Blue Springs junior Daniel Parker Jr. commits to Missouri

Blue Springs rising junior Daniel Parker Jr. picked up his phone Sunday afternoon to place a call.

His mom, Jennifer Crockett, started to cry.

Parker was calling Missouri wide receivers coach Andy Hill, who is the program’s primary recruiter for Kansas City, to give his verbal commitment.

“She was right next to me and said, ‘My little baby is grown up,’” Parker said.

He won’t sign a national letter of intent for more than 18 months, but Parker’s immense comfort level with the Tigers’ staff and players prompted an early pledge.

“They are my home away from home,” Parker said. “The coaches and the players make me feel like I am one of them already.”

Parker felt a strong connection with two new members of the Tigers’ staff, defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross and defensive line coach Jackie Shipp, and particularly admires junior defensive end Charles Harris.

“He’s one of my favorite D-linemen, period,” Parker said. “Throughout the NFL and college, he’s one of my favorite football players.”

Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe, who’s sent dozens of players into the NCAA Division I ranks, usually counsels patience to his players during the recruiting process, but he wasn’t shocked that Parker didn’t wait to sign up with MU.

“I know he’s always been a big Missouri fan, so I’m not surprised,” Donohoe said. “What will be hard for him is that he’ll still have a lot of schools who want him to visit.”

Parker, who is weighing a career in sports medicine, didn’t feel any pressure to wrap up his recruitment.

Quite the contrary, he’s enjoying it but simply felt that Mizzou was the perfect place.

“I didn’t really feel pressure at all,” Parker said. “I wasn’t focused on my college career yet. I’m really focused on helping my team win a state championship this year and the year after that.”

Parker figured given his size — 6-feet-3 and 270 pounds — he wouldn’t have trouble landing a college scholarship.

Considering that he also has offers already from Nebraska, Iowa and Iowa State among others, the logic seems sound.

Parker said he still plans to attend other schools’ camps next summer, but he also indicated that Missouri’s staff “has nothing to be nervous about.”

Parker hopes to play defensive end for the Tigers. He’s trying to shed 10 pounds and build more muscle, but his continued growth might necessitate a position change.

“The only thing I worry about is that defensive ends at that level can really run,” Donohoe said. “Daniel is going to keep getting bigger and bigger. I could see him getting moved inside. When he gets to college, he may have to stay as an offensive lineman or move to defensive tackle.”

Donohoe believes offensive line might be his best position. He’ll start at tackle for Blue Springs’ offense this fall, while also checking in as part of the Wildcats’ pass rush package on defense.

Parker expects to start on offense and defense as a senior.

“He’s an all-state caliber offensive lineman, but his heart is with playing defense …,” Donohoe said. “He’s got two years left. I really feel like Daniel Parker could be one of the best — if not, the best — linemen to come through our school.”

Missouri also landed two commitments Saturday during its Night at the Zou camp, which took place on Memorial Stadium’s Faurot Field under the lights.

Brother Rice offensive tackle Larry Borom — a 6-foot-6, 335-pound Rivals two-star prospect from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. — also committed to the Tigers along with Southwest High wide receiver Roderick Ford — a 6-foot, 170-pound three-star prospect from Fort Worth, Texas.

This story was originally published July 25, 2016 at 7:30 PM with the headline "Blue Springs junior Daniel Parker Jr. commits to Missouri."