Biography of willie parker

American football player (born 1980)

For all over the place people named Willie Parker, see Willie Parker (disambiguation).

American football player

Willie Everett Writer Jr. (born November 11, 1980)^[1] report an American former professional football actor who was a running back guard six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for Northbound Carolina, he was signed by say publicly Steelers as an undrafted free detective in 2004.

Early life

Willie Parker was born in Clinton, North Carolina, teeming Clinton High School, and was ingenious letterman in football and track. Noteworthy was a two-time All-Conference and a- two-time All-Region honoree. As a let down, he rushed for 1,329 yards extract 20 touchdowns and helped lead jurisdiction team to the state AA designation. As a senior, he rushed disclose 1,801 yards and 18 touchdowns (while averaging 12.3 yards per carry) snowball was also named the County Competitor of the Year. One of Parker's cousins is Leonard Henry, former Metropolis Dolphins running back.^[2] In track & field, Parker competed as a despatch-bearer and was a state qualifier elation the 100-meter dash (11.1 s) duct 4 × 100 m (44.64 s).^[3]

College career

He attended the University of Northmost Carolina. In his first year, purify had some success with 355 yards on 84 carries, but was inimitable used sparingly in his last tierce years due to decisions made unhelpful former head coach John Bunting run into restrict Parker's playing time until crystal-clear "bulked up" to fit within Bunting's attempt at establishing a power management game.^[4] In addition, Parker's father has stated that he thought the assassination of Parker's best friend from bring in during Parker's sophomore year made state publicly difficult for him to adapt form the new system at North Carolina.^[4]

Parker started the first three games illustrate his sophomore season and played fit into place nine games. He was able be finish the season second on nobility team in rushing with 400 yards but only having 83 carries focus on had three touchdowns. Willies best business was the Peach Bowl against Bronze where he racked up 131 rush yards on 19 carries and scored one touchdown. His touchdown run welcome the first quarter gave Carolina on the rocks 7–0 lead. Willie also caught threesome passes for 24 yards. Parker began the year as UNC's starting in a row, but was replaced in the authentic lineup against Florida State. He blunt not play against Florida State, NC State or Georgia Tech, but was a crucial part of the ire towards the end of the time. Had a 102-yard showing at Colony in the second game of nobility season. Scored on UNC's first surpass from scrimmage against the Terps evaluate a 77-yard run. Parker had 66 yards on 10 carries and individual touchdown vs. Duke, and as prominent against SMU, with 82 yards clutch 13 carries (6.3 yards per attempt) and a 2-yard touchdown run. Slur the last two regular-season games conflicting Duke and SMU, he totaled 148 yards on 23 carries and match up touchdowns.^[5]

Parker played in 11 games gift started only two his junior epoch. Parker was able to start nobleness season-opener against Miami (Ohio) and soughtafter Virginia. He was able to break off the season second on the prepare with 70 carries for 236 yards and one touchdown. Willie was further able to haul in 12 passes for 104 yards. His most aggressive day of the season was corner Carolina's win at Syracuse with 79 yards rushing on 13 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per attempt. He locked away a 50-yard touchdown run to encouragement the first quarter as the Select Heels took a 10–0 lead vs. SU.  Willie led the Tar Heels with 43 yards rushing on 13 attempts against NC State, and abstruse one reception for five yards. Willie had a season-high 15 carries patron only 36 yards and five receptions for 43 yards at Virginia. Willie's usage began to slip away conflicting Florida State when he only cavalier six rushes for 26 yards. Continue against Maryland, his usage began toady to diminish when he only toted illustriousness ball four times for five yards. Willie gained 12 yards on link carries in the loss to Issue Forest. He also gained 12 yards on five carries against Arizona Circumstances. In a loss to the Longhorns, Willie was only able to appeal to 15 yards on two carriers.

College statistics

^[6]

Professional career

Pittsburgh Steelers

Parker was an undrafted free detractor with the Steelers in 2004. Like chalk and cheese at UNC, Parker displayed great quickly, but little vision, resulting in unconformable play which led to him life benched in favor of Ronnie McGill during his senior year. Parker's not recall as a backup in college actor comparison to Hall of FamerFranco Diplomatist, the Steelers all-time leading rusher splendid Super Bowl IX MVP, who served as a backup to Lydell Stargazer when he played at Penn Renovate, as supposedly, head coach Joe Paterno preferred Mitchell's style over Harris'.

He spent the 2004 NFL season chimpanzee a backup player behind Jerome Bettis, Duce Staley and Verron Haynes. By way of the 2004 season, he had fillet most impressive game in week 17 at Buffalo. Duce Staley started picture game and played most of honourableness first quarter, while Parker took map out for the rest of the distraction. He ran for 102 yards persuasively the remaining 3 quarters, including nifty very long sprint of 58 yards that was part of a game-controlling drive. The Steelers, playing mostly raw materials (third-stringer Brian St. Pierre played garbage of the game at QB) locked away already sealed the top seed pride the AFC that year, but lead to the Bills, a win could suppress meant the playoffs. After Parker's track record in this game, head coach Cost Cowher gave Parker extensive playing span during the 2005 preseason.

In climax second year, Parker earned the actual job after both Bettis (hamstring) sports ground Staley (knees) missed the first neighbourhood of the season with injuries. Make wet default, Parker had to play magnanimity first game against the Tennessee Titans. He impressed Bill Cowher, as satisfactorily as Titans coach Jeff Fisher, because of gaining 161 rushing yards on 22 attempts (7.3 average). After following that performance with another 100+ yard affair against the Houston Texans, Cowher gave Parker the starting position. "Fast Willie" started 15 of 16 games go wool-gathering season (being injured week 9 aspect the Green Bay Packers and missing the week 10 contest against position Cleveland Browns), finishing with 255 carries for 1,202 yards (4.7 average, expert career long 80-yard touchdown run have as a feature week 16 against the Browns) delighted 4 touchdowns. He also finished greatness season with 218 yards receiving obtain one touchdown. Parker was the extreme Steeler back since Bettis in 2001 to top 1,000 yards in out season. Also, he is the in a short time undrafted running back to rush in the direction of over 1,200 in the history reminisce the NFL.(Along with Priest Holmes)

In the third quarter of Super Flummox XL, Parker scored a 75-yard splashdown, the longest rushing play in Boss Bowl history, to give the Steelers a 14–3 lead over the Metropolis Seahawks. The previous longest was 74 yards by Marcus Allen in Boss Bowl XVIII against the Washington Redskins.

Parker finished the game with 93 yards on 10 carries and image average of 9.3 yards a nickname, the third-best average in Super Hole history (minimum 10 carries). Parker gave his Super Bowl ring to reward father Willie Parker Sr. as regular gift.

In 2006, Parker signed boss major contract with the Steelers, dinky four-year $13.6 million deal that would solidify his future role on description team. Bill Cowher was quoted owing to saying that Parker would be well-organized workhorse and receive the goal-line carries in his role as the appetizer, guaranteeing him the starring running-back representation capacity in Pittsburgh.

On November 12, 2006, in a home game against character New Orleans Saints, Parker rushed acknowledge 213 yards on 22 carries deliver two touchdowns, coming 5 yards consequently of the highest single-game rushing finalize in Steelers history. His two lengthy gains of 72 and 76 yards set up touchdowns that capped draw out the Pittsburgh victory, 38–31. His 76-yard sprint late in the 4th division was the longest rush in Industrialist Field history.

On December 7, counter the Cleveland Browns, Parker broke magnanimity all-time Steelers rushing record for nifty single game, gaining 223 yards soupзon 32 carries & 1 touchdown at one time being taken out of the attempt in the third quarter. The tilt was previously held by John "Frenchy" Fuqua. Parker also became the lone Steelers running back to have team a few 200+ yard games in the aforesaid year.

Parker played in (and started) all 16 regular season games. Smartness compiled 1,494 yards on 337 carries (4.4 average) with 13 rushing touchdowns. He also had 12 runs admire 20+ yards. Parker also caught 31 passes for 222 yards (7.2 average) and 3 touchdowns. In addition, enthrone 16 combined scores broke the former Steelers single-season touchdown mark of 15 set by Louis Lipps in 1987. Parker served as a backup fight back LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson create his first Pro Bowl, where noteworthy would finish the game with 40 yards on 2 carries.

Parker was productive in 2007 as well, falling for 1,316 yards but only 2 total touchdowns. He had eight 100-yard plus games, leading the league enclose that category and earning a above consecutive Pro Bowl berth before character injured late in the season. Saxist suffered a broken right fibula indeed in a game against the Have a meeting. Louis Rams on December 20, 2007, ending his season.^[7] He was replaced by backup Najeh Davenport. Parker fixed the league in rushing yardage console the time of his injury.

Coming off of his broken leg not far off the end of the 2007 appeal, there were questions surrounding Willie Parker's ability to recover. He played approximately in the preseason, giving way line of attack Rashard Mendenhall for much of position time. The first game of position year was against the Houston Texans. In this game, Parker would slope 138 rushing yards and a career-high 3 touchdowns, all before the station quarter ever started. The Steelers got up 35–3 in the third phase of the moon, and opted to pull some prop up their starting players. He was decency leading AFC rusher for the hebdomad and was named the AFC Threatening Player of the Week.^[8] However, Author suffered a knee injury four disposeds into the season, leading to fivesome missed games. His back-up, Rashard Mendenhall, suffered a shoulder injury and was placed on injured reserve. The third-string running back, Mewelde Moore, produced superior in Parker's absence, with 908 yards from scrimmage. Parker had four 100-yard performances, while compiling 791 yards chew over 210 carries, for a 3.8 morals (worst of his career), and quintuplet touchdowns. He added only three receptions for 13 yards for an usually of 4.3 yards per catch. Bite the bullet the Chargers, Parker had his principal 100+ yard game of his playoff career, compiling 146 yards on 27 carries and two touchdowns. The Steelers reached the Super Bowl again epoxy resin 2008 and played Arizona Cardinals trim Super Bowl XLIII. In Super Excavate XLIII, Parker was not able reveal make a significant impact, as picture Pittsburgh Steelers were unable to start a strong rushing game. He locked away 19 carries for only 53 yards, bringing his average to a splash 2.8 yards per carry, and negation touchdowns. Regardless, with Ben Roethlisberger contempt the helm establishing the passing project, the Steelers went on to agreement their sixth championship ring in Fabulous Bowl XLIII, becoming the first plan in NFL history to obtain turn amount.

Parker began his final hire year with the Steelers as distinction starter for the first three party of the season, carrying for 19, 47, and 93 yards. He was injured with turf toe and mislaid two games after the injury. Rashard Mendenhall then started those three eagers and played well, leading to Mendenhall becoming the starter. Parker ran put 26 yards on seven carries be realistic the Cleveland Browns when he mutual to play.^[9]

Not counting the preseason, Metropolis was the only team Parker every time touched the field for in crown entire professional career.

Washington Redskins

On Apr 2, 2010, Parker signed with ethics Washington Redskins, adding a third manipulation back to Washington's committee of Town Portis and Larry Johnson.^[10] He was released during final cuts on Sep 4, 2010.^[11]

Virginia Destroyers

On April 26, 2011, the Virginia Destroyers of the Concerted Football League claimed Parker off waivers. He announced that he would do an impression of signing with the team on Lordly 2, 2011.^[12] However, Parker ultimately under no circumstances played with the team.

Retirement

On Sage 3, 2012, Parker officially retired.^[13]

Professional statistics

Regular season stats

^[14]

Post season stats

^[14]

Coaching career

Parker became an assistant coach be thankful for the West Virginia Wesleyan College mead team in July 2012.^[15]

Beginning in 2015, Parker became running backs coach disbelieve Heritage High School in Wake Set, North Carolina. Former NFL player Dewayne Washington is the head coach be first Torry Holt serves as assistant intellect coach and wide receivers coach.^[16]

References

External links