover and separate... Has soft hands, elusiveness and good hip wiggle on punt returns, showing the shake and burst to gain yardage after securing the ball...His flexibility allows him to easily turn and adjust to off target throws...Once he gets into the open, the foot race with the defender is quickly over.

 

Negatives...Has a small frame with no room for growth...Struggles to get into his routes when facing physical press coverage and needs to use his initial explosion to break free... Needs to refine his route running, as he is not precise or clean in his release...Tends to body catch, resulting in dropped passes...Has the leaping ability to compete for the ball in the air, but lacks the size and strength to beat the more physical defenders...Will give an effort, but does not have the bulk or size to be effective as a blocker...It is not like he gets scared in traffic, but he tends to short arm going for the ball in a crowd.

 

Agility tests: 4.43 in the 40-yard dash...2.6 20-yard dash...1.58 10-yard dash...29 -inch arm length... 8 5/8-inch hands...

[LabattBlue]

from espn.com....

 

Strengths: Explodes off the line, has the quick first step to drive defenders back and can get open quickly. Plays with good toughness, isn't afraid to go over the middle and has shown the ability to hang onto the ball after taking the big hit. Can catch balls thrown outside frame and rarely drops passes that should catch. Has great speed and shows a second gear when tracking the ball downfield. Shows outstanding change of direction skills, has the elusiveness to make multiple defenders miss in the open field and is always a threat to make a big play after the catch. Is a very dangerous return man and should make an immediate impact on special teams. Regained starting job after losing it early last year and has shown good perseverance.

 

Weaknesses: Is vastly undersized, lacks the height to compete for jump balls downfield and isn't much of a threat in the vertical passing game despite speed. Lacks the wide frame to shield defenders from the ball and isn't much of a red zone target. Has some problems getting a clean release working against press coverage and physical corners will have success muscling him out of routes. Lack of prototypical size makes durability a significant concern and had some problems staying healthy at the collegiate level. Mental capacity a concern; scored a 10 on Wonderlic Test.

 

Overall: Parrish red-shirted in 2001. He returned punts and started three games at WR in 2002, catching 14 passes for 271 yards and one touchdown. He provided excellent depth and returned punts in 2003, finishing with 24 catches for 322 yards and two touchdowns. He moved into the starting lineup in 2004 and finished the season with 39 receptions for 630 yards and eight touchdowns. Parrish also returned 17 punts for 252 yards and one touchdown last year. Parrish is extremely undersized and, as a result, he may never develop into an outside starter. However, Parrish has the potential to develop into a sure-handed and shifty slot receiver that can also contribute as a punt return specialist. As a result, Parrish grades out as a second or early-third round prospect in the 2005 NFL draft.