Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Nolan Parker’s ability to excel at several positions on a football field has earned him the nickname Swiss Army Knife.
It’s also caused several scouts to take notice of the Grade 11 native of Napanee.
Later this month he’ll be in Montreal to take part in a training camp for the Canadian Football Chat Prospect Game. He was one of 300 players across North America born in 2003 or ‘04 selected to the camp. An impressive showing in camp would earn him a spot as one of 70 players to play in the CFC Prospect Game in Ottawa. The game, which will be broadcast by TSN, will see the players coached by Canadian Football League legends while also attended by several high level scouts.
Along with the CFC tryout, Parker has also earned a selection to the Fox 40 Prospect Challenge at the end of April, where he’ll take part in a series of skill showcases followed by a game in Toronto.
What makes Parker stand out is his ability to shine on both sides of the ball. Though he will go to the CFC camp as a running back, he could also be looked at as a defensive back, receiver, linebacker or defensive end.
“When I started playing for the Mavericks I learned from the coaching staff there,” Parker said of how he discovered the game of football. “Arthur (Laramie), who ran the Iron King in Kingston, he did conditioning with us alongside Justin Windsor and Dionne (Windsor), and Adam (Courneyea) was my defensive coach. When I first started playing I played defense. Between the help of all the coaching staff, it made me fall in love with the sport of football.”
His ability to adapt to just about any role on the field was evident in his Grade 10 season, when he started the year as running back with the NDSS Golden Hawks and ended the year as quarterback.
He’s continued to hone his skills with the Quinte Skyhawks under the coaching of Johnathan Wright.
“He was a big impact on me as a player,” said Parker. “He taught me speed training, how to run with proper form and endurance.”
While his main focus is the upcoming two months of football ahead of him, he already has schools asking to meet with him.
“I want to go to college and then CFL or even NFL if that’s a possibility at all,” he says of his ultimate goal.